Giving Compass' Take:

• The overuse and misuse of antibiotics, the vulnerability of global supply chains, and centralized, involved leadership are the three main reasons the U.S. is not prepared for the next pandemic. 

• Can philanthropists help alleviate any of the three barriers to preparedness? How can private funding become involved in addressing pandemics? 

• Read about what is necessary to do in order to prepare for the next flu pandemic. 

One hundred years after the Great Influenza pandemic of 1918, global health leadership stands at a crossroads. The United States continues to expand its policy of isolationism at a time when international cooperation in health could not be more important.

The state of pandemic preparedness and the necessary steps for protecting the people throughout the world was the topic of The Scowcroft Institute for International Affairs’ 2nd Annual White Paper.

It is not a matter of if, but when, the next disease will sweep the world with deadly and costly consequences.

There are many topic areas that national leaders must address to create better preparedness and response capabilities, but we believe three are most urgent. These include targeting the resistance to antimicrobial agents that has come about because of overuse and misuse of antibiotics; ensuring continuity of supply chains; and improving and strengthening leadership.

  • Overuse of a wonder drug: The problem of antibiotic overuse and misuses is extensive. In fact, in the United States, 80 percent of all antibiotic use occurs in the agricultural sector and the majority of this use is nontherapeutic, meaning it is not medically necessary. Misuse of antibiotics also occurs frequently in the human health sector, however.
  • Will global supply chains collapse? Global supply chains, which consist of production specialization through comparative advantage, has enabled great economic development, but their just-in-time structure also leaves them exceedingly vulnerable.
  • Centralized, involved leadership: Diseases do not respect borders, and for this reason, pandemics are a global threat. Therefore, the U.S. must address the threat of pandemics in cooperation with all other nations and with multilateral institutions such as the World Health Organization, the U.N. Security Council, UNICEF and more.

Read the full article about why the U.S. is not prepared for a pandemic by Gerald W. Parker, Andrew Natsios, and Christine Crudo Blackburn at The Conversation