The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States is establishing its first regional office in Tokyo, Japan. This office will help the CDC better collaborate with allies on disease monitoring.
During an interview in Tokyo on Monday, February 5, CDC Director Mandy Cohen expressed how crucial the region is. According to Bloomberg, she stated, "It's where a number of emerging infectious diseases have come from prior and so it's important for us to be able to share information quickly to jointly invest in health security platforms and capacity."
Health Crisis Preparation
In order to be ready for the next possible health crisis, medical experts are reviewing what they have learned and experienced from the COVID-19 pandemic. While the last four years have brought attention to the importance of research, technological advancement, and strong healthcare systems, a big source of contention between the US and China has been the lack of information exchange.
Beijing has long been the target of Washington's criticism for withholding information on the early days of the original COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan. Even while no one country has ever pinpointed exactly what caused the virus, the US has come up with two possible explanations: either the virus originated in a lab accident, or it originated in animals.
Officials from China have claimed to exchange information with the World Health Organization (WHO) and take part in scientifically-based projects.
Why Japan?
Since Japan was able to maintain a low mortality rate throughout the outbreak without formally enforcing lockdowns, the country's pandemic management was generally considered a huge success. Reasons cited by experts include almost universal mask use, high immunization rates, restricted social interaction, and strict adherence to social distance regulations.
That, says Cohen, is what makes it a promising ally for potential partnerships. "They were very successful at protecting the country of Japan and thinking about what were the right protocols and parameters to put in place," she said.
Michelle McConnell will lead the new office. She is an epidemiologist with experience working for the US Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Global Affairs in Asia and the Pacific.
Cohen emphasized the need for cooperation across the whole area to guarantee their safety and protection. "The world is complex and that is why partnership is so crucial. We can't do it alone."
