The World Health Organization (WHO) chief has urged countries to complete an international pandemic treaty, saying recent deadly disease outbreaks, including Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), highlight the need for stronger global cooperation. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the appeal on Monday, November 2, as the ninth round of negotiations on the agreement opened in Geneva. He called on countries to “finish the job”, stressing that the treaty was ultimately about protecting people. “A pathogen threat anywhere can become a threat everywhere, to people of every country,” Tedros said in his written remarks. He pointed to the ongoing Ebola epidemic in the DRC and a hantavirus outbreak earlier this year as reminders that infectious diseases can pose threats across borders. 2 November 2026 Tedros said the key lesson of the COVID-19 pandemic was that no country could protect itself from pandemics by acting alone. During the pandemic, vaccines were developed rapidly, but many countries faced delays in accessing them, while some wealthier nations secured supplies beyond their immediate needs. The Pandemic Agreement was adopted by WHO member states in May 2025. However, countries left unresolved how its Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) mechanism would operate. The mechanism is intended to address the sharing of pathogens with pandemic potential and the fair distribution of benefits, including vaccines, tests and treatments developed from them. Euronews The remaining negotiations are focused on completing this mechanism, which is necessary for the agreement to move forward. Differences between wealthy and developing countries over its practical implementation continue to complicate discussions. Tedros urged delegates to prioritise public health and equitable access, warning that international cooperation remains essential to responding effectively to future pandemic threats.

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