National Task Research Articles

Predicting Changes in Potential Habitats of an Endemic Plant Species under SSP Scenarios: A Case Study of <italic>Eranthis byunsanensis</italic>

Background and objective: Climate change significantly impacts the growth environments of organisms that have adapted to natural environments. Endemic plants, which are native to specific regions, are particularly vulnerable to these changes. The conservation of these plants is a crucial national task. Currently, there is a lack of research on the habitat characteristics and conservation measures of specific species in Korea. This indicates a need for systematic research on field surveys of habitats for valuable species, the establishment of environmental variables, and long-term changes in suitable habitat areas. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the geographical distribution characteristics and select the optimal environmental variables for Eranthis byunsanensis, an endemic plant in the Korean Peninsula.Methods: To achieve this, we utilized an ensemble model in the R package biomod2 to analyze the current potential habitat and understand its distribution characteristics. We then predicted the changes in potential habitats for the mid-future (2041-2070) and the long-term future (2071-2100) based on climate change scenarios (SSP 1-2.6 and SSP 5-8.5). Finally, we conducted a comparative analysis of the differences between the scenarios.Results: Long-term projections indicate that potential habitat area is larger under SSP1-2.6, a scenario with active climate change mitigation policies, than under SSP5-8.5. Under SSP1-2.6, habitat remained relatively stable with expansion observed in coastal Gangwon-do. In contrast, SSP5-8.5, characterized by extreme climate change, led to significant habitat decline in Jeollabuk-do. Inland Jeollabuk-do experienced rapid habitat loss with a northeastward shift, while habitat along the East Sea coast of Gangwon-do expanded.Conclusion: This study's analysis of habitat change can serve as a crucial foundation for the conservation and management of endemic plants. Furthermore, it is expected to contribute to the development of response strategies to climate change and the identification of alternative habitats for endemic plants.

National biodiversity data infrastructures: ten essential functions for science, policy, and practice

Abstract Today, at the international level, powerful data portals are available to biodiversity researchers and policymakers, offering increasingly robust computing and network capacities and capable data services for internationally agreed-on standards. These accelerate individual and complex workflows to map data-driven research processes or even to make them possible for the first time. At the national level, however, and alongside these international developments, national infrastructures are needed to take on tasks that cannot be easily funded or addressed internationally. To avoid gaps, as well as redundancies in the research landscape, national tasks and responsibilities must be clearly defined to align efforts with core priorities. In the present article, we outline 10 essential functions of national biodiversity data infrastructures. They serve as key providers, facilitators, mediators, and platforms for effective biodiversity data management, integration, and analysis that require national efforts to foster biodiversity science, policy, and practice.

Rapid response Task Force: addressing the detection of Aedes albopictus in Lisbon, Portugal

Abstract Issue The invasive Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are spreading in southern Europe and pose a heightened risk of mosquito-borne diseases, like Dengue and Chikungunya. On September 2023, A. albopictus was first identified in Lisbon through community-based surveillance and a multidisciplinary national Task Force (TF) was convened. Description of the problem The TF included experts in epidemiology, entomology, environmental health, laboratory diagnosis, prevention and control and communication. The objectives were to i) confirm A.albopictus presence in Lisbon and adjust the risk assessment, ii) raise awareness and prevent mosquitoes’ spread, iii) revise national guidelines on arboviruses surveillance and control. During September-December 2023, the National Network for Vectors Surveillance (REVIVE) and the Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Institute sampled mosquito-prone habitats within 2km-radius of the detection point using QGIS software. They used snowball sampling to identify any new foci. They placed ovitraps for ongoing surveillance and conducted morphological analysis and xenomonitoring for pathogen DNA and RNA detection at the national reference laboratory. Results By November 2023, A.albopictus was detected in two new foci. No mosquitoes tested positive for arboviruses, and no autochthonous cases of mosquito-borne diseases were identified. The TF developed national guidelines for vector prevention and control and awareness for arboviruses and trained municipality workers. To raise awareness, we communicated with experts and the public through existing channels and media. As of April 2024, no new foci have been detected. Lessons Community-based surveillance and REVIVE approach were crucial for invasive A.albopictus detection and monitoring in Lisbon. Rapid multidisciplinary TF coordination may have been key for timely vector control.

