The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries to finalise an international pandemic treaty, warning that recent Ebola and hantavirus outbreaks highlight the growing need for global cooperation against infectious diseases.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the call on Monday during negotiations in Geneva, stressing that disease outbreaks in one country can quickly threaten populations worldwide.
The Pandemic Agreement, adopted in May 2025, aims to strengthen international preparedness and improve responses to future health emergencies. However, disagreements between wealthy and developing nations have delayed negotiations on a key provision.
Dispute Over Vaccine Access
The major sticking point is the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, which seeks to regulate the sharing of dangerous pathogens and ensure fair access to vaccines, tests and treatments developed from them.
Tedros said the COVID-19 pandemic exposed serious inequalities, with wealthy countries securing large vaccine supplies while many developing nations struggled to obtain them.
WHO officials say completing the agreement would help prevent similar disparities during future health emergencies.
Global Cooperation Remains Critical
The ongoing Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the hantavirus outbreak earlier this year have renewed calls for stronger disease surveillance, faster information-sharing and equitable access to medical supplies.
WHO officials maintain that countries must resolve their differences and strengthen cooperation before another major pandemic emerges.
The message from the WHO is clear: global health security depends on countries working together, not acting independently.
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