The Ebola and hantavirus outbreaks warn us we must be better prepared if we are to prevent the next pandemic | Helen Clark

Two rare disease outbreaks within two weeks caused deaths and triggered costly international responses. An Andes hantavirus outbreak on a cruise in the south Atlantic developed slowly, with three weeks passing between a passenger death and confirmation of hantavirus. During that time, the ship continued its itinerary, passengers toured islands, and more than 30 disembarked and traveled separately. Later, additional illness and a second death occurred, leading to medevac, international coordination, government involvement, and prolonged isolation. A Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo showed faster escalation, with many deaths and cases reported in Ituri. Although Ebola is endemic and usually detected early, this outbreak had been spreading for weeks before confirmation, highlighting the need for earlier precaution.

"Three weeks passed between the death of one passenger on 11 April and the linkage to hantavirus on 2 May. In that time, passengers onboard the MV Hondius continued their itinerary, having been advised that the man had probably died of natural causes. They toured remote islands and ate together at the same tables. More than 30 passengers disembarked at St Helena and flew in different directions."

"From 27 April, the picture worsened on the ship. A passenger was medevaced from Ascension, several others fell ill and one woman died. A remote adventure cruise became a costly international health event, requiring World Health Organization coordination, the intervention of the Spanish prime minister and governments chartering planes to bring their nationals home from Tenerife for weeks of isolation. Cases may still emerge."

"An Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention report last Friday cited 65 deaths and more than 260 cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, concentrated in the remote province of Ituri, bordering Uganda and South Sudan. As it is endemic in the DRC, Ebola is usually picked up early even one or two deaths have been notified to the WHO. This outbreak had been spreading for weeks before confirmation."

"When it was finally identified as the rare Bundibugyo strain, Africa CDC and the WHO alerted the world promptly. The human cost of the spread of the virus is devastating. Ituri is a region already vulnerable due to conflict and successive health crises. Communities there e"

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