WHO chief says new pandemic is inevitable in future

The emergence of a new pandemic in the future is “not a theoretical risk” but an “epidemiological certainty,” said World HEALTH Organization (WHO) DIRECTOR -General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The WHO chief said this while speaking at the opening of the 13th session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), which is drafting an agreement to prevent pandemics.

The Pandemic Agreement is a potential international agreement that aims to address shortcomings in international cooperation during the global response tocovid-19 .

"This is not a theoretical risk, this is an epidemiological certainty. <...> In 20 years or more, or maybe tomorrow, but it will happen and in any case we must be prepared," said Ghebreyesus and recalled the consequences of the CORONAVIRUS outbreak, which has killed 7 million people. He added that in fact, according to WHO estimates, the death toll could reach 20 million.

Five years ago, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus pandemic. In December 2021, the WHO announced that in 2022, its member countries would begin discussing a global agreement to combat the coronavirus pandemic, which would affect, in particular, the rapid response to epidemics in the future.

Ghebreyesus also stressed in his speech that the international agreement “will in no way infringe on the sovereignty of any Member State,” but on the contrary, “will strengthen national sovereignty.”

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