Part 7/9:
The process of predicting and preparing for diseases involves significant complexity. A small group of scientists and policymakers decide what to prioritize, based on the potential impact and likelihood of occurrence. They have to weigh economic impacts—such as how outbreaks affect trade, tourism, and GDP—against public health costs like lives lost and suffering.
For instance, the 2015 Ebola crisis cost West African economies approximately $2.2 billion dollars, while China's SARS outbreak resulted in a $25 billion dollar hit to tourism and economic growth.