English Debate Club : New diseases - Old doubts

Debate topic for November 10
New Diseases - Old Doubts

Ebola is still spreading in parts of Africa. France has reported the first known human case of the Shamonda virus, which was before only found in animals. At the same time, a drug-resistant fungus, C. auris, is causing serious infections in hospitals, with death rates between 30-60 % among sick patients.
On top of this, many people have lost trust in health authorities because of supposed scandals around Covid19: questions about where the virus came from, and claims that some treatments and facts were hidden or handled badly.

What to think about these new health threats?

Some questions to discuss:
Are we facing more dangerous diseases than before, or do we just hear about them faster because of a superconnected society?
Where trust in authority is low, how can people know which health information to believe?
Should countries work together more closely to stop outbreaks early, before they spread? How?
How much freedom should governments have to control people during a health crisis?
What is the media's role: raising needed alarm, or creating fear? Can it be balanced to "just informing"?
How can societies prepare for new diseases when trust is broken, and what needs to change so people feel safe listening to experts again?

at 18.00 Swedish time, log onto https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83063138691
Meeting ID: 830 6313 8691
Passcode: EngDebate

The debate will begin about 18:05 or when most have gathered. The moderator, Tobias, reads the topic for the group, combined with related questions that might get us thinking. Then we put our names in the chat if we want to speak, and he calls on us (either in turn or else if someone has not spoken, he gives them priority).