Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A new pandemic could strike at any moment, warned Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), during a meeting in Geneva of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), which is developing a draft agreement on pandemic prevention, according to TASS.

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"Current outbreaks, such as the H5N1 avian influenza, remind us that the next pandemic may be imminent. It could come at any time. It will not wait for us," emphasized the WHO Director-General.

He referred to the INB document under development as a "generational agreement," highlighting the importance of the work being carried out by this body. "Completing the negotiations this year would be a historic achievement," said Ghebreyesus. He expressed the view that "reaching consensus on unresolved issues could be achieved within a relatively short time."

The INB met on 16-17 July in Geneva for its 10th meeting since 2022. The body was unable to complete its work on the pandemic treaty draft before the 77th World Health Assembly (on 27 May – 1 June 2024) as initially planned. Following the Assembly’s decision, the INB’s mandate was extended by a year.

The results of the document’s work are expected to be presented at the 78th World Health Assembly in May 2025 or at a special session of the Assembly, which may be held by the end of 2024.

At a press conference in Geneva on 11 July, Ghebreyesus urged all countries to enhance surveillance of avian influenza, drawing attention to recent human infections reported in Cambodia and the United States. He also reminded of the need for annual COVID-19 vaccinations for at-risk groups, including those over 60 and healthcare workers. According to WHO, an average of 1,700 people die from COVID-19 each week worldwide.