Be ready for more new epidemics

Having weathered the Covid storm for the past few years, scientists are now warning that it’s only a matter of time before more epidemics come our way.

The good news, though, according to professor Tulio de Oliveira, director of the University of Stellenbosch-based Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation, is that epidemics don’t necessarily mean they will turn into pandemics, as with Covid.

De Oliveira said “if we act quickly and identify teams that collaborate all around the world, with governments and industry playing a role to protect the world for the next epidemic”, we can manage these outbreaks of climate change-related epidemics.

He said: “These epidemics will emerge often, affecting global travel. Climate change, coupled with the concentration of population in one area, such as on the Cape Flats, will lead to the outbreak of epidemics.”

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It’s for this exact reason that we need more genomics laboratories, like the state-of-the-art research technology centre located at the University of Stellenbosch’s Biochemical Research Institute.

Last week scientists, researchers and global healthcare leaders from 25 countries were invited to the centre in a bid to offer training and fellowships to those in the field of genomics.

Huge strides have been made. A genome that once took years to complete is now being sequenced and analysed in a day or two.

Covid certainly helped governments, scientists, doctors and healthcare workers grow their knowledge in dealing with a pandemic. We must be ready for whatever is thrown at us next.

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