5 years after Covid, are we ready to fight a new pandemic threat?

In January 2020, the world was worried about a mysterious Chinese virus responsible for pneumonia. In just a few months, Covid-19 has spread across the globe and disrupted daily life. According to the World Health Organization, 7 million people have died from the disease. Five years later, is the world more prepared for a pandemic threat? WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus addressed the issue at a press conference.

Pandemic: the world will never be truly ready

In a short video, the former Ethiopian Minister of Health believes that the answer to this question is both yes and no. “If the pandemic arrived today, the world would still have to face some of the weaknesses and vulnerabilities that gave Covid-19 its magnitude five years ago.he declares in the preamble. An observation shared by Maria Van Kerkhove, American epidemiologist and director of the Prevention and Preparedness for Epidemics and Pandemics department within the WHO. “I think the world is not ready for another pandemic or mass epidemic.”she says in an interview withAFP, relayed by the Belgian media The Libre.

How is the WHO organized to fight pandemics?

The Director General of the WHO, however, lists the measures put in place since the Covid-19 pandemic. He cites in particular the creation of a special fund, with the World Bank: 338 million dollars intended for 19 projects spread across 37 countries to strengthen the capacity of laboratories to detect pathogens. A pandemic prevention center has also opened in Berlin to monitor the emergence of possible health threats. In South Africa, a place dedicated to technology transfer on mRNA vaccines was created in 2023. Finally, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus mentioned the global biomanufacturing training center in South Korea whose objective is to increase local pharmaceutical production.

WHO: a future agreement to prevent pandemics?

Last May, WHO member states adopted several amendments concerning international health regulation laws. “Our Member States continue to negotiate towards the WHO agreement on pandemics“, explains the Director General. They are committed to finalizing this agreement by the next WHO annual meeting, in May 2025. “I remain confident that they will succeed.”he concludes.