Overview The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a global outbreak of coronavirus – an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Cases of novel coronavirus (nCoV) were first detected in China in December 2019, with the virus spreading rapidly to other countries across the world.
WHO response During the emergency phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO coordinated the global response, supporting countries with preparedness, surveillance, diagnostics, clinical care, medical countermeasures, access to oxygen, country readiness and deployment of COVID-19 vaccines, vaccine safety monitoring, and evidence-based guidance.
A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a new disease.An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges and spreads around the world, and most people do not have immunity. Viruses that have caused past pandemics typically originated from animal influenza viruses.
WHO Member States have agreed to extend negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement, with discussions to resume in late‑April ahead of its scheduled consideration by the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May.
The world's first Pandemic Agreement, a legally binding international instrument designed to make the world safer and more equitable in the face of future pandemics, was adopted by the World Health Assembly on 20 May 2025, marking a historic moment for global public health.
As new diseases emerge and old ones resurge, pandemic preparedness has become a critical concern for global health. The new Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB) report – The changing face of pandemic risk: Adapt – Protect – Connect – outlines essential strategies to build resilience against future outbreaks by adapting to changing risks, protecting communities and strengthening ...
The changing face of pandemic risk: how we need to adapt, protect and ...
Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) today formally adopted by consensus the world's first Pandemic Agreement. The landmark decision by the 78th World Health Assembly culminates more than three years of intensive negotiations launched by governments in response to the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and driven by the goal of making the world safer from – and ...