Whose fears count? Legitimacy, trust and viral outbreak responses after COVID-19
by Rebecca F. Grais COVID-19 transformed viral outbreak response from a predominantly public health challenge into a political and security concern. Recent responses to Ebola, mpox, and other emerging infections suggest that preparedness is increasingly shaped by whose fears are prioritized in decision-making. The challenge is ensuring that competing perceptions of risk are managed in ways that…
The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped viral outbreak response from a health issue to a political and security concern. This shift is evident in recent reactions to Ebola, mpox, and other emerging infections. Preparedness is now influenced by which fears are prioritized during decision-making, highlighting the need for legitimacy, trust, and inclusivity in management.
The challenge lies in balancing competing perceptions of risk, as different actors may view them differently, leading to a complex hierarchy of concerns. Understanding how trust and mistrust shape risk perceptions is crucial for effective preparedness.
Written by urgent.news from PLOS Medicine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
