No One Knows Your Risk Like You Do: WHO Urges Caution Ahead of Respiratory Virus Season

As the WHO European Region enters its fifth winter since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, emphasized that while the world is now better equipped with tools and knowledge, caution remains essential. The upcoming respiratory virus season poses risks, not only from COVID-19 but also from other circulating viruses such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Dr. Kluge highlighted that the impact of respiratory viruses should not be underestimated. For vulnerable groups, such as the elderly or those with chronic health conditions, these infections can pose serious health threats. In the WHO European Region, which covers 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia, seasonal influenza still claims up to 72,000 lives annually. This represents around 20% of global flu-related deaths, the majority of which are preventable through vaccination. Protecting the vulnerable through flu vaccination remains one of the most effective measures to prevent severe outcomes.

Dr. Kluge expressed concern over what he described as "collective amnesia" regarding COVID-19. Many people and governments are eager to move past the trauma of the pandemic years, yet the virus continues to circulate alongside other respiratory illnesses. In the past month alone, the European Region reported over 278,000 COVID-19 cases and 748 deaths—figures likely to be underreported. He emphasized that the unpredictability of pathogens, evidenced by the widespread impact of COVID-19 and the emergence of mpox clade II in Europe, highlights the need for continued vigilance.

To Member States, Dr. Kluge stressed the importance of not underestimating the potential of both new and existing pathogens to disrupt health systems and...