The coronavirus outbreak was a “battle between humans and viruses, not between people, not
between countries.”
The fight against coronavirus pandemics highlight the importance of prioritizing global health
research and increase openness and cooperation among scientists worldwide.
As an epidemiologist focused on global health and health strategies, Bouey has taught at
Georgetown University and participated in studies on global health security issues in the US and
China.
Since the SARS outbreak, China's response capabilities during a pandemic and its health
management system have improved significantly. The country has invested in a nationwide
network consisting of disease control centers at every level, Bouey noted.
The centers are connected by a real-time, web-based system for emerging public health events.
“The coronavirus is the most serious test for China’s strengthened epidemic surveillance and
response systems since new measures were implemented after the SARS outbreak,” Bouey said.
Following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, China and WHO officials began communicating
with each other to share the disease’s genetic sequence in efforts to prevent and control the
epidemic.
Bouey said that because Chinese scientists isolated the coronavirus they could conduct genomic
sequencing experiments an share their findings with the world in such a short period. Their efforts
helped identify the virus and enabled China and other countries to develop early detection testing
kits.
"This was a very important step in controlling the outbreak, the Chinese scientists in this regard
are doing very well,” Bouey said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) classified the outbreak as a public health emergency of
international concern (PHEIC) while stressing that travel and trade restrictions would be
unnecessary. Since then, a few countries have implemented so-called "travel bans,” barring
Chinese from entering their countries.
Bouey said travel bans are an overreaction based on multiple factors, would have huge social and
economic impacts, and would not be an effective response to the outbreak.
"A travel ban does not protect a country from the virus. It gives the illusion that it can be
contained in China, which it isn't," she explained.
As for the growing discrimination against Chinese due to coronavirus in other countries and
regions, Bouey said this phenomenon should be condemned.
As Bouey explained, epidemic disease outbreaks are often accompanied by rumors and
discrimination and lack a scientific basis, stigma, and prejudice. Also, punitive remarks preclude a
sense of goodwill and more than likely undermine transparency, making the disease harder to
combat.
“The coronavirus is a threat to all human beings, not to a particular country or nation, and
international cooperation is needed to deal with it,” Bouey elaborated.
History has revealed that China and the US maintained strong communication and cooperation in
the fight against SARS, H5N1, H1N1, H7N9, influenza, and Ebola, and have made great
contributions to the progress of human health, said Bouey.
Looking forward, Bouey said that in a globalized environment, the distance between countries is
very small. The unfolding battle against this new pandemic, meanwhile, highlights the importance
of transparency and open collaboration among scientists globally.
“It is a reminder that all nations should prioritize, and protect global health research, capacity
building and cooperation,” she said.
