Abstract
Pandemics are a consequence of a series of processes that span scales from viral biology at 10−9 m to global transmission at 106 m. The pathogen passes from one host species to another through a sequence of events that starts with an infected reservoir host and entails interspecific contact, innate immune responses, receptor protein structure within the potential host, and the global spread of the novel pathogen through the naive host population. Each event presents a potential barrier to the onward passage of the virus and should be characterized with an integrated transdisciplinary approach. Epidemic control is based on the prevention of exposure, infection, and disease. However, the ultimate pandemic prevention is prevention of the spillover event itself. Here, we focus on the potential for preventing the spillover of henipaviruses, a group of viruses derived from bats that frequently cross species barriers, incur high human mortality, and are transmitted among humans via stuttering chains. We outline the transdisciplinary approach needed to prevent the spillover process and, therefore, future pandemics.
Highlights
Recent pandemics have been a consequence of viral spillover, where a pathogen passes from an animal host to a human through a series of processes that span scales from viral protein structure at 10−9 m to global transmission at 106 m
This is a significant failure given the large impact on human mortality and suffering and the global financial cost of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic [5]
Developing a framework for such an approach to pandemic prevention is most feasible in systems where spillover is common, and research can focus on multiple past spillover events
Summary
Recent pandemics have been a consequence of viral spillover, where a pathogen passes from an animal host to a human through a series of processes that span scales from viral protein structure at 10−9 m to global transmission at 106 m. We neither have the tool set to prevent the spillover of novel pathogens before they enter the human population, nor the rapid response mechanisms to restrict the spread of infection after spillover has occurred This is a significant failure given the large impact on human mortality and suffering and the global financial cost of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic [5]. Such research requires investigations that work at multiple scales This requires teams of transdisciplinary scientists who can identify the critical barriers and integrate their insights into models that explain patterns observed, and identify effective interventions. The members of these teams must be willing to contribute their time and patience, sometimes with few incentives or rewards from their institutions
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