International Day Of Epidemic Preparedness: Prevent, Detect And Combat

International Day of Epidemic Preparedness is commemorated on December 27^th every year for the prevention of, preparedness for and partnership against epidemics. It was held for the first time in 2020 on the heels of the world being plagued with the COVID-19 pandemic. Pervasive cholera, mpox, Marburg, polio and H5N1 avian influenza is a clarion call to inject funds into diagnostics, treatments and vaccines. In essence, the day highlights the urgency to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats and build resilient public and primary health care systems.

Preparing societies to better face future pandemics demands investments in rapid tests, infection surveillance solutions, electronic health records, IVD and water and wastewater treatment equipment. As health crises wreak havoc on the economies and the health systems, an emphasis on prevention, mitigation and addressing of the impacts of epidemics and infectious diseases has become paramount. Predominantly, the “Global 7-1-7 Target” framework has set the benchmark, suggesting every suspected outbreak should adhere to the following timelines:

• Detect outbreak within 7 days of its emergence;

• Notify public health authorities and start an investigation within 1 day of detection;

• Respond effectively within 7 days of notification.

Rapid Tests-First line of defense

Rampant infections have put the spotlight on rapid tests, evident from the launch of rapid antigen tests as the response to the onslaught of the COVID-19 outbreak. Moreover, rapid tests for dengue, malaria and HIV can considerably expand accessibility for robust and fast diagnosis. The trends in the rapid tests market suggest that at-home tests will be here to stay, while the prospect of collecting and storing data digitally will continue to gain ground. For instance, in December 2024, LifeArc noted that projects were introduced for a low-cost and user-friendly testing kit to help address the shortage of cold chain storage, transport facilities for biological samples (in several low-resource settings) and help diagnose life-threatening central nervous system infections.

Modernizing Infection Surveillance Solutions

An uptick in the number of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) has fueled the demand for surveillance of infectious diseases. Overall, early detection, monitoring and rapid response are the tripartite phases that can help respond to infectious diseases precisely and accurately. For instance, containing diseases during the early stage can negate the economic impact of the pandemic and help detect diseases in their infancy. Meanwhile, the infection surveillance solutions market stands at a critical juncture amidst surging costs of healthcare IT solutions. To illustrate, wastewater surveillance amassed huge popularity through testing wastewater for COVID-19. Adoption of state-of-the-art technologies, including big data analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence, will fuel innovations and advancements in infectious disease surveillance.

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have gained ground in the healthcare ecosystem to reduce clinical costs, streamline clinical tasks, boost accessibility and expand medical services. Of late, remote accessibility, virtual health services and AI integration have become a beacon of hope in reducing patient expenses, enhancing medical practices and solving complex medical data structures. Innovations are helping clinicians deliver more informed patient care in the electronic health records market. As an illustration, advanced EHRs can enable clinicians to update patient details in near real-time from anywhere and help detect errors to boost safety.

Navigating the Prospect of In Vitro Diagnostics and Quality Control

Pioneers in In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) are counting on biosensor development, next-generation sequencing and digital health. IVD is likely to redefine the way diseases are prevented, detected and treated. The role of the In Vitro Diagnostics market is critical in fostering personalized healthcare, point-of-care, at-home testing and genomics. Prominently, post-infection diagnosis has been the center of attention amidst surging infection cases. According to the CDC, over 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections-a global public health threat-are observed in the U.S. annually. Stakeholders are poised to inject funds into diagnostic testing for infection prevention, pre- and post- surgical testing contamination avoidance and sample collection.

Diagnostic test manufacturers rely on IVD quality control for enhanced patient care and the accuracy and reliability of diagnostic tests. An upsurge in clinical laboratory tests has become instrumental in early detection and prevention. According to the American Clinical Laboratory Association, over 7 billion clinical lab tests are performed in the U.S. annually. The IVD quality control market is poised for advancements in genetic tests to prescribe the right drug, at the right dose and at the right time. In doing so, regulatory bodies such as the U.S. FDA, Health Canada for Canada, the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for Europe and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for the UK play a monumental role in regular quality checks and monitoring quality control of IVD devices and service providers.

Ushering Innovations in Water and Wastewater Treatment Equipment

Water and wastewater surveillance has become invaluable in alerting authorities about health alerts, including cholera and antimicrobial resistance. In September 2024, researchers from 11 European universities, knowledge organizations and institutions developed a method to find out if disease-causing bacteria, antimicrobial resistance and viruses come from animals, humans, the environment or industry. At a time when untreated wastewater has become a source for disease surveillance, the water and wastewater treatment equipment market could witness increased investments.

While activated sludge treatment and membrane filtration and soil biotechnology continue to gain prominence, state-of-the-art technologies such as sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) and membrane bioreactors have provided a fillip to curb the epidemic. For instance, SBR is energy efficient and enables the removal of phosphorous and nitrogen through process stages.

The prevalence of cholera and E. coli has compelled stakeholders to invest in Point of Use (POU) water treatment systems. POU devices have become sought-after to meet drinking water quality standards, alluding to the growth trajectory of point of use water treatment systems market. For instance, in November 2024, the U.S. CDC noted that waterborne diseases affect more than 7 million people in the U.S. every year and cost over USD 3 billion to the healthcare system. POU water treatment devices are likely to receive impetus to reduce contaminants and boost the penetration of safe drinking water.

Prominence of Ultraviolet Disinfection Equipment

UV light has become the game-changer in reducing the incidence of parasites, including giardia and cryptosporidia, which can be resistant to chemical disinfection. Lately, several facilities have vouched for UV light to bolster air disinfection and prevent bacteria from growing in damp and cool conditions. In essence, UV air disinfection becomes invaluable in medical environments to eradicate parasites, bacteria, dust mites, mold spores and airborne microorganisms. Additionally, laboratories seek UV to disinfect glassware, goggles or other equipment to prevent risk contamination. These dynamics underpin the ultraviolet disinfection equipment market.

Preparing for Epidemic-the Upshot

As global health crises dent the path of healthcare, investments in rapid tests, infection surveillance solutions and IVD tools could unlock the avenues of effective measures to respond to and prevent epidemics. Stakeholders from all walks of life have a role to play in preventing, detecting and mitigating infectious diseases and epidemics in line with the 2030 Agenda.