 coronavirus disease 2019 COVID-19 is caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 SARS-CoV-2 which appeared in late 2019 generating a pandemic crisis with high numbers of COVID-19 related infected individuals and deaths in manifold countries worldwide. Lessons learned from COVID-19 can be used to prevent pandemic threats by designing strategies to support different policy responses not limited to the health system directed to reduce the risks of the emergence of novel viral agents, the diffusion of infectious diseases and negative impact in society. This article was authored by Mario Cacha