Pandemic expert says measles outbreak response shows we're less prepared than ever

When COVID-19 arrived in the United States five years ago, the emergence of the new virus was no surprise for pandemic expert Laurie Garrett, who had traveled the world studying, investigating and teaching about emerging viruses. She won a Pulitzer Prize for her investigation of the ebola virus in Zaire and won acclaim for her book "The Coming Plague, Newly Emerging Diseases in a World Out of Balance."

Garrett joins Here & Now to discuss the early days of COVID-19 and the U.S. response to the novel virus — including missteps, but also triumphs, including the rapid development of the mRNA vaccines. Now, she expresses concern and frustration about the country's preparation for the next pandemic, citing the lack of leadership on the measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico which has spread to nearly 300 people, and resulted in the death of an unvaccinated school-aged child.