Coronaviruses like COVID, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) “must be taken seriously” as they are particularly dangerous for at-risk groups including the elderly, pregnant women and people suffering from existing or chronic illness, WHO Europe insisted, as it launched a region-wide protection campaign.

“Collective amnesia on COVID-19 has set in and this is concerning,” said WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Kluge. “Individuals, communities, and countries understandably want to move on from the trauma of the pandemic years. Yet COVID-19 is still very much with us, co-circulating with other respiratory viruses.”

European spotlight

The WHO official noted that 53 countries across Europe and Central Asia still experience up to 72,000 deaths from seasonal influenza, accounting for approximately 20 per cent of the global burden. “The vast majority of these deaths can be prevented,” he said, adding that the most vulnerable “must be protected” by vaccine immunization, which is proven to prevent illness and severe outcomes.

In the 28 days to 22 September, health authorities in WHO’s European region reported just over 278,000 COVID-19 cases and 748 deaths, from Cyprus to Moldova and from Ireland to Russia.Those numbers are higher than any other WHO region and are likely underestimates, the UN health agency said.

According to WHO data, COVID-19 has killed more than seven million people since the outbreak began in late 2019, with most deaths reported in the United States (1.2 million), Brazil (702,000), India (534,000) and Russia (403,000).

Unpredictable pathogens

“COVID-19 devastated every corner of the planet,” Dr Kluge said. “Mpox clade II emerged unexpectedly in Europe in 2022 and continues to circulate in the region, even as mpox clade I in Central-East Africa has triggered a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. And RSV and influenza will continue to co-circulate with heightened intensity in the coming months, especially with more people gathering indoors due to colder weather.”

National health authorities should fulfil their role of protecting vulnerable populations, the WHO senior official continued, as he urged greater investment in public healthcare to protect overburdened healthworkers.

New and existing viruses can “wreak havoc on health systems, economies, and society,” Dr Kluge warned, in a call for regular and consistent surveillance and monitoring to “ensure we are ready for the next major health emergency, whenever and wherever it comes”.

As part of a WHO Europe public health campaign to prevent the spread of influenza and other respiratory diseases, the UN agency noted that key protective measures include staying at home when sick, practising hand and cough hygiene, and ensuring proper ventilation.

Vulnerable populations who also include those with weakened immune systems and anyone who believes they may have caught a respiratory virus should wear a close-fitting mask in crowded or enclosed spaces, WHO added.

“Protecting against respiratory viruses is the shared responsibility of governments and all of society,” WHO’s Dr Kluge said. “Everyone should play their part in fostering a culture of care and solidarity with the vulnerable.”