The World Health Organisation has revealed that over seven million deaths from COVID-19 have been recorded globally in the past five years, with the actual death toll estimated to be at least three times higher.
This was disclosed by the WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, during an online media conference on Wednesday.
Ghebreyesus underscored the continued threat posed by the virus, noting its ongoing impact through acute cases, “long COVID,” and fatalities. “On average, 1,000 deaths from COVID-19 are reported to WHO each week,” he said.
The WHO chief also highlighted other pressing global health concerns, including outbreaks of mpox in Africa, Marburg virus disease in Rwanda, and H5N1 avian influenza in the United States.
He described the health landscape as a mix of progress in some areas and setbacks in others, citing a worrying 71 percent surge in cholera-related deaths in 2023 and a 20 percent increase in measles cases worldwide.
In response to these challenges, the WHO has initiated several measures, including the Pandemic Fund, which is currently financing 19 projects across 37 countries.
The organisation has also bolstered laboratory capacities in various nations and established the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Germany to improve global response to health emergencies.
Ghebreyesus further stressed the critical importance of universal health coverage, pointing out that half of the world’s population lacks access to essential health services.
He urged governments worldwide to uphold the right to health in both principle and practice.
“The fight against global health threats is far from over, and countries must work collectively to address these challenges,” he stated.
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