The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB), an independent monitoring body linked to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank, released a report on May 20, 2026, warning that the world is more at risk of a pandemic and less safe from deadly virus outbreaks than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report, titled 'A Fragile State of Preparedness,' assesses global readiness for health emergencies. It highlights that despite lessons from COVID-19, many countries have not sustained investments in pandemic preparedness, leaving critical gaps in surveillance, healthcare capacity, and rapid response systems.
Key findings include that only 57 countries have fully implemented the International Health Regulations (IHR) core capacities, and funding for pandemic preparedness remains insufficient. The GPMB calls for urgent political action and increased financing to address these vulnerabilities.
The report also notes that climate change, urbanization, and increased human-animal contact are raising the risk of new disease emergence. Without sustained commitment, the world remains vulnerable to another major pandemic.
