WHO Warns of Triple Threat in Europe This Winter: COVID-19, Influenza, and Measles (Update)

European Director: "Not a Celebration of Lockdown Easing, but Time to Prepare for Resurgence"

Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that this winter, seasonal flu, measles, and COVID-19 could simultaneously resurge in Europe.

Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, stated in an interview with the UK Telegraph on the 14th (local time), "The dual epidemic is very concerning. Alongside the resurgence of COVID-19, other seasonal flu or measles outbreaks may occur."

He emphasized, "The fact that there are still no COVID-19 vaccines or treatments reminds us that lockdown measures taken for disease control must be cautiously and gradually eased," adding, "People think the lockdown is over, but nothing has really changed."

He continued, "Now is not the time to celebrate but to prepare (as lockdowns are eased due to the slowing spread of COVID-19)," urging, "We must begin strengthening public healthcare while fully maintaining disease control systems in preparation for a resurgence."

He further noted, "The epicenter of virus spread in Europe has shifted from the west to the east, including Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus," and urged, "We must wisely use the time given by expanding hospitals, primary care facilities, intensive care units, and strengthening public health systems."

Previously, several experts, including England’s Chief Medical Officer and Chief Medical Advisor Chris Whitty, argued based on the 1918?1920 Spanish flu that the second wave of COVID-19 could be more deadly than the first.

Kluge explained that the Spanish flu initially showed typical seasonal disease characteristics when it first appeared in March 1918, but its power increased during the autumn resurgence, ultimately causing about 50 million deaths worldwide.

He stated, "History shows that countries not severely affected in the initial phase of a pandemic can be hit hard in the second wave."

He added, "African and Eastern European countries initially claimed, 'We are different from Italy (Europe’s COVID-19 hotspot),' but from two weeks later, confirmed cases exploded."

He stressed, "Without health, there is no economy," and emphasized, "Public health must be treated as the highest priority agenda."

Meanwhile, Michael Ryan, WHO Executive Director for Emergency Preparedness and Response, also expressed concern during a virtual press briefing at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the previous day, warning that "if lockdown measures are eased without the ability to detect new cases, a vicious cycle of worsening public health and economy could continue."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.