Next pandemic could be near, says WHO head

Tengrinews.kz - Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization (WHO), has warned about the risk of a new pandemic.

"The current H5N1 outbreak reminds us that the next pandemic could be imminent. It can happen at any moment. It will not wait for us," Ghebreyesus said while speaking in Geneva at a meeting.

The WHO chief called on the world's nations to reach consensus, finalize and sign the agreement.

The progress already made in working on this document, according to Ghebreyesus, is "remarkable".

"Completing these negotiations this year would be a unique and historic achievement," he noted.