WHO warns of a new pandemic

Recently, at the 13th meeting of the WHO Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on the Pandemic Agreement on April 7, the WHO Director-General reiterated the terrible consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic around the world. He emphasized that "the next pandemic will not wait until everything calms down".

Specifically, on vtv.vn , WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on governments to invest in health security and finalize the Pandemic Agreement - an international treaty on pandemic prevention and response.

"A similar new pandemic could happen in 20 years or more, or it could happen tomorrow. But it will happen, and regardless, we have to be ready," the WHO director-general said, describing it as an epidemiological certainty, not a theoretical risk.

"The COVID-19 pandemic now seems like a distant memory, overshadowed by conflict, geopolitical and economic disruption. But the next pandemic will not wait until the dust settles," he added. "That is why the world needs your engagement and leadership to take the WHO Pandemic Agreement to the finish line."

Regarding this content, the Cong Ly newspaper reported that the head of WHO said: "You have seen what the COVID-19 pandemic has done. Officially, 7 million people have died, but we estimate the real number is 20 million. And in addition to the human cost, the pandemic has wiped out more than 10 trillion US dollars from the global economy."

The WHO chief expressed hope that a consensus could be reached in the negotiations on the WHO Pandemic Agreement. He assured that "this agreement will not violate the sovereignty of any member state. In fact, on the contrary, it will strengthen national sovereignty and international action."

On April 8, the United States proposed a record $1 trillion defense budget. In March, the European Union announced a plan to mobilize up to 800 billion euros to militarize the bloc, citing a perceived threat from Russia.

While the Pandemic Deal being discussed at WHO does not specify the exact amount of money governments are expected to allocate, it is aimed at improving global preparedness and response to future disease threats.

The 77th World Health Assembly, held in Geneva from 27 May to 1 June 2024, agreed to introduce amendments to the International Health Regulations and continue negotiations on a pandemic agreement.

The public health emergency of international concern due to COVID-19 is in effect from late January 2020 to May 5, 2023. According to WHO, as of March 23, 2025, 777,684,506 cases of coronavirus infection have been reported worldwide with 7,092,720 deaths.

Ngoc Vu (Synthesis)

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/who-canh-bao-ve-mot-dai-dich-moi-post544951.html