Beautiful Virgin Islands

Sunday, Feb 09, 2025

15 million excess deaths worldwide were caused by COVID over two years - WHO

15 million excess deaths worldwide were caused by COVID over two years - WHO

The WHO estimates each excess death led to a loss of more than 22 years of life and warns the world must heed the lessons of the "tragedy" of these pandemic years. This year's report includes a section on climate change and health for the first time and calls for a "strengthened response".
Almost 15 million global excess deaths by the end of 2021 were caused by COVID, according to figures released by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

It estimates a total of 336.8 million life-years were lost globally due to the pandemic which was declared in early 2020.

This means that, on average, each excess death led to a loss of more than 22 years of life, with the highest amount lost in people aged 55-64.

The figures, included in a new WHO report, are the clearest indication yet of the devastating legacy of the pandemic on a global scale.

Earlier this month the WHO decided to lower its highest level of alert for the virus, saying it was no longer a global health emergency - but warned "that does not mean COVID-19 is over as a global health threat".

"COVID-19 has changed our world and it has changed us," it said, warning that the risk of new variants still remained.

The WHO's assessment of global health also calls for a worldwide response to the growing threat of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancers, heart disorders and diabetes - which it warns if left unchecked could account for 86% of all deaths by 2050.

Despite progress in medicine, NCDs now claim nearly three-quarters of all lives lost each year.

If this trend continues, NCDs are projected to account for about 86% of the 90 million annual deaths by mid-century, the WHO's World Health Statistics report warned.

It would mean 77 million annual deaths would be due to NCDs - an increase of nearly 90% since 2019.

The WHO calls for "decisive and collective" action to tackle what it describes as "an ever-increasing health threat for future generations".

WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said: "The world must heed the lessons of the last two decades, including the tragedy of these pandemic years.

"One of the most important of those is the knowledge that we have it in our power to avoid unnecessary deaths and illness, and create stronger, more equitable and resilient health systems and societies."

There are also wider concerns about how the pandemic has exacerbated health inequalities and dented improvements in tackling Malaria, TB and so-called neglected tropical diseases.

This year's report includes a dedicated section on climate change and its impact on health for the first time and calls for a "coordinated and strengthened response".

"Climate change is one of the greatest health challenges of the 21st century," the report says.

"As climatic conditions change, we are witnessing more frequent and intensifying weather and climate events, such as storms, extreme heat, floods, droughts and wildfires.

"These weather and climate hazards affect health both directly and indirectly, increasing the risk of deaths, NCDs, the emergence and spread of infectious diseases, and health emergencies."

The WHO report says all aspects of health are affected by climate change - from clean air, water and soil to food systems and livelihoods - and warns that further delay in tackling global warming will increase health risks and undermine decades of improvements in global health.

In terms of estimating the future impact of climate change on health, it cited a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in which the UN climate scientists comprehensively reviewed current evidence and concluded that under a high emissions scenario there could be more than nine million climate-related deaths each year by the end of the century.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Report: Iran Attempted to Assassinate Trump During Election Campaign
Trump Declares He Won't Deport Prince Harry, 'He's Already Dealing with Enough Issues with His Wife,' He Comments.
Macron's AI Vision Encounters Hindrance in the Global Technology Competition.
TikTok Sued Over Alleged Child Deaths Caused by 'Blackout Challenge'
Governments Prohibit DeepSeek AI Due to National Security Issues
Russian musician Vadim Stroykin passes away following an apparent fall during a police raid.
Zelensky Suggests Mineral Collaboration with Trump for Security Assistance
Naomi Campbell Claims Unawareness of Financial Irregularities at Fashion for Relief.
House Republican Introduces Bill Aimed at Limiting AI Exports to China
Trump Signs Executive Order Prohibiting Transgender Athletes from Competing in Women's Sports
Intense Pressure Builds for a Free Trade Agreement Between the UK and GCC in Light of Economic Difficulties
UAE Aids in the Transfer of 300 Prisoners Between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump Suggests U.S. 'Takeover' of Gaza, Sparking Global Worries
At least ten fatalities reported in Swedish school shooting, authorities confirm.
EU Reveals Significant Advances on Special Tribunal for Prosecuting Vladimir Putin
Trump Administration Preparing Executive Order to Abolish the Department of Education
Trump's Gaza Plan Provokes Global Debate
Spain Endorses Initiative to Cut Working Week to 37.5 Hours
Australia Prohibits DeepSeek AI on Government Devices Due to Security Issues
Trump Warns of Tariffs on EU Products, Labels Bloc an 'Atrocity' in Trade Matters
Zelenskyy Proposes Nuclear Arsenal if NATO Membership Lingers.
Zelenskyy Urges for 'Robust Security Assurances' from Russia to Conclude the Conflict in Ukraine
European Union Proposes Reforms to 1951 Refugee Convention
China's humanoid robots poised to transform everyday living and spiritual functions.
Changes in US tariffs on Chinese products could affect consumers more significantly than they do China.
How Innovations in China's Humanoid Robots Ignite Fierce Competition with the US
Germany Experiences 34% Decrease in Asylum Applications During Migration Discussion
Experts Challenge Conviction of UK Nurse Lucy Letby for Baby Killings
AfD Chief Alice Weidel Enhances Global Standing Through Meeting with Viktor Orban
Nigel Farage's Reform UK Party Leads Poll Amid Growing Public Demand for Change
Conor Murphy Steps Down as Northern Ireland Economy Minister to Join Irish Parliament
Over 1 Million Face Penalties After Missing HMRC Self-Assessment Tax Deadline
Scottish Government Denies Plans to Ban Cat Ownership Amid Controversy
Bridget Phillipson Urges Parents to Prioritize School Attendance Amid Rising Absence Rates
Keir Starmer Advocates for Stronger UK-EU Security Partnership in Brussels
Six English Councils Granted Permission to Raise Council Tax Bills Above Cap Amid Financial Struggles
Keir Starmer Faces Growing Backlash Over Potential Approval of Rosebank Oilfield
AI Consciousness Raises Ethical Concerns, Say Experts
Families Urge NHS England to Release Full Report on Nottingham Triple Homicide
NHS Initiates Largest AI Trial for Breast Cancer Detection
UK Tightens Regulations on Online Sales of Weight-Loss Injections
Gambling Ads Shown to Parents on Baby Monitor App, Raising Concerns
Ancient Irish Rainforests at Risk Due to the Growth of Monoculture Plantations
EU Leaders Deliberate on Defense Strategy Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
EU Leaders Convene Important Summit on Defense in Response to Rising Tensions
Trump Directs Establishment of U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund, Considers TikTok Purchase
Britain Considers U.S. Gas Imports in Response to Possible Trump Tariffs
French Prime Minister Bayrou Confronts Several No-Confidence Votes Regarding the 2025 Budget
Shutdown of USAID Headquarters in Light of U.S. Government Reduction Initiatives
President Trump Launches Establishment of U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund with Possible TikTok Purchase
×