The risk of a global pandemic is growing (and the world is not prepared), experts warn

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in a new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in a new window)
• Click here to share on LinkedIn (Opens in a new window)
• Click to email a friend (Opens in a new window)

(CNN) - The chances of a global pandemic are growing and we are all dangerously ill prepared, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned.

A report published Wednesday by a panel of experts and international health officials puts the 1918 influenza pandemic as an example of a global catastrophe. That pandemic killed about 50 million people. If similar contagion occurs today, it could kill up to 80 million people and destroy 5% of the world economy.

"The world is not ready," warns the WHO report. “For too long, we have allowed a cycle of panic and abandonment when it comes to pandemics: we increase efforts when there is a serious threat and then quickly forget about them when the threat disappears. It is time to act. ”

Between 2011 and 2018, WHO tracked 1,483 epidemics worldwide, including diseases such as Ebola and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), according to the report.

These epidemics and pandemics devastated many of their host countries: the Ebola outbreak in West Africa resulted in a loss of $ 53 billion in economic and social costs. These huge economic costs translate into serious consequences in real life: job losses, forced displacement, inaccessible medical care and higher mortality rates.

While there have always been diseases, epidemics and pandemics, a higher population density and the ability to travel anywhere in the world in 36 hours means that the disease can spread rapidly across a country and then to the world.

Climate change is also having an effect. Global warming means that mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika and Dengue could spread to Europe, the United States and Canada, which puts an additional 1,000 million people at risk, according to a study conducted earlier this year.

The poorest countries, especially those without primary primary health care or health infrastructure, are the most affected by disease outbreaks. In these places, the problem is often compounded by armed conflict or deep distrust of health services, as seen in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which has been devastated by an Ebola outbreak for more than one year. The distrust of the community has led to violent attacks, sometimes fatal, against health workers.

Scientific and technological advances have helped to combat these diseases, but the WHO report warns that they can also provide the environments for the creation of new disease-causing microorganisms, which increases the risk of a future global pandemic.

"All parts of society and the international community have made progress in preparing to face health emergencies, but current efforts remain extremely insufficient," says the report.

He highlighted several persistent problems, including a “lack of continued political will,” which means that national leaders are not devoting enough energy and resources to disaster preparedness.

Although there are existing guidelines under the International Health Regulations, many poorer countries cannot afford to meet the requirements, and do not receive support from the international community, despite the fact that the richest G7 countries had previously promised .

WHO called on world leaders to take seven concrete actions to reduce risk, including monitoring progress during international summits, creating disaster plans for several years, strengthening United Nations coordination and creating preparation systems in all sectors.

epidemic Pandemic