WHO says next pandemic could be closer than we think as 800 health centres unite

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the world may be edging closer to another major pandemic during a historic global forum that brought together over 800 WHO Collaborating Centres from more than 80 countries. Experts pointed out that factors such as climate pressures, conflict, and fragile health systems are creating conditions for new diseases to emerge. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the network of centres as a valuable resource for global health, crucial for strengthening health systems and protecting populations.