The corona pandemic is not over yet, but experts are already warning of new diseases.
Sylvie Briand, Director of the Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness Team at the WHO, sees an increased risk of arboviruses such as Zika, yellow fever or dengue. “The next pandemic could very likely be caused by a new arbovirus,” said the expert. “We have some indications that the risk is increasing.” The viruses are transmitted via ticks or mosquitoes.
outbreaks are increasing
Experts want to develop new strategies to prevent future pandemics. With Corona in particular, one would have experienced “the hard door what it means to not be sufficiently prepared,” said Briand. Zika, dengue or chikungunya outbreaks have increased in recent years. According to the WHO, given the “frequency and scale of arbovirus outbreaks,” international action is essential. The existing instruments must be reassessed and used in a more targeted manner.
Arboviruses are viruses that are transmitted by arthropods (arthropods such as mosquitoes, sand flies and ticks). The diseases they cause are grouped together as arboviruses. A total of around 350 different arboviruses are known, 95 of which can be transmitted to humans. These include yellow fever, dengue, TBE, West Nile or Zika.