Resolve to Save Lives, a nonprofit organization dedicated to pandemic preparedness, has released a new report titled “Pandemics That Didn’t Happen,” celebrating six successful outbreak responses that will take effect in 2023,
The report comes after it previously estimated that investing $124 billion in pandemic preparedness over five years could save the global economy trillions of dollars, a small price tag compared to the estimated $20 billion cost of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report highlighted the effectiveness of proactive measures in preventing widespread disease and economic devastation.
According to the study, one example of this was the quick containment of the Lassa fever outbreak in Accra, Ghana, in February 2023. A market trader died from severe bleeding, and shortly after, his healthcare provider fell ill.
Public health officials were quick to identify the disease, and the Ghana Health Service acted swiftly to trace over two hundred people who had come into contact with the trader and educate the public on the symptoms of Lassa fever.
Their decisive actions identified 27 additional cases and contained the outbreak, preventing its spread to neighbouring countries and averting further deaths. The report highlights that the incident is an example of how effective preparedness can prevent outbreaks before they grow.
“Preparedness works. When we invest in preparedness and respond quickly once we detect one, we can change the trajectory of an outbreak,” said Dr. Tom Frieden, president and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives.
“Although the hard work of pandemic preparedness and health security often goes unnoticed, it can make the difference between a small outbreak and a major pandemic,” he said.
The report details how public health workers prevented not only Lassa fever in Ghana, but also cholera in Bangladesh, dengue fever in Somalia, H5N1 (bird flu) in Finland, Neethling disease in Cambodia, and leptospirosis in Vanuatu.
In each case, investments in health systems saved lives, prevented human suffering and protected livelihoods, according to the organisation.
The research highlighted that effective health systems must be sensitive to the needs of local communities and build deep, trusting relationships not just during the crisis, but for years to come.
“This requires building deep, trusting relationships over many years – not just engaging communities in a crisis. For example, in Finland, strong collaboration between human and animal health authorities and fur farmers proved crucial in allowing a rapid and robust response to an H5N1 outbreak on a fur farm.”
According to the report, timeliness also plays a key role in preventing a full-scale epidemic, as a quick response to an outbreak reduces mortality and economic costs.
“In Bangladesh, the Joint Assessment and Response Team receives alerts within 24 hours of any suspected cholera case in the Rohingya refugee camps, ensuring prompt action,” it said.
The Save Lives pledge advocated a 7-1-7 goal: 7 days to detect a suspected outbreak, 1 day to notify public health authorities, and 7 days to implement necessary control measures.
The report highlights the importance of individual action in outbreak detection and response, from health workers to farmers.
Community rangers at a wildlife sanctuary in Cambodia spotted the first case of Neethling disease in wild cattle, helping to prevent the spread of the disease, the report said.
The report also highlights climate change as a growing threat to global health.
Many of the outbreaks highlighted were linked to severe weather events, such as cyclones and flooding, and extreme weather is becoming more common.
“While we’ve seen successful responses to disease outbreaks over the past year, there are still many events we are unprepared for,” said Amanda McClelland, senior vice president of pandemic prevention at Resolve to Save Lives.
“Significant gaps in preparedness still persist, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Ignoring these gaps puts us all at risk,” he said.
The World Bank's new Pandemic Fund aims to provide additional resources for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
However, global financing is still insufficient for rapid and effective measures to combat the pandemic. In addition to financing, effective implementation on the ground is also essential to stop the pandemic and save lives.
The report was prepared in collaboration with ministries of health and global health and environmental organisations, including the World Health Organisation, the International Federation of the Red Cross and the Wildlife Conservation Society.