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During the annual health gathering in Geneva, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), warned that it was time to prepare for the next pandemic. He emphasized that if we don’t make changes now, the next global epidemic will inevitably occur. The threat remains for the emergence of another variant that will cause a surge in new illnesses and deaths. The 10-day annual World Health Assembly in the Swiss city coincides with its 75th anniversary and will address global health challenges, including future pandemics.
Currently, WHO has 194 member states that are negotiating reforms to establish obligations in the event of an international health threat. They are also in the process of drafting a broader pandemic treaty for ratification next year. This generation has seen how terrifying a small virus can be, so it’s crucial to make these changes now, according to Dr Tedros.
Recently, health authorities announced that COVID-19 was no longer a global emergency. Countries should now deal with the virus that has claimed more than 6.9 million lives. Dr Tedros said earlier this month that the end of the epidemic did not mean the end of COVID-19 as a global health threat. Covid-19 deaths fell from a peak of over 100,000 deaths per week in January 2021 to just over 3,500 in the week to 24 April 2023, reflecting widespread vaccination, the availability of better treatments, and the level of public immunity from past infections. However, there are still weaknesses in the system that have not been exposed by this virus or another, according to Michael Ryan, WHO’s emergency chief.
The WHO declaration comes just four months after China lifted its long and stringent COVID-19 restrictions and saw a massive spike in cases.