Over the past three years, the speed with which highly infectious strains of pathogenic viruses can be transmitted across the modern world and the difficulty of identifying and isolating cases before they infect others, has been amply demonstrated by Covid-19.

In spite of the immense sophistication of modern medicine, communications and production systems, the disease has caused the deaths and long-term illness of many millions of people worldwide. Nevertheless without modern medicine and systems, the toll would have been far, far higher. Vaccines were developed at astonishing and unprecedented speed, citizens of most countries were persuaded or forced to comply with draconian lockdowns and the medical profession across the world responded with extraordinary commitment and sacrifice.

However, mistakes inevitably were made because the disease was new and the learning curve for all exceptionally steep. It is essential that these lessons are fully absorbed by both politicians and citizens across the world and are cemented into future international and national structures and processes. New viruses will inevitably arise which may be even more deadly. This is a unique opportunity to hear the views of one of the world's leading infectious disease researchers on what needs to be done.

During the Covid crisis, the immense sophistication of modern medicine, communications and production systems, was amply demonstrated. Vaccines were developed at astonishing and unprecedented speed, citizens of most countries were persuaded or forced to comply with draconian lock-downs and the medical profession across the world responded with extraordinary commitment and sacrifice. However, mistakes were inevitably made because the disease was new and the learning curve for all, exceptionally steep. It is now essential that the lessons learnt are fully absorbed by both politicians and citizens across the world and cemented into future international and national structures and processes. Inevitably, new viruses will arise which may be even more deadly. This is a unique opportunity to hear the views of one of the world's leading infectious disease researchers on what needs to be done.