Boris Johnson backs global 'radar' to detect emerging pandemics

Boris Johnson backs global ‘radar’ to detect emerging pandemics after coronavirus was allowed to spread for MONTHS

• Boris Johnson has pledged UK’s support for new global surveillance network
• It will aim to spot emerging diseases before they can cause a global pandemic
• World Health Organisation is leading work to develop ‘global pandemic radar’ 

Boris Johnson has pledged the UK’s support for a new ‘global pandemic radar’ system to spot emerging diseases before they spread around the world. 

The World Health Organisation is leading work to develop the new global surveillance network which will monitor and track new infections and variants.

Britain and the British-based Wellcome Trust are among the nations and other organisations supporting the initiative as they try to avoid a repeat of the coronavirus crisis. 

Downing Street said the project would build on British health security expertise to create a network of surveillance hubs, expected to be up and running before the end of the year.

Boris Johnson has pledged the UK’s support for a new ‘global pandemic radar’ system to spot emerging diseases before they can cause worldwide devastation.

Speaking ahead of a global health summit hosted by Italy and the EU today, Mr Johnson said ensuring the world was better prepared for future health threats was an ‘absolute priority’ for the UK’s G7 presidency.

‘The world must never be caught unawares again by a virus spreading among us unchecked,’ he said.

‘We need to build a system of disease surveillance fit for the 21st century, with real-time data-sharing and rapid genomic sequencing and response.

‘A global pandemic radar will ensure that we are vigilant to new variants and emerging pathogens, and can rapidly develop the vaccines and treatments needed to stop them in their tracks.’ 

Mr Johnson had first called for a global network of disease surveillance centres last September. 

Sir Jeremy Farrar, the head of the Wellcome Trust, said: ‘This pandemic has provided a stark wake-up call to the threat posed by a fast-moving infectious disease.

‘We are long overdue the essential reinforcement of our local, national and international disease surveillance networks.

‘We failed to address these gaps following other epidemics and we must act now before countries move on from this pandemic.

‘This commitment from the UK, as president of the G7, will be hugely important in achieving these aims. There is no time to spare in making this aspiration a reality.’

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