Gennady Onishchenko, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, stated that epidemics have existed, are present, and will continue to exist in the world, but every effort must be made to minimize their negative effects.
Commenting on WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus' warning that a new global pandemic is inevitable, Onishchenko says, "The WHO chief made a mistake by making completely meaningless statements while stating a clear fact."
He points out that if Ghebreyesus had relied on data regarding the likelihood of the disease obtained from WHO experts, it would have been acceptable. However, the WHO chief is behaving in the manner of an "illiterate person unworthy" of the position.
He says, "It would have been better for him to listen to what countries that truly care about health are telling him. Yes, epidemics have existed and will continue to exist, but the most important thing now is to do everything we can to limit the complications they inherently cause."