Инструменты поддержки предпринимательства в Арктике: резильентный подход

The article deals with the development of state support for business in the Arctic zone of Russia for the period 2020–2023 from the position of the resilient approach. Achieving national strategic objectives in the region necessitates the formulation of new approaches to implementing state support, taking into account the “updated” priorities and the accelerating changes. The demand for a modern interpretation of the concept of resilience is driven by practical requirements to address the challenges of economic sustainability. The analysis conducted demonstrates that the development of the Russian Arctic zone will depend on the “properly adjusted” mechanisms of state support and systemic measures aimed at creating favorable conditions for entrepreneurship, the livelihoods of the population, and the traditional sector of the ethno-economy in this region. There is an urgent need to establish a comprehensive support system to address national tasks in the Arctic, including the development of key settlements. This involves simplifying permitting procedures, creating infrastructure, refining and coordinating preferential regimes integrated into the strategic planning system, providing comprehensive support for businesses from regional and local authorities, and utilizing tax catalysts to enhance the resilience of the socio-economic systems of settlements in the northeastern Arctic zone of Russia.

National task force study on ‘the incidence, mortality, morbidity and economic burden of snakebite in India’

National task force study on ‘the incidence, mortality, morbidity and economic burden of snakebite in India’

Addressing Racial Disparities in the Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy: A Plan for Action from the Preeclampsia Foundation's Racial Disparities Task Force.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are among the leading causes of maternal mortality in the United States, with Black women and birthing people disproportionately having higher HDP-related deaths and morbidity. In 2020, the Preeclampsia Foundation formed a national Racial Disparities Task Force (RDTF) to identify key recommendations to address issues of racial disparities related to HDP. Recommendations are centered around the Foundation's three pillars: Community, Healthcare Practice, and Research. Healthcare practices include adequate treatment of chronic hypertension in Black women and birthing people, re-branding low-dose aspirin to prenatal aspirin to facilitate uptake, and innovative models of care that especially focus on postpartum follow-up. A research agenda that examines the influence of social and structural determinants of health (ssDOH) on HDP care, access, and outcomes is essential to addressing disparities. One specific area that requires attention is the development of metrics to evaluate the quality of obstetrical care as it relates to racial disparities in Black women and birthing people with HDP. The recommendations generated by the Preeclampsia Foundation's RDTF highlight the strategic priorities and are a call to action that requires listening to the voices and experiences of Black women and birthing people, engaging their communities, and multi-sectoral collaboration to improve healthcare practices and drive needed research.

Research on Inner Mongolia's Ecological Governance Experience

Inner Mongolia spans China's 'Three North' regions and borders eight provinces, making it the largest and most diverse ecological functional zone in northern China. Inner Mongolia serves as a crucial gateway for China's northern opening-up strategy, and its long-term mission is to leverage its geographical advantages and resource endowments to enhance its role as a gateway. To fulfill this challenging national task, it is essential to fully leverage Inner Mongolia's ecological advantages to provide ecological support for the comprehensive construction of a socialist modernized country. This research, focusing on 'Ecological Governance in Inner Mongolia,' reviews the ecological governance practices in Inner Mongolia, analyzes successful cases, and summarizes Inner Mongolia's ecological governance experiences. The aim is to provide recommendations for the construction of a socialist modernized country.

Amyloid age and tau PET timeline to symptomatic Alzheimer's disease in Down syndrome.

