WHO warns of epidemic in Europe: It could strike in an unprecedented way

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Europe must be prepared for a high risk of flu epidemics.

According to a report by NTV, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, the acting director for pandemic preparedness at the United Nations (UN), stated that it is "certain" that the continent will face a flu threat.

Speaking to Health in Europe, Van Kerkhove said that Covid-19 would not be the last pandemic. Instead, an unknown threat in the future could strike in an unprecedented way.

Van Kerkhove stated the following on the subject:

"For me, the flu is a certainty because there is so much of it in circulation. It has infected many different species. We have bird flu, and there are opportunities for reassortance (genetic changes that allow a virus to jump between species); the opportunities for a flu virus pandemic are high. That is why we have an entire system in place to be prepared for this. The question is, will we see another coronavirus pandemic? Given that SARS-CoV-2 caused a pandemic, of course, that is an opportunity. The real question is: Will we see an Arbovirus pandemic?"

"IT COULD BE A WATERBORNE EPIDEMIC"

Dr. Van Kerkhove stated that arboviruses, also known as arthropod-borne viruses, refer to infections that spread to humans through the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes and ticks, and added, "Now, I am not saying this to scare people listening to this, but for us, this is something we need to be prepared for."

Stating that we need to think outside the box, the doctor said:

"We must be truly prepared for known threats, but we must also be prepared for something different, perhaps waterborne or something else. In my view, pandemics are, unfortunately, a part of what we will encounter throughout our lives. I do not believe this will be the last epidemic we will face in our lifetime."

News Source: 12punto