THE ONES WE STOPPED — Nearly three years into the Covid-19 pandemic, a new report is highlighting the infectious diseases that didn't end in catastrophe. Ebola, rabies, cholera and influenza are among the epidemiological crises averted in 2021, according to the report from Resolve to Save Lives, a global health organization focused on preventable diseases. In looking at the instances of the public health system working largely as intended, the importance of global pandemic preparedness becomes obvious, Tom Frieden, former director of the CDC and now president and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, told Pulse. "Whether or not the world becomes a substantially safer place is very much in the balance, currently," he said. "We've probably got the best chance we've had — certainly in a generation, if not in a century — for substantially improved preparedness." In pointing to the instances of successful containment worldwide, the report emphasizes countries' ability to continually innovate and improve disease response systems through using them. That's a decidedly different approach from the panic-and-neglect cycle that's traditionally come with pandemic preparedness. Resolve to Save Lives offers a disease outbreak goal of detecting a disease within seven days of its emergence, notifying public health authorities within one day of detection and engaging in needed early-response actions within seven days of health authorities being notified. Countries don't always meet those standards, but progress over time is the key to long-term solutions, Frieden said. Ebola was detected much faster in the 2021 outbreak than in the 2014 outbreak, for example — even though detection still took about a month last year. The goals emphasize action over endless planning and look to solve problems as they arise, he said. He also noted the need to prioritize planning and action on the local and country levels. Though billions of dollars have been spent internationally on pandemic preparedness and response, the systems and actions of individual countries and localities are often the most important players when an outbreak arises. Many public health officials have argued that more needs to be done, not just because Covid-19 revealed the current system's flaws, but also because factors like climate change could make outbreaks more common in the future. "The key is persistence," Frieden said. "Microbes outnumber us, literally, billions to one. So we're not going to be able to stop them unless we outsmart them — and that means working together and learning lessons from countries that are doing an effective job." WELCOME TO MONDAY PULSE. A new report scored cities best — and worst — suited for remote workers. Topping the best list are several places around the South, though Seattle and Kansas City also get shoutouts. California … didn't fare so well. Have you worked somewhere new and interesting through the pandemic? Or do you have tips or health care news? Drop us a line at dpayne@politico.com and kmahr@politico.com . TODAY ON OUR PULSE CHECK PODCAST, Ruth Reader talks with Katherine Ellen Foley about how large health systems are investing big money into providing more care at home, such as by monitoring patients remotely — and how state Medicaid offices are often impediments to scaling such programs nationally.
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