World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned that another pandemic is inevitable, describing it not as a "theoretical risk" but an "epidemiological certainty."

Addressing the resumed 13th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body on the WHO Pandemic Agreement, Ghebreyesus reflected on the severe global impact of COVID-19 and stressed the urgency of preparedness, reports TASS.

“The next pandemic will not wait until things calm down,” he said, warning that it "could happen in 20 years or more, or it could happen tomorrow. But it will happen, and either way, we must be ready."

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Ghebreyesus pointed to the staggering loss caused by COVID-19, stating, “You have seen what the COVID-19 pandemic did. Officially 7 million people were killed, but we estimate the true toll to be 20 million. And on top of the human cost, the pandemic wiped more than US $10 trillion from the global economy.”

He expressed optimism that countries will reach consensus on the WHO Pandemic Agreement and reassured member states about its scope.

“This agreement will in no way infringe any Member State’s sovereignty. In fact, the opposite: it will strengthen national sovereignty and international action,” he stated.

The 77th World Health Assembly, which took place in Geneva from May 27 to June 1, 2024, endorsed amendments to the International Health Regulations and agreed to continue negotiations on the pandemic agreement.

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The COVID-19 public health emergency of international concern lasted from late January 2020 to May 5, 2023. As of March 23, 2025, the WHO reports a total of 777,684,506 confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide and 7,092,720 deaths.