New Delhi: The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness is observed on December 27. It is an international day that encourages every individual, institution, and government to observe the day annually “in an appropriate manner and accordance with national contexts and priorities, through education and awareness-raising activities, to highlight the importance of the prevention of, preparedness for, and partnership against epidemics.”
The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness is a United Nations-designated day. Read on to learn why the day was needed and what an epidemic is.
What is an epidemic?
Let’s define an epidemic before we learn more about the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness.
According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, “An outbreak of disease that spreads quickly and affects many individuals at the same time: an outbreak of epidemic disease.”
Epidemics are usually classified as common or propagated based on how they spread among people. Propagated outbreaks occur when one person spreads a disease to another. This can happen through direct contact, such as in some sexually transmitted diseases, by sharing items like needles, which is called vehicle-borne transmission, or through vectors like mosquitoes, known as vector-borne transmission.
When and why was International Day of Epidemic Preparedness started?
The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness was established as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which devastated lives, economies, and health systems worldwide. Although the crisis has passed, the lessons learned highlight that many countries are still unprepared for future pandemics. Ongoing outbreaks of diseases like mpox, cholera, polio, and Marburg remind us that infectious diseases continue to pose a threat globally.
On December 7, 2020, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution to declare December 27 as International Epidemic Preparedness Day. The first observance of this day was on December 27, 2020, following the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in China in late 2019, which led to widespread lockdowns as infections rose.
The day aims to emphasise the importance of preventing and preparing for pandemics and to encourage international cooperation.
According to the United Nations, countries should learn from past health emergencies and prepare for future ones. This includes building strong public health systems and ensuring everyone has access to health care. It also requires significant investments in monitoring, detecting, and responding to pandemics. Most importantly, it calls for global cooperation.
What is the Purpose and Significance of the Day?
The day raises awareness about pandemics by sharing information, scientific knowledge and best practices worldwide.
Significance
Governments play a key role in responding to pandemics, and this day recognises that responsibility.
International Day of Epidemic Preparedness educates people about how to prepare for pandemics.
The event encourages sharing information on preventing and managing epidemics at all levels—local, national, regional, and global.
The day aims to improve how countries respond to future health challenges, helping them to be more prepared.
The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness highlights the crucial need for global cooperation in preventing and responding to epidemics. Established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this day emphasises the importance of strengthening public health systems, investing in disease surveillance, and learning from past health emergencies to better prepare for future outbreaks. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
