Introduction

The society’s capacity for development is based on the ability to manage resources that have evolved from nomadic hunting to agriculture and animal domestication to industrialization and global commerce. These processes have increased human-to-human interactions and destruction of ecosystems, which have been accompanied by epidemiological transitions driven by epidemics such as the recent coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [1, 2]. This pandemic has affected millions of people worldwide with a strong impact on human health and global economy. Additionally, measures in response to COVID-19 may affect animal health through reduction in disease prevention and control interventions [3].

Facts and questions

Although the exact origin of the SARS-CoV-2 has not been demonstrated, it probably came from insectivorous bats through other likely carnivorous unknown intermediate animal hosts to humans [2]. Current human behavior with more international traveling and contacts between different populations and animal translocations, facilitates virus crossing over from bats to humans and dissemination worldwide. Could a more balanced human-nature relationship have avoided pathogen emergence or mitigated disease impact?

These facts also raised a number of scientific questions that need to be addressed in order to better understand the origin and evolution of COVID-19. These questions include among others (a) SARS-CoV-2 origin, virus animal hosts, and zoonotic transmission, (b) risks of reverse-zoonotic human-to-animal virus transmission and establishment of new animal reservoirs, (c) virus evolution and pathogenicity, (d) molecular host-virus interactions, (e) immune response to infection and disease symptomatology, (f ) role of the microbiota in disease prevention, evolution, and control, (g) epidemiology and environmental factors, (h) factors driving reduction in disease severity, and (i) virus maintenance in the environment [4, 5].

Advancing preparedness for current and future pandemics

The collaboration between science and art has advanced addressing scientific questions and the communication of research challenges and results to the society [6–9]. Visual communication is the transmission of knowledge using visual messages that effectively create meaning. Herein, to advance preparedness for COVID-19 and future pandemics, we used the piece “Enseñanza” (“Teaching”) to provide a message of what we consider is important to achieve this goal (Figure 1).

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Figure 1. 

“Enseñanza” (“Teaching”). José Bedia, 2018, enamel on wood, 15 cm x 30 cm. Courtesy KGJ Collection, Spain

According to the artist, the piece represents the relationship between humans and nature, which is the basis of epidemiological transitions, through an image of a human and animal that is recurrent in his work. The representation is linear and simple, the line of the horizon and two figures on the extremes with profiles of a human and animal (gazelle). The piece represents a transcendental and timeless meeting between a human (representing culture) and an animal (representing nature even if the body has been humanized) with the accompanying text “enseñanza” (meaning teaching in Spanish) to illustrate a teacher-student relationship without clarifying who is who. It shows a regular distance with silent learning and communication. This representation is influenced by Mayan painted ceramic vases from the classical period. In the ceramic the idea evolves circularly in the cylinder of the vase, but herein it appears as an illustrated strip. In the artist’s pieces, the figures are usually static and always in a seated and reflective position.

Interventions for the control of current COVID-19 pandemic include diagnostic [reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), serology, environmental monitoring], epidemiological studies with case mapping, contact tracing, vaccines, care of social distance, palliative treatments, and personalized medicine including the use of prebiotics/probiotics. Pathogen-specific vaccines will contribute to the control of COVID-19 as shown for other diseases [10]. However, interventions boosting the immune response with a broader and not pathogen-specific immunity may contribute not only to the control of COVID-19 but also to other pathogens that may cause future pandemics [11].

However, as represented in Figure 1 through the interaction and learning process between humans and nature, lessons learned from COVID-19 would advance preparedness for current and future pandemics. These advances should focus on international collaborations, support to science and scientists to address questions posed by this pandemic, guarantee access to food supplies and health services to the whole population, sustainable development and a “One Health” approach searching a balanced interaction of humanity with nature and a more holistic approach to disease prevention and control.