Three years ago this month, the virus that causes COVID-19 was first detected, the UN chief reminded on Tuesday, the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness.
This week saw the UN launch an ambitious bid to stop the spread of common, mosquito-borne diseases – known as “arboviruses” - which threaten more than half the world’s population.
The main target of the initiative is four of the most common arboviruses: Dengue, Yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika.
Here’s the World Health Organization’s Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove now, telling UN News’s Daniel Johnson all about how the Global Arbovirus Initiative plans to share expertise on bug-busting across continents.
The UN’s rights chief tells us Russian forces have used cluster bombs in built-up areas in Ukraine – and that Ukrainian forces, may have used them too. Meanwhile in Afghanistan, Martin Griffiths tells us millions of ordinary people’s lives are hanging by a thread. In South Sudan, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has put the spotlight on the communities who’re using mud and anything else they can find, to keep floodwaters at bay. We’ll hear the latest research on migrant journeys, plus a more positive initiative from the WHO, to beat mosquito-borne sickness.
“Arboviruses” might not be something most of us are familiar with, but for almost four billion people, they’re a deadly threat – which is why the UN health agency on Thursday, launched a plan to prevent them from causing a new pandemic.
The United Nations is commemorating the first International Day of Epidemic Preparedness on Sunday, underscoring the need to learn lessons from the coronavirus pandemic, and urging greater investments in preparedness, to confront future health emergencies.