Adults with Down syndrome (DS) are at risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent natural history cohort studies have characterized AD biomarkers, with a focus on PET amyloid-beta (Aβ) and PET tau. Leveraging these well-characterized biomarkers, the present study examined the timeline to symptomatic AD based on estimated years since reaching Aβ+, referred to as "amyloid age", and in relation to tau in a large cohort of individuals with DS. In this multicenter cohort study, 25 - 57-year-old adults with DS (n = 167) were assessed twice from 2017 to 2022, with approximately 32 months between visits as part of the Alzheimer Biomarker Consortium - Down Syndrome. Adults with DS completed amyloid and tau PET scans, and were administered the modified Cued Recall Test and the Down Syndrome Mental Status Examination. Study partners completed the National Task Group-Early Detection Screen for Dementia. Mixed linear regressions showed significant quadratic associations between amyloid age and cognitive performance and cubic associations between amyloid age and tau, both at baseline and across 32 months. Using broken stick regression models, differences in mCRT scores were detected beginning 2.7 years following Aβ+ in cross-sectional models, with an estimated decline of 1.3 points per year. Increases in tau began, on average, 2.7 - 6.1 years following Aβ+. On average, participants with mild cognitive impairment were 7.4 years post Aβ+ and those with dementia were 12.7 years post Aβ+. There is a short timeline to initial cognitive decline and dementia from Aβ+ (Centiloid = 18) and tau deposition in DS relative to late onset AD. The established timeline based on amyloid age (or equivalent Centiloid values) is important for clinical practice and informing AD clinical trials, and avoids limitations of timelines based on chronological age. Funding. National Institute on Aging and the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development. Evidence before this study: We searched PubMed for articles published involving the progression of Aβ and tau deposition in adults with Down syndrome from database inception to March 1, 2024. Terms included "amyloid", "Down syndrome", "tau", "Alzheimer's disease", "cognitive decline", and "amyloid chronicity," with no language restrictions. One previous study outlined the progression of tau in adults with Down syndrome without consideration of cognitive decline or clinical status. Other studies reported cognitive decline associated with Aβ burden and estimated years to AD symptom onset in Down syndrome. Amyloid age estimates have also been created for older neurotypical adults and compared to cognitive performance, but this has not been investigated in Down syndrome.Added value of this study: The timeline to symptomatic Alzheimer's disease in relation to amyloid, expressed as duration of Aβ+, and tau has yet to be described in adults with Down syndrome. Our longitudinal study is the first to provide a timeline of cognitive decline and transition to mild cognitive impairment and dementia in relation to Aβ+.Implications of all the available evidence: In a cohort study of 167 adults with Down syndrome, cognitive decline began 2.7 - 5.4 years and tau deposition began 2.7 - 6.1 years following Aβ+ (Centiloid = 18). Adults with Down syndrome converted to MCI after ~7 years and dementia after ~12-13 years of Aβ+. This shortened timeline to AD symptomology from Aβ+ and tau deposition in DS based on amyloid age (or corresponding Centiloid values) can inform clinical AD intervention trials and is of use in clinical settings.

Identifying interventions that improve medication safety & rational use of medicines in India.

Background & objectives Medication-related harm is known to be the cause for about 1/10th of hospitalizations. Some estimates from India show that about 90 per cent of medicines consumed are inessential or irrational and contribute towards high out-of-pocket expenditure on health. In this context, the Indian Council of Medical Research in 2022 constituted a National Task Force (NTF) to explore possible solutions that could improve safe and rational use of medicines (SRUMs). The objective of this study was to identify research ideas in the field of SRUM through a survey of relevant stakeholders, and further to prioritize the research ideas using a pre-identified set of criteria. Methods The responses from the identified stakeholders were assessed using the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative method, which is an established research priority-setting methodology. First, the NTF asked for two to six research ideas from relevant Indian and global stakeholders on solutions to improve SRUM. The ideas were checked for duplicates, re-phrased where necessary and classified into various sub-themes. Subsequently, the research ideas were scored by Indian experts with relevant technical expertise using a pre-defined set of five criteria: innovativeness, effectiveness, translational value, answerability and applicability. Each research idea received from a stakeholder was assigned a score under each of the five criteria. The overall research priority score was calculated as a mean of all five criteria-specific scores and converted into a percentage. Results The final output of the prioritization process was a list of research ideas or questions, ranked by their scores. Total 209 unique ideas were received from 190 respondents, which were scored by 27 experts. The top three research topics on medication safety focused on cost-effective strategies for improving antimicrobial stewardship, safe use of poly-pharmacy in geriatric patients and drug take-back policy interventions. Regarding the rational use of medicine, the top three topics included testing mobile application-based antimicrobial stewardship interventions, development of diagnostics for antimicrobial resistance, and behavioural interventions. Interpretation & conclusions Several priority ideas found in this study also align with those of global priority, e.g., safe disposal practices and enhanced pharmacovigilance, rational use of medicines. Patient engagement, which underlines many of the top scoring ideas found in this study, is also inclined with the top research priorities reported by the WHO priority exercise on research into the safe use of medicines. However, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first such work from a low- and middle- income country on medication safety and rational use of medicines. The findings of this research priority-setting exercise can help to guide research for the development of policy-relevant and novel interventions to improve SRUM in India.

