WHO Chief Warns of Deadlier Future Pandemics and Urges Global Preparedness

World Health Organization

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has issued a warning about the potential severity of future pandemics. He emphasized that the end of the COVID-19 pandemic as a global emergency does not mean the end of COVID-19 as a global health threat. Tedros highlighted the possibility of new variants emerging and causing new surges of disease and death. Moreover, he stressed that there is also the threat of another pathogen emerging with even deadlier potential than COVID-19.


In light of these risks, Tedros urged everyone to prepare for the next pandemic and emphasized the need for a decisive, collective, and equitable response when it occurs. This suggests the importance of implementing robust global mechanisms to effectively address future pandemics.
Additionally, Tedros discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While the pandemic has disrupted progress towards the SDGs, he emphasized that the goals should remain a guiding principle. Tedros highlighted the urgency and determination required to pursue the SDGs, similar to the efforts made to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.


The COVID-19 pandemic has also affected the WHO’s progress towards the Triple Billion Target, which aims to ensure universal health coverage for one billion people, protection from health emergencies for another billion, and improved overall health for an additional billion people. The disruptions caused by the pandemic have likely impacted the timeline and achievements related to these targets.