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An alternative risk-proportionate, sustainable response to the next infectious threat

In a previous post, I asked several questions about the response to COVID-19. My purpose was to encourage a thoughtful discourse about how to deal with the recurrent infectious disease threats to which we are exposed. To hone the focus on creating a blueprint for a more effective response to future infectious threats – let’s call them New Risk Agent, in this post I propose an alternative course of action.

I acknowledge that other than aggressive world-wide vaccination, there is no fool-proof response to infectious agents and vaccines are not always possible. I am sure that experts will find flaws in the approach I propose, but the purpose is to encourage a thoughtful dialogue out of which might result a more effective and sustainable approach.

Proposed Action Plan for New Risk Agent

  1. Appoint an experienced, knowledgeable medical scientist with strong leadership and communication skills to oversee a coordinated national response. Then, give him/her the authority to take all the following steps.
  2. Announce the potential threat and put it in perspective by comparing it to other threats.
  3. Acknowledge that despite our best efforts New Risk Agent will likely spread.
  4. Assure rapid and effective diagnosis by asking federally funded genetic sequencing centers to sequence samples until a test kit is ready.
  5. Create a mobile pool of equipment and supplies that can be dispatched to affected areas as needed.
  6. Ask each area or community to establish New Risk Agent out-patient and hospital centers of New Risk Agent excellence. This assures rapid and effective diagnosis and treatment of New Risk Agent patients while partially isolating them from at-risk patients with other diseases needing treatment.
  7. Define the at-risk populations and define special precautions they should take.
  8. If necessary, quarantine New Risk Agent patients.
  9. If necessary, temporarily assign MDs, nurses and support staff in the public health service and the military to support staff in hard-hit areas.
  10. Provide frequent and accurate updates via trusted scientific spokespersons.
  11. Maintain the world economies.