UK backing for ‘global radar’ on pandemics

THE GOVERNMENT has pledged Britain’s support for a new global surveillance network to spot emerging diseases before they can cause fresh pandemics.

The World Health Organisation is leading work to develop the “global pandemic radar” to monitor and track new infections and variants.

The UK and the British-based Wellcome Trust are among the nations and other organisations supporting the initiative.

Downing Street said it would build on British health security expertise to create a network of surveillance hubs, expected to be up and running before the end of the year.

Speaking ahead of a global health summit hosted by Italy and the EU today, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said ensuring the world was better prepared for future health threats was an “absolute priority” for the UK’s G7 presidency.

He said: “The world must never be caught unawares again by a virus spreading among us unchecked. We need to build a system of disease surveillance fit for the 21st century, with real-time data-sharing and rapid genomic sequencing and response.”

Around four in five people in England aged 60 and over are now fully vaccinated against Covid-19, figures suggest.