EFFECTIVENESS OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 70 OR THE NATIONAL TASK FORCE TO END LOCAL COMMUNIST ARMED CONFLICT: EXPERIENCES ON THE POVERTY REDUCTION, LIVELIHOOD, AND EMPLOYMENT CLUSTER OF THE SELECTED COMMUNITIES IN KIBAWE, BUKIDNON, PHILIPPINES

This study examines the experiences of the selected communities in the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF- ELCAC) Poverty Reduction, Livelihoods, and Employment Cluster of Executive Order No. 70. It utilized qualitative research through the phenomenology approach as it studied the experiences of the selected communities in Kibawe, Bukidnon. It employed thematic analysis in this investigation to assess the study’s focus group discussion. The study concludes that the whole-of-the-nation approach of the government was an effective tool for the government to uplift the living conditions of the selected communities by reducing poverty through livelihood and employment programs, penetrating the most insurgency-vulnerable areas in the municipality, and increasing the representation of the selected communities in the local government units through their representatives. These programs and projects under NTF-ELCAC PRLEC have had a political, social, and economic impact on the lives of the selected communities by reducing poverty, providing work opportunities for the communities, and helping them to become self-reliant without revolting against the government.

Hydroxy Chloroquine Prophylaxis Experience in Doctor Community with COVID-19 in West Bengal

Background The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)National task Force for COVID-19 reviewed the data on in-vitro testing of Hydroxy Chloroquine (HCQ)for antiviral efficacy against SARS-CoV-2, safety profile and recommended it’s use for prophylaxis among health care workers (HCWs). The efficacy of HCQ against Covid -19 has been the subject of contradictory results. Given the need for insights into the clinical outcomes and side effects among doctors on prophylaxis with hydroxychloroquine, we conducted a retrospective analysis of doctors treated at home or hospital with COVID-19 infection.MethodsThe data was collected by direct interview, electronic data transfer from COVID-19 positive doctors using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test from two medical colleges, friends and relatives of doctors who voluntarily provided their illness information during the period of August, 26 to Nov 25, 2020.ResultsA total of 117 doctors participated in study. Out of 117 covid positive doctors, 76 received no HCQ prophylaxis and 41 received prophylaxis till the onset of the symptom. Out of 117 positive doctors, 32(27%) developed moderate to severe (MS) illness. Nine doctors (22%) developed MS in HCQ group and none of them died. Out of no HCQ group 23(30%) developed MS illness and 7(9%) died. There was no statistically significant relation between use of HCQ and outcomes of disease. The most common (22%) side effect of HCQ prophylaxis was related to gastrointestinal system. Conclusions Hydroxy Chloroquine has a disease modifying effect on COVID-19 disease although it is not robust.

Violence against minors: concept and types

Protecting children from violent criminal offenses that infringe on their life, health, morality and sexual inviolability is a priority national security task that unites the efforts of the family, the state and civil society. Domestic violence against minors has characteristic features related to the specifics of the mechanism of committing criminal offenses, the causes and conditions that determine it, the personality of the perpetrators, and the peculiarities of the victim’s behavior, which must be taken into account when developing special prevention measures. The analysis of legislation and specialized literature leads to the conclusion that today there is No. single approach to the definition of a number of the most important concepts related to the topic of this study. This primarily concerns the concepts of “family” and “violence”. The concept of “violence” is now widely used not only in everyday life, but is also included in the terminology of various sciences. Philosophy, psychology, criminal law, criminology, forensics and other sciences approach the problem of defining the concept of “violence” independently, without using existing definitions in related fields. The definition of violence may vary depending on the purpose of its use. This is due to the fact that violence itself has a rather “broad format”. It is a social and legal phenomenon that is not limited to the criminal law. In other words, violence can include criminal offenses, administrative offenses, as well as other forms of behavior that are not formally torts, but contradict generally accepted and approved norms of behavior, forming the prerequisites for violent crime as such. In this regard, it is necessary to clarify that in the context of this study, only the criminal law concept of violence will be used, assessed from the standpoint of criminal law as an offense and, accordingly, possessing all its features. Such a concept is necessary for a clear definition of the subject of research and its use to distinguish related issues in the process of studying empirical material.

