Preparedness for Emerging Infectious Diseases in q Global Turbulence Era

This paper discussed the preparedness for emerging and reemerging diseases with tremendously increasing incidence in the past few years and possible ways to overcome these EIDs in the near future. Since 1970, over thirty new emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases have evolved both locally and globally, most of which are from wildlife/zoonotic origin. Human activity has been the key driver of this emergence with enormous effects on global economic stability and significant threat to human existence and progress. The roadmap to a healthy society is based on leveraging on the success achieved in the past and continually putting machinery in place against unforeseen future EIDs. There must be ongoing health surveillance and meaningful investment in the health sector of every country. Sustained effort must be put in place to develop vaccines against recurring EIDs. This paper also presents the imperativeness of the individual member of the community to prepare to tackle EIDs by becoming aware of the likelihood of occurrence, understanding the strategies for prevention of the spread of infections so as to reduce the threat it poses on public health and global economy. This can be achieved through effective communication. Keywords: Emerging infectious diseases, Preparedness, Health communication,