Weeks after ending the global emergency status of COVID-19 pandemic, WHO warns of another deadly virus.
After the global emergency status for the COVID-19 pandemic was lifted, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized the need to progress in discussions regarding the prevention of future pandemics.
Speaking at the 76th World Health Assembly, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus chief of WHO has issued a cautionary statement regarding the need to prepare for the next pandemic, which could potentially be more deadly than the COVID-19 pandemic.
This warning was delivered at a time when global COVID-19 cases were showing some stabilization.
While acknowledging that the global health emergency related to COVID-19 may be coming to an end, Tedros emphasized that the threat of COVID-19 as a global health risk persists. He warned of the possibility of new variants causing surges of disease and death, as well as the potential emergence of another pathogen with even greater lethal potential.
WHO identifies nine priority diseases
According to a different article from the Daily Mail, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized nine diseases that are considered the most significant threats to public health. These diseases are considered risky because either there are no adequate treatments available or they have the potential to cause a widespread pandemic.
A statement attributed to The Mirror, stated that the Covid-19 pandemic, which is the most severe health crisis in a hundred years, caught the world off guard and revealed a lack of preparedness.
Additionally, he highlighted that pandemics are not the only challenges we face and stressed the importance of establishing effective global mechanisms to address and respond to various emergencies. He laid stress on the need for decisive, collective, and equitable responses when the next pandemic arises.
The chief also mentioned the significant implications of COVID-19 on health-related targets outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a deadline of 2030. The pandemic has disrupted progress towards achieving the Triple Billion targets, which aim to expand universal health coverage, enhance protection from health emergencies, and improve overall health and well-being for billions of people.
Despite the setbacks caused by the pandemic, Tedros emphasized the continued importance of the SDGs and urged for the same level of urgency and determination in pursuing them as demonstrated in countering the COVID-19 pandemic.