National challenges for trauma surgery in Germany due to violence and war

Due to the war in Ukraine and the treatment of patients with war wounds in the hospitals of the TraumaNetworks of the German Society for Trauma Surgery (TraumaNetzwerke DGU®), injuries from life-threatening mission situations (LebEL), terrorism, violence and war have become a matter of daily professional life. Furthermore, the societal and global feeling of security has fundamentally changed. The much-cited term "turning point in history", the reorientation of the Armed Forces and the investigation of the resilience of the healthcare system with respect to the "fitness for war", approximate to the description of the current challenges for trauma surgery (UCH) in Germany. Based on the developments following the terrorist attacks in Paris in 2015 and in Brussels in 2016, a clarification is given as to which adaptations have already been successful and how quickly an improvement could successfully be achieved. In this context, the concept of tactical care and the course on Terror and Disaster Surgical Care (TDSC), for example, have been game changing. The main challenge currently lies in overcoming the structural alterations in the German healthcare system and professionally in the treatment of war wounded personnel from Ukraine. The knowledge gained from these two national tasks must be analyzed for the future development and adaptation of established treatment structures, e.g., of the TraumaNetzwerke DGU®, under the requirements of the increased resilience against war, terrorism and violence. The aim is to name that which has already been achieved with respect to the national challenges for UCH and at the same time to outline or discuss further necessities for improvements and elimination of possible gaps in capabilities.

전환기 슬로베니아 고등교육 개혁의 특징과 결과 연구

At the outset of Slovenia’s transition period, the urgent national task was to establish democracy, liberalism, and pluralistic values across all sectors. This comprehensive transition involved institutional reorganization in society, politics, education, and media, alongside reforms targeting the general public. Education emerged as a crucial tool for fostering and disseminating liberal democratic values, aiming to socialize individuals into understanding the moral, civic, and societal obligations of the new system. Slovenian school reform during this period was grounded in liberal democratic values, human rights, and knowledge. Initially, higher education reform lagged due to internal circumstances, with a focus on complementing previous socialist-era reforms rather than enacting substantive changes. However, upon Slovenia's accession to the European Union, a process of Europeanization swept across the nation, prompting the initiation of higher education reform aligned with the Bologna Process. Despite expectations, the Bologna Process encountered resistance in Slovenian higher education and yielded less favorable outcomes than anticipated. This study examines the foundational values of Slovenia’s educational reform for establishing a liberal democratic system and Europeanizing it, while also analyzing the controversies and results surrounding the ‘Bologna Process’, a key symbol of higher education globalization.

Отношение носителей русского языка к его нормам: динамический аспект

Different historical periods are characterized by different attitudes of native speakers of the Russian language to its norms. Russian history during the Soviet period was marked by the struggle for the purity and correctness of the Russian speech. The process of protecting the Russian language was filled with deep ideological meaning, since the Russian language acts as a single means of communication for the multinational population of the USSR. The period of perestroika is characterized by the struggle against Soviet officialese, which took the form of the democratization and vulgarization of speech, the abolition of censorship in the media. This resulted in a stream of substandard and non-literary vocabulary penetrating into public speech, a special literary-jargonizing type of speech culture being formed in the journalistic environment. The second and third decades of the 21st century demonstrate an easy attitude of native speakers of the Russian language to its norms, the decreasing concern about the form of thought expression, the active penetration of colloquial speech into other spheres of communication. Digitalization of communication leads to a decrease in the level of speech culture, the development of clip thinking and the predominance of “point” attention (this is especially noticeable among adolescents and young people). Globalization of the most important spheres of society, on the one hand, contributes to the expansion of the morphemic and lexical repertoire of the Russian language, the development of the meanings of its lexemes, on the other hand, it brings about a fashion for anglicisms and a focus on foreign speech culture. Nowadays, protecting Russian literary language standards is becoming one of the most important national tasks; finding an effective solution will help preserve the Russian culture.

