Conclusion

When scientists, policy makers, and the lay public alike ask if we are ready for the next pandemic, the answer is always a qualified “No”. No, the world is not ready for the next pandemic, as is demonstrated by the large-scale disease outbreaks over the last decade. But, countries are getting closer. The work of scientists and policy makers concerned with infectious disease outbreaks have helped develop new ways to monitor, detect, and respond to disease. The international community has worked hard to learn from the mistakes of past responses and correct them. Despite these improvements, there is still a long way to go before the international community is able to say, “Yes, we are prepared.” This white paper examines several areas that we believe are vital to strengthening pandemic preparedness and response. Most importantly, however, the United States and the international community should remain committed to pandemic preparedness. It is likely that the next great challenge will be a pandemic, and by following the recommendations laid out in this white paper, the United States and the international community will move one step closer to swift and effective pandemic preparedness and response.