‘Pandemics could return to Europe,’ warns Belgian expert in new book

We must prepare ourselves mentally and practically for the possibility that major outbreaks and even pandemics could return, also in Europe. This is the warning issued by Belgian infectiologist Erika Vlieghe in her new book “Gepokt en gemazeld” – which can be roughly translated as “Tried and tested”. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vlieghe led various scientific committees that advised the Belgian government.

In her new book, Erika Vlieghe describes how countries in Europe failed to create a kind of “pandemic preparedness” in recent decades because it was thought that such pandemics were a thing of the past for them. As a result, “we did not think about strategic stocks and were very late in embracing face masks as a possible means of prevention” when COVID-19 hit Europe hard, according to the Belgian expert.

She points out that during the spread of the pandemic, there was renewed attention for strategies to avoid a pandemic in the future, but that attention waned again once the outbreak was under control. This means we keep finding ourselves in a cycle of denial and panic, she says.

“A crisis should not be the only time we start to put our structures in order"

That is why the infectious disease specialist advocates a written and detailed long-term pandemic plan, which clearly states what needs to be done and by whom. This plan must then be updated, revised and practised. Communication during a pandemic must also be more straightforward, in plain language and clearer for the public. “A crisis should not be the only time we start to put our structures in order,” she writes.

Vlieghe also emphasises hopeful news: five years after COVID-19, various Belgian control bodies (such as the Risk Management Group) have been strengthened, weekly reports on respiratory infections are being produced, and ventilation of indoor spaces has gained importance.

Erika Vlieghe is an internist-infectiologist with experience in Belgium, the UK, Uganda, Ecuador and Cambodia. At the University Hospital of Antwerp, she heads the department of general internal medicine, infectious diseases and tropical medicine. As a professor, she teaches tropical medicine, infectious diseases and outbreak management at the University of Antwerp and the Institute of Tropical Medicine. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led various scientific committees that advised the federal government.

 

#FlandersNewsService | Infectiologist Erika Vlieghe © PHOTO BELPRESS

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