Introduction

INTRODUCTION Pandemics remain a central international health security challenge. Emerging diseases, fluctuations in climate, global interconnectedness—both physically and economically—and greater interaction between animals and people, especially in the developing world, are just a few of the reasons that the international community should be more concerned about pandemics than ever before. While we prioritize nuclear and military threats to our national security, we easily forget the power of plagues in history and it is important that we accept and prepare for pandemics for it is not a matter of if; it is a matter of when.

In October of 2017, the Scowcroft Institute for International Affairs at The Bush School for Government and Public Service held its Third Annual Global Pandemic Policy Summit in College Station, Texas, to discuss some of the most daunting challenges facing pandemic prevention, detection, and response. This white paper draws from and expands on conversations that took place during the two-day summit and proposes solutions for some of the biggest challenges. While there are numerous unresolved issues in pandemic preparedness and response, we chose to

address eight that we think are most pressing. These include: 1) best practices in management of animal disease; 2) ensuring community-level awareness and action; 3) increasing continuity in supply chains; 4) targeting antimicrobial resistance; 5) strengthening leadership and coordination; 6) maintaining United States involvement in pandemic preparedness and international health security; 7) ensuring that the private sector is fully involved; and 8) continuing funding for disease detection and prevention programs. The international community should address all of the eight areas listed above to strengthen the ability of individual countries and the international community to respond to outbreaks of infectious disease. Additionally, as we stress throughout this white paper, the United States should remain involved in and Introduction

committed to leadership and assistance in pandemic preparedness and response and international health security more broadly. As one of the largest contributors, in terms of economic, manpower, and technological contributions to global health security, American withdrawal from the world stage on this issue would be devastating to the ability to prevent disease outbreaks. Withdrawal would also threaten the well-being of the American people, because disease does not respect national borders. While some of the areas addressed in this white paper overlap, each represents an important, independent area of prevention, detection, and response to pandemics. They are gaps in the system that the international community should remain committed to filling.