The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has warned that the death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic could reach 20 mln, despite official estimates putting the figure at 7 mln.
Tedros stated that the pandemic has inflicted an economic loss of $10 trillion on the global economy.
«The pandemic could cause more deaths and greater social and economic upheaval than war,» he said.
He also highlighted the ongoing outbreaks of the Ebola and Marburg viruses. According to Tedros, avian influenza continues to spread among birds, animals, and humans.
Tedros did not rule out the possibility of another pandemic.
«It could happen in 20 years or even sooner, it could happen tomorrow. But it will happen, and we must be ready,» he added.
