90-Second Read: Hantavirus, Ebola Show Risk Preparedness Lagging Despite Improved Crisis Response: Pandemic Expert

Former New Zealand Prime Minister and pandemic preparedness expert Helen Clark has warned that recent Ebola and Hantavirus outbreaks have exposed serious gaps in the world's ability to detect health threats early, despite improvements in emergency response systems after Covid-19. Referring to the recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship in the Atlantic, Clark said authorities reacted quickly once alerts were issued. The Hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship, which reportedly caused three deaths, has raised concerns because the virus is already known to exist in the part of Argentina where the ship started its journey. Calling for stronger 'risk-informed preparedness', Helen Clark urged governments and health agencies to identify potential threats early and prepare for them before they worsen.

Clark said the bigger concern is how such outbreaks continue spreading before being identified. Calling for stronger "risk-informed preparedness", Clark urged governments and health agencies to focus more on identifying possible threats in advance and preparing for them before they escalate. How A Quest For Rare Species Led To 'Patient Zero's' Diagnosis She also questioned how the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola was able to spread for weeks in a remote province of Congo without being correctly identified.

However, she stressed that countries are still struggling with surveillance, risk assessment and early detection. But we're not clear how much was known about that by ships who depart regularly from there. Clark described the situation as a "perfect storm", warning that global aid cuts and reduced donor funding are weakening healthcare systems in vulnerable countries. ICMR-NIV Chief Clarifies Current Status Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories, On NDTV Profit.