Hygiene officials check poultry in Hong Hong. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images Hygiene officials check poultry in Hong Hong. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images Thu 13 May 2021 04.00 EDT Last modified on Thu 13 May 2021 12.53 EDT Given the ambitions outlined in the governmentâs integrated review of âGlobal Britain in a Competitive Ageâ, you could be forgiven for thinking that research into the causes, detection and control of emerging infectious diseases with pandemic potential was being taken pretty seriously at the highest level. The government will âbuild on the lessons of the Covid-19 pandemic to improve our use of data to anticipate and respond to future crisesâ, and intends to âdrive towards a more science-led approach to the problems we faceâ. Or so it claims.