The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified nine priority diseases that pose the biggest risk to public health. These diseases are cited as risky due to a lack of treatment or their ability to cause a pandemic.
WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also warned that the world must be prepared for a future virus that could be even deadlier than COVID-19.
Speaking at the annual World Health Assembly in Geneva, Tedros said that the threat of another pandemic is real and that the world must take steps to prevent it.
“The world was taken by surprise and found unprepared for the COVID-19 pandemic, the most severe health crisis in a century,” Tedros said. “We cannot kick this can down the road. The next pandemic is bound to come knocking.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) says the nine priority diseases that pose the biggest risk to public health are cited as risky due to a lack of treatment or their ability to cause a pandemic.
The nine priority diseases are:
- Avian influenza
- Ebola virus disease
- Marburg virus disease
- Nipah virus disease
- Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
- Zika virus disease
- Tuberculosis
- HIV/AIDS
The WHO has identified these diseases as priority because they are all highly infectious and can cause serious illness or death. In addition, some of these diseases, such as Ebola and Zika, have the potential to spread rapidly and cause widespread outbreaks.
The WHO is working to develop vaccines and treatments for these diseases, but it is clear that more needs to be done to prevent the next pandemic. World leaders must take the WHO’s warning seriously and invest in pandemic preparedness.
Here are some of the things that world leaders can do to prevent the next pandemic, improve Public Health: WHO
Invest in early warning systems and surveillance. This will help to identify new outbreaks early on and allow for a rapid response.
Build up stockpiles of vaccines and treatments. This will ensure that people have access to the necessary medical care in the event of an outbreak.
Strengthen global health security. This includes working to improve coordination between countries and to develop shared plans for responding to outbreaks.
The next pandemic is not a matter of if, but when. By taking the WHO’s warning seriously and investing in pandemic preparedness, world leaders can help to save lives and protect our communities.
WHO Chief Warns of Deadlier Virus Than COVID-19
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned that the world must be prepared for a future virus that could be even deadlier than COVID-19.
Speaking at the annual World Health Assembly in Geneva, Tedros said that the threat of another pandemic is real and that the world must take steps to prevent it.
“The world was taken by surprise and found unprepared for the COVID-19 pandemic, the most severe health crisis in a century,” Tedros said. “We cannot kick this can down the road. The next pandemic is bound to come knocking.”
Tedros called on world leaders to invest in pandemic preparedness and to work together to prevent the next outbreak.
“We need to invest in early warning systems and surveillance,” Tedros said. “We need to build up our stockpiles of vaccines and treatments. And we need to strengthen our global health security.”
Tedros’ warning comes as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage. The virus has killed more than 6 million people worldwide and has caused widespread economic and social disruption.
The WHO has identified nine priority diseases that pose the biggest risk to public health. These diseases are cited as risky due to a lack of treatment or their ability to cause a pandemic.
The WHO is working to develop vaccines and treatments for these diseases, but it is clear that more needs to be done to prevent the next pandemic.
World leaders must take Tedros’ warning seriously and invest in pandemic preparedness. The next pandemic is not a matter of if, but when.
