WHO begins special session amid concerns over Omicron variant

The World Health Organization is discussing pandemic preparedness and response in a three-day special session, amid growing concerns.

A three-day special session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) kicked off on Monday to discuss pandemic preparedness and response, amid concerns over the spread of the new Omicron variant.

The WHA normally meets each May but a special session was called for in a decision adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) member states. The special session was the second in the history of the WHO, which was founded in 1948.

Representatives of WHO’s 194 member states will hold talks on new international rules for handling future outbreaks.

A draft resolution currently under review stops short of calling for the establishment of a “pandemic treaty” or a “legally binding instrument”, which proponents say would beef up the international response when a pandemic erupts.

The WHO has warned against countries hastily imposing travel curbs. However, bans have been introduced in recent days, with the UK, EU, and the US among those to impose restrictions on arrivals from mostly Southern African nations.

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES