Many Asian countries face barriers in building effective disease surveillance networks, including relying on shrinking external funding
The recombinant strain is being monitored. While there is no evidence yet that the new strain is significantly more contagious than the already existing variants, it does come as a clarion call to Asia to not just strengthen its disease surveillance across the region, but to invest in a more coordinated response to any health crisis, something that has been on the WHO Southeast Asia region’s agenda since last year.
Experts warn that now more than ever, robust disease surveillance even before an outbreak is essential. Even a small lapse could push the region towards another public health crisis.
