- Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates warned the world is still not adequately prepared for another pandemic and is poised to repeat the mistakes made during the last one.
Bill Gates thinks another pandemic is entirely possible, and the world is not as prepared as it should be.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, the philanthropist was asked what keeps him up at night.
“The chance of a natural pandemic in the next four years is somewhere between 10 and 15%,” Gates replied. “And it’d be nice to think we’re actually more ready for that than we were last time, but so far we’re not.”
Challenged on that statement, the Microsoft cofounder reiterated himself saying, “We’re absolutely not.”
“People—rather than having a consensus about what tools are missing—are mostly still replaying the various mistakes that were made,” Gates added. “I wouldn’t say that we’re as far along as you’d expect after trillions of dollars and millions of lives have been lost.”
Through the Gates Foundation, the billionaire has been warning about climate concerns, cyberattacks, and public health needs, while also pushing for solutions.
In September, he said global unrest could spark a major war and that another pandemic was likely in the next 25 years.
In 2022, Gates authored the book How to Prevent the Next Pandemic and voiced his concerns around the lack of planning with governments around the world, including the U.S., in the handling of the 2020 pandemic.
He also called for stronger quarantining policies, investing in disease monitoring, as well as increased vaccine research and development. Additionally, the Gates Foundation pledged up to $125 million in the U.S. to “help end the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for future pandemics.”