A report from a United Nations-established organization has shown that preventing pandemics is cheaper than addressing their effects.
The report, created by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), indicated that the prevention of pandemics could be over 100 times less costly than tackling the their deadly effects.
Costs of preventing and curing pandemics
The IPBES document urges people to stop encroaching on wild land and eat less meat in order to avoid contact with animals that carry viruses or bacteria that could infect humans. It also called on governments to cooperate in order to avoid future pandemics and quickly control outbreaks.
According to the report, the current coronavirus pandemic could cost the global economy $16 trillion by next summer while preventive measures, including cracking down on the wildlife trade, would just cost between $40 billion and $58 billion annually.
the IPBES noted that while it is still a large amount of money, it is just a fraction of the economic cost of addressing pandemics such as Covid-19.
Furthermore, the report authors warned that risk of pandemics is increasing at a high pace, with over five new diseases emerging every year.
Also, the document emphasized that 70% of new diseases like ebola and zika, and almost all known pathogens with pandemic potential, such as influenza, HIV, and the novel coronavirus, have originated in animals.
These diseases have the potential to "spill over" or jump from one species to another whenever there is contact between wildlife, livestock, and people. The report mentioned that mammals and bird are known to carry more than a million undiscovered viruses.
Pandemic prevention recommendations
In order to prevent these diseases from spreading and cause pandemics, the report authors made several recommendations. The first one is to set up an expert pandemic prevention panel similar to the global climate change panel.
Another step is to establish an international treaty to build preparedness, enhance prevention, and control outbreaks. Lastly, the report recommends establishing a common approach on the assessment of major land-use projects that might expose humans to animal viruses.
The document reads: "Pandemics are becoming more frequent. Without preventive strategies, they will emerge more often, spread more rapidly, kill more people, and affect the global economy with more devastating impact."
The authors criticized the current approach of relying on new vaccines after diseases have emerged. They argued: "Covid-19 demonstrates this is a slow and uncertain path, as the human costs are mounting in lives lost, sickness endured, economic collapse, and lost livelihoods."
Among the drivers of pandemics identified by the authors are agricultural expansion and intensification, wildlife trade, wildlife consumption and global travel. They recommend the reduction of farmed and wild meat consumption, particularly those from emerging disease hotspots.
However, this may be opposed by South American countries, including Brazil, as these nations' ranching and the production of animal feed contribute greatly to their economy.
Professor Matthew Baylis from Liverpool University, who was not involved with the new report, said: “Slowing the degradation of natural land will be as challenging to politicians and the public as preventing climate change."
“But the huge human, social and economic costs of the Covid-19 pandemic make a compelling case for global action. A major bonus is that this action can also contribute to addressing climate change (by preserving natural land)," he added.
