Preventing Catastrophic Pandemics – 80,000 Hours

Future pandemics could be even more deadly than COVID-19, with the potential to disrupt society on a massive scale. Preventing catastrophic outbreaks is one of the most important challenges of our time, and this problem profile from 80,000 Hours explores the key risks, uncertainties, and the best ways to take action.

Key points:

1. Pandemics pose an existential threat – Advances in biotechnology make it easier to engineer dangerous pathogens, increasing the risk of global outbreaks.
2. Prevention is more effective than response – Strengthening biosafety, early detection, and international coordination can stop pandemics before they start.
3. High-impact careers can make a difference – Policy, research, and advocacy roles in biosecurity can help protect millions (or even billions) of lives.
4. There’s still a lot we don’t know – Key uncertainties include how to best regulate biotechnology, coordinate international efforts, and balance security with innovation.
5. A growing community is working on solutions – Organizations worldwide are tackling biosecurity from multiple angles, including policy, technology, and global health.