American business magnate and philanthropist Bill Gates has warned that the world could face a more severe pandemic than COVID-19 if countries fail to strengthen global health systems and improve preparedness.
Speaking in a recent interview, Gates said lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic have not been fully absorbed, leaving the world exposed to future health shocks.
“The next pandemic could be far more severe than COVID. Hopefully, we’ll get our acts together before then,” he said.
Gates, who focuses on global health, education and poverty reduction through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said scientific innovation remains key to preventing and responding to future outbreaks.
His remarks come at a time when international health authorities are monitoring new disease threats, including a recent Hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship incident in Europe. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said the situation is currently contained.
Gates also raised concern about global health progress, pointing to rising child mortality trends. He noted that deaths of children under the age of five are projected to increase from 4.6 million in 2024 to 4.8 million in 2025.
He attributed the setback to weaknesses in global cooperation, including unequal access to vaccines, strained health systems, and fragile supply chains that were exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
His comments add to growing global discussions on pandemic preparedness, as governments and health institutions reassess how quickly the world can respond to future outbreaks without repeating the disruptions seen in 2020.
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