The influenza pandemic of 1918 killed 50m people. It would spread much more rapidly today, and recent outbreaks of ebola and yellow fever are a warning to us all, say Gro Harlem Brundtland and Elhadj As Sy.

Governments worldwide must start thinking ahead and increase funding at community, national, and international levels to shore up health systems and prevent the spread of outbreaks, writes Gro Harlem Brundtland