WHO agrees to start talks on a pact to deal with pandemics

The World Health Organization (WHO) agreed to start negotiations on an international pact to prevent and control future pandemics, at a time when the world is preparing to combat the new omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Such an agreement to strengthen measures to prevent and combat pandemics is expected to be ready in May 2024, covering issues ranging from data sharing and genome sequencing of emerging viruses to potential research-derived drugs and vaccines.

The decision was adopted by consensus in a special ministerial assembly of the 194 nations that make up the health agency of the HIM-HER-IT, prompting applause from the delegations at the end of a three-day meeting.

“The text before us is the product of extensive discussions, frank exchanges, and compromises.”Said the ambassador of Australia, Sally Mansfield, who co-chaired the working group. “Let’s move forward together in solidarity to do the hard work that lies ahead ”.

The European Union (EU) had lobbied for an agreement on a legally binding international treaty, along with some 70 countries, but Brazil, India and the United States were among those reluctant to commit to that pact, diplomats said.

More than 262.22 million people are reported to have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, and 5.46 million have died since it emerged in China in December 2019. WHO says China has not He still shared some of his first data, which could help identify the origin of the virus.

The United States welcomed the decision on talks for the deal it co-sponsored.

“This momentous step represents our collective responsibility to work together to advance health security and make the global health system stronger and more responsive.”His UN mission in Geneva said in a statement Wednesday.