The Mishal Husain Show WHO Chief Tedros on Covid, China and Texting RFK Jr
Feb 27, 2026
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General and former Ethiopian health and foreign minister, speaks with urgency shaped by childhood in conflict. He discusses COVID origins and China's lack of full answers. He talks about global preparedness for future pandemics. He describes ongoing cooperation with US health officials despite political rifts and warns about rising child deaths and vaccine misinformation.
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War Reverses Public Health Gains
- Tedros warns rising global conflict undermines health systems and resurrects eliminated diseases like polio.
- He links destroyed sanitation and services in war zones to surges in pneumonia and polio, urging viewers not to forget the 'invisible enemy' of viruses.
COVID Reforms Started But Are Only Beginning
- Tedros says progress since COVID exists but is incomplete: pandemic agreement, IHR amendments, pandemic fund and improved surveillance began reforms.
- He stresses these are only starting steps and ratification plus sustained investment are needed to prevent or limit the next pandemic.
WHO Acted Immediately In Early January 2020
- Tedros recounts WHO acted immediately after Wuhan posted the new virus on Dec 31, 2019, probing China and issuing alerts in early January.
- He uses precise dates (Jan 2–4 confirmations and Jan 20 emergency committee) to rebut claims WHO delayed action.