Adnkronos Rome, 3 Dec. (Adnkronos Salute) – The Jubilee 2025 is now upon us (20 days to go). A global event that will bring millions of people from all over the world to Rome. In a letter sent to 'Lancet', a team of Italian epidemiologists and scientists (Francesco Branda and Massimo Ciccozzi of the Campus Bio-Medico University and Fabio Scarpa of the University of Sassari) analyzed and put on paper the possible health risks.
"The lessons of recent years must not be forgotten. Investing in pandemic preparedness is not an option, but an ethical and practical necessity. Knowledge gaps must be filled, collaboration promoted, and prevention prioritized," they concluded. The researchers also developed a "7-pillar" plan that sets priorities for interventions.
"We are returning to normality after the Covid emergency, but there are other warning signs, such as avian influenza, and we must remain vigilant on Mpox (formerly monkeypox) - the scientists recall - These threats to public health underscore an undeniable truth: prevention and epidemiological monitoring are essential to avert the local risk of epidemics and prevent them from turning into global emergencies". Global events such as the Jubilee, "with the immense influx of pilgrims from all over the world, and therefore the concentration of millions of people in confined spaces, create an ideal environment for the spread of infectious diseases, including respiratory viruses, gastrointestinal infections and vector-borne diseases. The combination of high human density, international travel and shared accommodation amplifies the risk of new outbreaks", warn the signatories.
The letter also recalls what has already happened in the past with events of similar size to the Jubilee. "Historically, mass events have been associated with disease transmission. The MERS-CoV pandemic during the Hajj pilgrimage (Mecca-Saudi Arabia) in 2012, for example, highlighted the risk of epidemics associated with large religious gatherings. Transmission of the virus was accelerated by the concentration of pilgrims from different countries and the sharing of confined spaces such as dormitories and public transport. In 2003, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) spread significantly at large international gatherings, as confirmed by an international study. The Jubilee therefore, with its large circulation of people and concentration of pilgrims, requires special vigilance: especially in the context of emerging pathogens and the growing threat of antibiotic resistance".
The research group has developed "an ad hoc plan, the 'Jubilee 2024 Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan', based on the principles of surveillance, innovation and resilience". The project consists of 7 fundamental pillars:
1) Epidemiological surveillance, i.e. continuous monitoring of the spread of infectious diseases, integrating data collection and analysis with genetic sequencing data to identify emerging trends; 2) Advanced studies on the origins, pathogenesis and transmission of diseases, using artificial intelligence (AI) and genomics with tools to develop predictive models and optimize interventions; 3) Strengthening the training and capacity of health workers and communities through workshops, seminars and public health campaigns; 4) Collaboration and networking, i.e. strengthening connections with countries and international health organizations to promote the exchange of knowledge and coordinated responses; 5) Prevention and control, implementing evidence-based measures, from vaccination programs to health education, adapted to specific disease profiles; 6) Emergency response, finding resources for predefined emergency plans in rapid time; 7) Addressing the interconnection between human, animal and environmental health (One Health), to effectively combat zoonoses.
