By Soumya Bhamidipati of RNZ
Experts say New Zealand needs a centre for disease control (CDC) to better prepare for future pandemics.
A new paper by scientists from the Public Health Communication Centre argues that such an agency would build the science capacity needed for responding to future pandemics and to better manage existing infectious disease threats.
One of the authors, epidemiologist Michael Baker, said most comparable countries already had “essential infrastructure” like this.
“Many countries already have established CDC-type organisations that take responsibility for integrated surveillance, coordinated laboratory testing, outbreak response, workforce training, and strategic capacity building. Australia is establishing a federal CDC.