The Covid-19 Pandemic Is “Not Necessarily The Big One,” Warns WHO

• Dr. Mike Ryan of the World Health Organization said that while the Covid-19 pandemic “has been very severe,” affecting all continents, it is “not necessarily the big one.”
• The virus will likely become an endemic as it eventually gets reduced to a “very low-level threat.”

The Covid-19 pandemic has spread quickly across the globe and has claimed a lot of lives. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), however, it is “not necessarily the big one.”

While vaccines against the virus is now being rolled out in different countries, Professor David Heymann who heads the strategic and technical advisory group for infectious hazards of WHO said that the “destiny” of the coronavirus is to become endemic.

Prof. Heymann explained further:

“The world has hoped for herd immunity, that somehow transmission would be decreased if enough persons were immune.

“It appears the destiny of SARS-CoV-2 [Covid-19] is to become endemic, as have four other human coronaviruses, and that it will continue to mutate as it reproduces in human cells, especially in areas of more intense admission.

“Fortunately, we have tools to save lives, and these in combination with good public health will permit us to learn to live with Covid-19.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Mike Ryan of the WHO emergencies program added:

“The likely scenario is the virus will become another endemic virus that will remain somewhat of a threat, but a very low-level threat in the context of an effective global vaccination program.”

Ryan believes that having vaccines, regardless if they have high efficacy rates, does not automatically mean “eliminating or eradicating an infectious disease.”

“That is a very high bar for us to be able to get over,” he said.

Dr. Ryan went on:

“This pandemic has been very severe…it has affected every corner of this planet. But this is not necessarily the big one.”

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