Radiotherapy resources in the Philippines: A 2022 update

BackgroundCancer is the third leading cause of death in the Philippines. Radiotherapy (RT) is integral to the treatment and palliation of cancer. Therefore, RT resources across the country must be surveyed and optimized. MethodsOnline surveys were sent to the heads of all 50 RT facilities in the Philippines. The survey included items regarding the facility itself, personnel, and available services. FindingsThe survey had a 98% response rate. 76% of RT facilities in the Philippines are privately owned; 12 are government/public institutions and 8 are academic centers. Over a third are in the National Capital Region; three regions are without a single RT facility. For a population of >110 million, the Philippines has 53 linear accelerators, 125 radiation oncologists, 56 residents, 114 medical physicists, 113 radiation oncology nurses, and 343 radiation therapists. Nine radiation oncology residency programs are active. All facilities are capable of 3D conformal radiotherapy, and 96% are capable of intensity modulated radiotherapy. <30% offer stereotactic radiotherapy, and <50% offer HDR brachytherapy. ConclusionWhile there has been significant expansion of RT resources over the years, RT remains inaccessible for many in the Philippines. Urgent investment in training and retaining RT personnel is needed as well. Policy summary: With its current cancer burden, the Philippines needs at least 170 linear accelerators, 300 radiation oncologists, and 150 medical physicists. Public/government cancer centers must be built, with priority given to regions without RT facilities. HDR brachytherapy and stereotactic radiotherapy services must also be expanded. A national RT task force must be created to ensure the quality, availability, and accessibility of RT in the Philippines. Further work exploring payment schemes that improve access to RT and mitigate financial toxicity is needed, as well as integration of radiation oncology providers and health policy experts into national health system decision making.

Exploration of the Talent Cultivation Path of New Higher Vocational Compound Childcare Integration

With the continuous development of society, people’s concept of early childhood education is also gradually upgrading. In the report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), “childcare” is listed as one of the seven national key livelihood tasks, and the model of “integration of childcare and early childhood” is gradually being widely used in infant and toddler education. The application of this model not only promotes the development of infant and toddler education but also brings new challenges to the training of talents specialized in childcare in higher vocational colleges. Higher vocational colleges and universities should adjust the talent training mode according to the requirements of the childcare integration mode, so as to build a high-quality skilled personnel team and promote the further development of infant and toddler education.

Research and practice of personalized fitness plans based on Hmove platform

On June 20, 1995, the State Council promulgated the "Outline of the National Fitness Plan". Its promulgation is a major decision for the country to develop social undertakings. It is a national leadership and national participation, with purpose, tasks and measures. The fitness plan is a feat of "contributing to the present and benefiting the future". It is a social system project supporting the goal of realizing socialist modernization. Based on this goal and based on the needs of the majority of citizens in the current economic and social economy, my team and I proposed to develop the Hmove fitness and entertainment platform. This study aims to explore the effectiveness and practicality of personalized fitness plans based on the Hmove platform. The Hmove platform, as an innovative fitness platform, integrates advanced data analysis and user feedback mechanisms to provide powerful technical support for the formulation of personalized fitness plans. The research collects users' basic information, fitness goals and preferences, and uses data mining and machine learning technology to customize fitness plans for users. During the experiment, we used questionnaires to interview users who frequently use fitness APPs, continuously tracked their fitness progress and collected feedback. The results showed that participants' physical fitness and health status were significantly improved under the guidance of personalized fitness plans. At the same time, most participants were highly satisfied with the fitness program and felt that the program met their needs and expectations. However, the study also found that some users encountered some challenges in the execution of the plan, such as difficulties in time management and insufficient flexibility in plan adjustment. These questions remind us that we need to take more into consideration the actual situation and dynamic needs of users in the formulation of future personalized fitness plans. Looking to the future, we recommend in-depth research on how to combine real-time feedback and data from users to further optimize the personalized fitness plan algorithm and improve the adaptability and flexibility of the plan, thereby improving user experience and fitness effects.

Research on the Identification of Rural Revitalization Potential and Precise Financial Support in Poverty-Stricken Areas

Research on the Identification of Rural Revitalization Potential and Precise Financial Support in Poverty-Stricken Areas

“We Must Not Be Caught Sleeping.” Pandemic Futures, the WHO, and Global Preparedness Plans in the 1990s and Early 2000s

Abstract Preparing for the next pandemic became not only a national task, but a problem with international, even global dimensions. No single nation on its own is able to stop the next pandemic; no borders are strong enough to keep microbial threats outside the nation-state’s territory. This essay focuses on the role of the WHO in pandemic preparedness planning in the 1990s and early 2000s: What vision of the global future did the international organization follow and design? What measures did it propose to reduce risks? What narratives did it use to define its own role in these processes?