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The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, issued a dire warning of the certainty of another worldwide pandemic. At the meeting of WHO, he reiterated that the next health crisis is “not a theoretical risk but an epidemiological certainty.” Whether it comes in twenty years or sooner tomorrow, he urged that countries must be ready to face the challenge head-on.
A threat on the horizon: The next pandemic
Dr. Ghebreyesus highlighted the global trend of downgrading pandemic readiness in the wake of other urgent geopolitical and economic issues. “The COVID-19 pandemic can now be regarded as a bygone era, overshadowed by war and economic shocks. But the next pandemic will not wait until things settle down,” he said.
Emphasizing the catastrophic effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, he reminded everyone that it killed at least seven million people, although WHO estimates put the actual number at 20 million or more. Moreover, the pandemic wiped out over $10 trillion from the world’s economy. Such destruction emphasizes the necessity of having an effective global health security system in place.
The need for a WHO Pandemic Agreement
Dr. Ghebreyesus reminded countries of the urgency to close out the WHO Pandemic Agreement, a legally binding international instrument intended to reinforce pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response mechanisms. “This agreement will in no way undermine any member state’s sovereignty. To the contrary: it will bolster national sovereignty and international action,” he reassured.
His appeal for concerted action is made as member states hold their final round of negotiations on the pact. “For three-and-a-half years, you have worked hard to find common ground. Step by step, you have moved closer together. And you have come to this moment,” he said to the delegates, calling on them to push towards the completion of the agreement.
Health security: A matter of global defense
Referring to parallels between defense in the military and security in health, the WHO Director-General referred to an encounter with a foreign minister during the Munich Security Conference. When explaining why nations spend considerable amounts of money on defense, he asked an important question: “What about defense against an attack by an invisible enemy?” He reminded that pandemics can cause more casualties and economic loss than wars. The 1918 influenza pandemic, for instance, claimed 50 million lives—more than double the estimated casualties of World War I.
Ghebreyesus highlighted that, compared to defense budgets, investments in pandemic preparedness are minimal. “All countries need to find a balance in protecting their people from both bombs and bugs,” he stated, underscoring the need for substantial funding in public health security.
Recent outbreaks reinforce urgency
If there is still any question about the need for a robust pandemic accord, recent history offers powerful proof. “This year alone, we have seen outbreaks of Ebola and Marburg virus disease; avian influenza continues to circulate in birds, cattle, and other animals, and continues to infect humans,” Dr. Ghebreyesus said.
As worldwide interconnectedness reached an all-time high, it is impossible to ignore the danger of another pandemic. Health crises do not follow geopolitical stability. The COVID-19 lesson is unequivocal—anticipatory preparedness must be prioritized, not merely for individual states but for global society as well.
A call to action: Seizing a defining moment
As WHO leaders consider finalizing the Pandemic Agreement, Ghebreyesus called on them to acknowledge the seriousness of their mission. “I think we’re too close to blow it all up. I think you are prepared to reach a consensus. And I think you are prepared to make history with this generation agreement so that future generations don’t have to endure as ours did.”
In an era dominated by growing polarization, he urged that the agreement might also be a unifying force, proof that nations can still work together for the common good. “The Pandemic Agreement can be that signal, and you can be the ones to give it.”
With the upcoming pandemic threat, international cooperation and vigilance are a must. The world might not know when a pandemic will hit, but one thing is for certain—it will hit. The moment to act is now.
