Epidemiologist at the University of Zurich, adviser to the World Health Organization (WHO) Robert Steffen recalled that there is a risk of new pandemics in the future, including those caused by previously unknown viruses.

“We must learn that pandemics may occur in the future. It is not necessary that they will be caused again by the coronavirus, I am concerned about bird flu, ”RIA Novosti quotes him.

At the same time, Steffen urged to be prepared for the emergence of completely new viruses.

“I believe epidemiologists are well aware that pandemics will recur in the future. Rather, the problem concerns politicians. For example, in Switzerland and other countries, plans to prepare for the possibility of a pandemic were developed back in the 1990s, but they were forgotten or gathering dust in closets, ”said the WHO adviser.

Earlier, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that a new deadly virus could appear in the world.

The World Health Organization also expressed concern about four variants of the coronavirus infection COVID-19.