"The 2009 H1N1 swine flu epidemic should remind Americans of two important truths: Mother Nature is full of surprises, and preparation matters," write former Sens. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) and Jim Talent (R-Mo.) of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, in a The Hill opinion piece. The U.S. "is not doing enough to prepare for disease emergencies, either natural or deliberate," they argue.

Despite lessons learned and partnerships formed in the years since the avian flu outbreak, the authors write, "We should immediately commit to doing more: by innovating drug and vaccine development; increasing funding for public health and hospital readiness; and improving international cooperation surveillance and response."

"Improving the infrastructure to respond to a public health crisis is an opportunity for U.S. national security and for global American leadership, technical innovation, and economic stimulus," the authors note. "The United States has an opportunity to lead the world by innovating how vaccines and medicines are made, so that they can be made more rapidly and less expensively."

"Now, before the next public health emergency, is the time to invest in our nation's ability to respond to a public health emergency, so that we will have the tools we need to prevent, contain, and treat disease," the authors conclude (Graham/Talent, Hill, 6/11).

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