What are the 8 measures to prevent pandemics and reduce the climate crisis, according to a study conducted by a Harvard expert

Aaron Bernstein began working as a pediatrician with the classic stethoscope to listen to the beating of the heart. But I felt like I was late when there were already illnesses. The breathing difficulties could be related to air pollution. He has observed trauma related to environmental disasters, and detected infections transmitted by vectors such as insects. He’s still a pediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital, but since Harvard University his focus has been on children around the world. Today he publishes a report containing the conclusions he reached with leaders from other parts of the world in which they outline the measures that must be taken both to prevent another pandemic and to deactivate the impacts of the crisis. climate that affects the planet.

Dr Bernstein heads the Scientific Working Group for Pandemic Prevention at the Center for Global Climate, Health and Environment at the TH Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University. Interviewed by Infobae, Express his concern to know which planet is left for future generations to live on.

Nature conservation measures will also serve to prevent future pandemics, they say. The group of experts alerted in the report that these measures are less costly if we take into account the problems of climate crises and the pandemics that could result from them.

In this time of the coronavirus pandemic, supplies are needed for diagnostic testing, drugs and vaccines. But they are insufficient in many countries. To deal with COVID-19, more than $ 6 billion has already been spent worldwide, but – warned Dr Bernstein – this sum will never be able to immunize us against future pandemics. Other pathogens found in nature could spread to other species and affect humanity.

“No one wants to experience another pandemic like COVID-19. However, the likelihood of another pandemic could be greater than ever, ”wrote Bernstein with other experts such as Marcos Espinal, director of the Department of Communicable Diseases and Health Analysis of the Pan American Organization of health (OPS) and Guilherme Werneck, professor of epidemiology at the State University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, among others.

“If we act today to prevent the spread of diseases transmissible from animals to humans, we can also help stabilize the planet’s climate: it is essential that measures be taken to better conserve forests ”, affirmed in dialogue with Infobae. Last year, Bernstein and his colleagues estimated that the costs Preventing the next pandemic by reducing deforestation and regulating the wildlife trade represents only $ 22 billion per year, or 2% of the economic cost of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are different situations induced by human activities which influence both the emergence of new diseases and the climate crisis: unsustainable breeding practices; hunting and trade in wild animals; land use change, and in particular destruction of tropical forests, expansion of agricultural land, especially near human settlements; and rapid and unplanned urbanization. Agriculture is associated with more than 50% of zoonotic infectious diseases that have affected humans since 1940.

What measures are needed? These are actions falling within the framework of the “One Health” concept, which involves taking advantage of investments in strengthening the health system which also have an impact on animal and human health. and in the prevention of contagions. A successful precedent is the situation in Borneo, where a decade of work has reduced deforestation by 70% and provided access to health care to more than 28,400 patients, as well as substantially reduced diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and common diseases. childhood illnesses.

From the “One Health” approach, according to Bernstein and the expert group identified 4 priority investment measures: One measure is to conserve tropical forests, especially those that are relatively intact, as well as those that have been fragmented. The second measure is to improve the biosecurity of livestock and farmed wild animals.especially when ranching takes place near large or rapidly expanding human populations.

The third measure is: establish an intergovernmental partnership to address the risk of spreading wild animals to livestock and humans. This partnership represents the largest collaboration between related organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization, OIE, UNEP and surveillance networks. of wildlife legislation. Fourth, it was advised that in low- and middle-income countries more investment should be used to strengthen health systems and conservation management.

As well the working group defined 4 scientific research priorities. Identify interventions, including those focused on forest conservation, wildlife hunting and trade, and biosecurity around farms, they are more effective in preventing contagion.

A second research priority is also needed to “assess the economic, ecological, long-term viability and social welfare impacts of interventions aimed at reducing contagion”. Include in the economic analyzes a cost-benefit analysis which takes into account all the advantages that the prevention of contagions can bring. In addition, As a fourth research priority, we need to refine our ability to know where future pandemics are likely to occur and pursue virus discovery in wildlife to determine the extent of potential pathogens.

Bernstein and experts hope the report’s findings will feed into international policy recommendations to guide the G20 summit in October and the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November.

In 2008, along with Nobel Laureate Eric Chivian, Dr Bernstein was co-author of the book Oxford University Press, Maintain life, which received the distinction of the best biology book of the year 2008 by the Library Journal, and which has been published in several editions in foreign languages. “We tell children to buckle up or eat healthy foods to prevent illness. But if we do not take care of the planet’s biodiversity and without a stable climate, children will not have well-being. It is our responsibility ”.

“Vaccines are essential today because the COVID-19 pandemic is unfolding today,” Bernstein said Infobae-. They are meant to contain the infection. But we must also think about prevention for the future. Other specific jumps in pathogens could occur and spread around the world and that is why we need to improve nature care and work on prevention. It is time to act today ”.

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