Health experts urge stronger disease surveillance and data sharing to prevent pandemics

Health experts have called for stronger pandemic preparedness measures, improved laboratory infrastructure, and robust data sharing during a virtual panel discussion on global health emergencies. Dr. Vijayalakshmi Balakrishnan, a senior consultant in infectious diseases at Kauvery Hospitals in Chennai, was among the specialists who highlighted the critical need for state-level data analytics to help local clinicians anticipate infection outbreaks and prepare for surges.

Speaking at the webinar, titled 'Ebola: Preparing for the Next Pandemic' and organized by The Hindu, Balakrishnan explained the clinical handling of zoonotic infections, ranging from initial diagnosis to management, treatment, and patient education. She urged the State government to provide data analytics to assist clinicians in preparing for sudden increases in specific infections. Balakrishnan also warned patients against self-medicating with antibiotics, noting that the practice is actively driving a growing crisis of antimicrobial resistance.

Hamsadvani Kuganantham, a consultant with the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office and a global health research manager at the University of Oxford's Global Health Network, stressed that countries like India must be active participants in preparedness protocols. Kuganantham called for strengthened disease surveillance across the country, active data sharing to facilitate ongoing research, and the incorporation of the One Health Approach into public health measures.

Parthesarathy Rajendran, the executive director of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) South Asia, shared insights from handling Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring Uganda. Rajendran explained how cases rapidly increased in those regions and emphasized that contact tracing remains a cornerstone of controlling infection spread. He also highlighted the necessity of working closely with local communities to build education and awareness around infection protocols, prevention measures, and ensuring dignified burials for patients.

The panel of experts collectively concluded that tackling future global health emergencies requires better laboratory and testing infrastructure, dedicated training and resources for healthcare workers, and building community trust to combat misinformation.