Quotes from Laurie Garrett

lulled into a complacency born of proud discoveries and medical triumphs, unprepared for the coming plague.

Besides, there wasn't much the lab could tell a physician in 1940 that a well-trained, observant doctor couldn't determine independently.

There is no governing structure for a pandemic, and little more than vague political pressure to ensure limited access to life-sparing tools and medicines for more than half the world population.

Without equity, pandemic battles will fail. Viruses will simply recirculate, and perhaps undergo mutations or changes that render vaccines useless, passing through the unprotected populations of the planet.

It would be easy to descend into despair, not only about the state of journalism, but the future of American democracy. But giving up is not an option. There is too much at stake.