"Preventing Future Outbreaks: Reflecting on Four Years Since COVID's Emergence"

Four years after COVID-19 emerged, efforts to prevent future pandemics are intensifying. Dr. Ian Lipkin's team at Columbia University has developed a system for rapid analysis of pathogens, which could have identified COVID-19 sooner. The Global Alliance for Preventing Pandemics (GAPP) is being adopted by countries to share surveillance data quickly. Ginkgo Bioworks is monitoring pathogens in airplane wastewater and building biosecurity programs globally. Training is provided to public health workers worldwide to identify pathogens locally. The goal is to create a "global immune system" through continuous monitoring and technological advances in genetic sequencing, aiming to predict and prepare for future outbreaks more effectively.