On Oct. 14, 2024, the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB) released a report that outlined 15 key drivers of pandemic risk, categorized into five distinct groups: social, technological, environmental, economic, and political.

Recent outbreaks of Marburg virus, Mpox and the latest strain of avian influenza (H5N1) were a stark reminder of the world’s vulnerability to pandemics. In 2024 alone, 17 outbreaks of dangerous diseases have already occurred. Each new outbreak exposes fault lines in the existing pandemic prevention architecture and global readiness to respond to disease outbreaks.

The report provides a framework for policymakers to adapt existing health strategies and enhance protective measures against future pandemics. This includes ensuring prevention and response plans are regularly reviewed and flexible enough to respond to all situations. The next pandemic will not follow the same path as COVID-19, lessons learned from that experience should guide but not define preparedness.