Next pandemic could come at any moment, says WHO chief

A new pandemic can start in the world at any moment.

According to Azernews, the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said this during his speech at the meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiations body, which prepared the draft agreement on the prevention of the pandemic in Geneva.

"The current H5N1 epidemic reminds us that the next pandemic can come at any moment," said the Director General of the WHO.

He called the document prepared by the Inter-Governmental Negotiations organization "agreement of generations" and noted the relevance of the work carried out by this organization. "Completing the negotiations this year will be a historic event," Gebreyesus stressed.

The results of the work on the document are expected to be finalized at the 78th World Health Assembly in May 2025 or at a special session of the Assembly, which may take place by the end of 2024.

Earlier, on July 11, Gebreyesus, at a press conference in Geneva, drew attention to the latest cases of infection recorded in Cambodia and the United States and called on all countries to strengthen control over bird flu. He also mentioned the need to vaccinate risk groups, especially people over the age of 60 and medical workers against COVID-19 at least once a year.