Nobody knows which pathogen will trigger the next major epidemic, but governments and international organizations should take meaningful steps now to prepare for it in order to mitigate economic losses, according to a trio of researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
An article published in the June 2018 issue of Finance & Development, the International Monetary Fund magazine, discussed the economic ripple effects of outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics, from slowing global trade to reducing tourism. The piece was co-authored by David Bloom, the Clarence James Gamble Professor of Economics and Demography, Daniel Cadarette, research assistant, and JP Sevilla, research associate, all from Harvard Chan School’s Department of Global Health and Population.
To better prepare for future outbreaks, the authors recommended building strong health systems, investing in reliable disease surveillance, and looking toward technological solutions, such as vaccines.
Read the Finance & Development article: New & Resurgent Infectious Diseases Can Have Far-reaching Economic Repercussions