Recent outbreaks of hantavirus and Ebola have stirred fresh anxiety about global readiness for another pandemic, reviving memories of the trauma caused by Covid. While neither outbreak is expected to spiral into a worldwide crisis, health experts warn that their emergence underscores a troubling reality: infectious disease threats are becoming more frequent and more damaging.

Scientific advances since Covid have made it possible to identify pathogens and develop vaccines faster than ever before. Yet global cooperation has weakened. During Covid, wealthier nations prioritized their own populations for vaccines, and political divisions deepened mistrust in public health measures. Similar inequities have persisted in later outbreaks, with low income countries often waiting years for access to lifesaving tools.

Efforts to negotiate a new global pandemic agreement have stalled over disputes between wealthier and poorer nations, particularly around guarantees of equitable access to vaccines and treatments. At the same time, the United States has withdrawn from key global health commitments and reduced foreign aid, diminishing coordinated surveillance and response capacity.

As health officials conclude their latest global meeting, the lesson from Ebola and hantavirus is clear: outbreaks are inevitable, and without stronger international cooperation and leadership, the world risks being less prepared when the next major pandemic arrives.