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Finding Disease X and China’s Pending Welfare Crisis
Better health begins with ideas
Editors' Note
Following the reauthorization of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) late last week, Jirair Ratevosian, its former acting chief of staff, explains why the one-year extension is welcome but also "injects uncertainty" into the program's lifesaving mission. As of September 2023, PEPFAR had delivered antiretroviral therapy to nearly 20.5 million people and allowed more than 5.5 million babies to be born HIV-free.
Next, researchers at the University of California, Davis explain how SpillOver, a viral risk ranking platform, could help detect the next novel pathogen, or "Disease X," before it reaches epidemic or pandemic proportions. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations has partnered with the team to expand the tool, while also launching a mission to shrink vaccine development timelines for major outbreaks to under 100 days.
Wrapping up the week, journalist Carrie Arnold describes the efforts of a group of scientists at Duke University to revolutionize snakebite care in Brazil by using math to increase antivenom availability in rural settings.
Until next week!—Nsikan Akpan, Managing Editor, and Caroline Kantis, Associate Editor