New Delhi: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates predicts a sobering scenario for global health, estimating a 10-15 percent chance of another emerging pandemic in the next four years, according to a recent Wall Street Journal interview.
“The chance of a natural pandemic in the next four years is between 10 and 15 percent,” Gates stated emphatically. “And it would be nice to think that we’re actually more ready for that than last time. But so far we’re not.”
When pressed on global preparedness, Gates was unequivocal: we are “absolutely not” ready for another potential outbreak. Their assessment stems from ongoing concerns about global health infrastructure and lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Gates has been a persistent voice in pandemic preparedness for years. In a TED talk in 2015, he presciently warned that the world was unprepared for a deadly outbreak, a prediction that proved tragically accurate during the coronavirus pandemic. He later authored “How to Prevent the Next Pandemic” in 2022, offering comprehensive recommendations for global health strategy.
The billionaire philanthropist argues that political divisions and insufficient global cooperation continue to hinder effective pandemic prevention. “People, instead of having a consensus on what tools are missing, are mostly still reproducing the various mistakes that were made,” he explained.
Their concerns are backed by scientific research indicating that pandemics are becoming more likely due to factors such as climate change and increasing population density. Gates has consistently advocated for stronger quarantine policies, greater investment in disease monitoring and accelerated vaccine research and development.
