Opinion: OPINION After COVID and monkeypox, it's time to rethink how U.S. responds to infectious diseases

After COVID and monkeypox, it's time to rethink how U.S. responds to infectious diseases The COVID-19, monkeypox, and now Ebola responses have illustrated the urgent need to re-imagine the nation’s laboratory system. Scott J. Becker USA TODAY

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Consistent funding is essential

It starts with funding. Congress must provide consistent funding for public health to improve and maintain both the physical infrastructure, and the highly trained workforce at the state, local and territorial government levels.

Ongoing support is also required for directed research in which public health entities work in close collaboration with academia, to ensure that advanced diagnostic tools are developed and evaluated, both for use in the laboratory and for home testing. The National Institutes of Health’s RADx Program, a collaboration between government, academia and manufacturers, is an excellent example of how advanced diagnostic technology can be supported.

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