Context: The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness is marked worldwide on December 27.

About International Day of Epidemic Preparedness

• Origin: The first-ever International Day of Epidemic Preparedness was held on 27 December 2020 to advocate the importance of the prevention of, preparedness for, and partnership against epidemics.
  • It was in December 2019 that the highly infectious Coronavirus pandemic erupted in China. As the rate of infection increased and the number of afflicted persons expanded, there was pressure on health systems across the world.
  • It was not just a shortage of healthcare professionals, beds, and ventilators but at one point in time, critical equipment such as hand sanitizers and surgical masks were also out of stock.
  • The UN General Assembly asked WHO to mark December 27 as the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness to highlight the need for preparedness, cooperation, and epidemic prevention. 
• Significance of the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness
  • Role of Government: The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness seeks to recognize the primary role and responsibility of Governments while tackling epidemics.
  • Awareness Generation: The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness seeks to prepare its citizens to handle epidemics through education and awareness-raising activities.
  • System to Detect and Tackle Deadly Epidemics: The day raises importance for developing systems to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks.
  • Develop Strong Healthcare Systems: The event also asks stakeholder states to develop resilient and strong health systems that can reach those who are weak or in vulnerable circumstances.
  • Information Sharing: The event also advocates information sharing at the local, national, regional, and global levels to prevent and address epidemics.
    • Spreading information about vaccinations and other safety precautions is part of information-sharing measures.
  • Better Preparedness: The day also seeks to enhance the future response capacities of states so they are better prepared for the upcoming health challenges.

What is an Epidemic?

• About: Epidemic refers to the rapid spread of disease to a large number of people in a given population within a short span of time.
• The term generally refers to contagious diseases like influenza; vector-borne infections like malaria; water-borne diseases such as cholera; and sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS. 
• Epidemic occurs when immunity of the host to either an established pathogen or newly emerged pathogen is below the endemic equilibrium and the transmission threshold is exceeded.
• Declaration of Epidemic: Epidemic is declared when the rate of infection crosses a certain threshold of disease prevalence. The threshold varies for different diseases.

Factors Affecting Epidemics

• Changes in Pathogen: Changes in the characteristics of a pathogen can make it difficult for the human immune system to detect the pathogen and destroy it.
• Drug Resistance: Some strains of bacteria can become resistant to anti-biotic, making them difficult to be eliminated or treated.
• Ability to Transmit: The ability of the pathogen to survive outside the body can increase the rate of transmission and also spread the infection.
• Season and Weather: Changes in environmental conditions, such as humidity and temperature, can increase the ability of the pathogen to survive outside the host.
• Human Nature: The nature of humans to stay in high density areas, and not follow health precautions can also contribute to epidemics.
• Herd Immunity: Herd immunity is the level of immunity to a disease in a population, either naturally or through vaccination.
• Novel Pathogen: Zoonotic diseases are those that jump from animals to humans. This ability increases their disease-causing capability in the population. 

Tackling Epidemics

• One Health Approach: Balancing and optimizing the health of people, animals, and ecosystems to tackle health issues at local, regional, national, and global levels.
• Advocating Awareness: There is a need to raise awareness, exchange of information, scientific knowledge and best practices, quality education, and advocacy programmes on epidemics.
• Collaboration between Stakeholders: International cooperation and multilateralism can help bring together individual, community, and State, and regional and international organizations, in all stages of epidemic management.
• Vaccination: There is a need to vaccinate the young population so that they are protected against existing and new strains of epidemic pathogens.

Conclusion

Global pandemics like Covid-19 have shown how the health system across the world is vulnerable. It is imperative to have resilient and robust health systems, reaching those who are vulnerable or in vulnerable situations.

World Health Organization (WHO)

• About: World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) established in 1948. 
• WHO is the first global health organization established in 1948, replacing many regional and national health bodies. 
• Members: All Member countries of the United Nations can become members of WHO by accepting its Constitution. 
• Goal: It has the authority of directing and coordinating matters related to international health.
• Decision-making: The supreme decision-making body of WHO is the World Health Assembly, which is attended by delegations from all member states.
• Functions: Its specific tasks include epidemic control, quarantine measures, and drug standardization.