Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned that even if the world manages to avoid a major war, a global pandemic is likely within the next 25 years.
Gates made the statement during an interview on CNBC’s Make It program, where he expressed concern over the rising unrest in today’s world.
“A lot of unrest in today’s age could spark a major war,” Gates said. “If we avoid a big war, then, yes, there will be another pandemic, most likely in the next 25 years,” he added, citing Fox News Digital.
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Reflecting on the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gates has joined other leading scientific voices in warning that the world may still be ill-prepared for the next major health crisis.
Although the origins of the coronavirus remain debated, experts continue to emphasize the possibility of new diseases emerging from pathogens jumping from animals to humans.
Gates also noted that the United States, which the world looked to for leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, fell short of expectations.
In his 2022 book, How to Prevent the Next Pandemic, Gates outlined strategies to improve global preparedness, including better quarantine measures and increased investment in vaccine research.
