World Health Organization report points to global stagnation against risk of new pandemics By Carolina Costa
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Organização Mundial of Saúde (WHO) released a document this Monday, May 18, 2026, indicating that the risk of a new large-scale health emergency has increased considerably. The survey prepared by Conselho Global of Monitoramento of Preparação (GPMB) evaluated the conditions of international response ten years after the Ebola epidemic. Experts concluded that investments and containment measures have not kept pace with recent biological threats. The analysis points to a growing vulnerability of health systems on several continents.
The world has faced five major public health emergencies of international importance since 2016, including the Covid-19 crisis. The global response capacity shows clear signs of weakening, despite some specific advances recorded in recent years. The council warns that the frequency of infectious outbreaks has almost doubled between 2015 and 2024. Zoonotic diseases, transmitted from animals to humans, are gaining ground driven by climate change and continued pressure on natural ecosystems.
Frequência of infectious outbreaks exposes fragility of health systems
The GPMB was structured in 2018 with the central objective of avoiding the repetition of the failures observed during the Ebola crisis in África Ocidental. The new report examined six health emergencies declared in the last decade to map the behavior of government responses. Researchers have found that outbreaks occur more regularly today. Esses events cause profound impacts on the health of populations, economic stability and the social structure of affected countries.
The expansion of urban areas into wild habitats facilitates direct contact between humans and virus reservoirs. A recent episode involved the detection of hantavirus on a cruise ship in Oceano Atlântico. Authorities were able to contain the spread quickly. The case served as a practical warning about the speed with which pathogens can cross international borders in a highly connected world.
The planet is home to around 10,000 viruses in wild mammals with the potential to infect humans. The vast majority of these biological agents remain unknown to modern science. Saúde’s Organização Mundial constantly monitors a list of priority pathogens. The catalog includes the viruses causing Ebola, Marburg, Nipah, Lassa fever and the so-called Doença X, a term used to represent an as-yet-unidentified agent with high pandemic potential.
Novo outbreak in África reinforces concerns of health authorities
The release of the document coincided with the declaration of a new global public health emergency by the WHO. The alert was prompted by an outbreak of Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus in República Democrática of Congo and in Uganda. Health authorities recorded eight laboratory-confirmed cases as of May 16. The province of Ituri has hundreds of suspected cases and dozens of deaths under investigation.
The virus managed to spread to densely populated urban areas, raising the level of concern for containment teams. The mobility of the local population makes contact tracing and isolation of infected patients difficult.
- Casos confirmed in Ituri province with evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.
- Suspeitas of infection spread across multiple health zones in the central region.
- Mortes registered among healthcare professionals, indicating failures in initial control protocols.
- Risco imminent expansion of the pathogen to other border regions.
- Necessidade for immediate reinforcement of epidemiological surveillance at border control points.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus addressed the situation during the opening of Saúde’s 79th Assembleia Mundial at Genebra. The leader described the current scenario as a difficult and dangerous period for health diplomacy. The global context is marked by armed conflicts, prolonged economic crises and significant cuts in international aid destined for developing countries.
Queda in investments compromises prevention strategies
Funding directed toward pandemic preparedness saw significant growth during the early years of Covid-19. Resources, however, suffered drastic reductions soon after the acute phase of the disease was controlled. Development aid in the health sector has returned to levels recorded in 2009. Financial Mecanismos such as Fundo to Pandemias and Acordo from Resposta to Pandemias were recently created. Essas initiatives face serious implementation difficulties due to lack of adherence and insufficient funds.
Public trust in public health institutions has shown a steady decline in recent years. Inequalities in access to vaccines, diagnostic tests and appropriate treatments have deepened in several regions. The report mentions equity fatigue among governments. Guaranteeing universal access to medical supplies has lost political and financial priority on national agendas.
The approach known as Uma Só Saúde integrates environmental, animal and human surveillance into a unified strategy. The method has lost space and funding, despite its proven effectiveness in early detection of threats. Climate change accelerates changes in ecosystems and forces the migration of species. Political instability and armed conflicts in various parts of the world complicate the work of rapid response teams. Países with fragile health systems encounter insurmountable barriers to detecting and containing outbreaks in their early stages.
Especialistas recommend creating an independent monitoring system
The document’s authors defend the structuring of an independent system focused on monitoring pandemic risks. Proposed measures include establishing long-term political commitments and ensuring sustainable funding for the first day of any emergency. Actions to combat disinformation also gained prominence in official recommendations. The flow of false data undermines the population’s adherence to protection measures and vaccination programs.
The focus of international discussions is on building sustainable equity in the distribution of resources. Especialistas demand that access to essential health tools does not depend exclusively on geopolitical decisions or the economic power of each nation. Saúde’s 79th Assembleia Mundial debates reforming the global healthcare architecture. The main objective is to reduce fragmentation of efforts and improve coordination between international agencies.
Recent history demonstrates a continuous cycle of advances followed by setbacks in health governance. The world promised to improve early warning systems after the Ebola crisis between 2014 and 2016. The Covid-19 pandemic exposed persistent gaps that have not yet been addressed. The 2026 report shows that the trajectory of pandemic risk is heading in the wrong direction, even with greater scientific knowledge and technological tools available. Especialistas like María Paz Sánchez Seco, from Instituto to Saúde Carlos III, reinforce that viruses evolve and mutate constantly. Maintaining robust surveillance systems and agile responses remains the only viable defense for humanity.
