Next Pandemic could be just around the corner, expert warns

An infectious disease expert has warned climate change will likely contribute to bringing exotic diseases to countries that never experienced them before.

The health expert has given a stark warning that a new pandemic could be 'just around the corner' and we may need to make 'sacrifices' again.

Dr Nathalie MacDermott, a lecturer in infectious diseases at King's College London, shared her fears of an impending new pandemic that could plunge the world into a new lockdown.

She said: "I know that COVID was very hard for people and we want to believe we can just go back to normal and I understand that entirely.

"But the next pandemic is around the corner - it might be two years, it could be 20 years, it could be longer - but we can't afford to let our guards down."

Dr MacDermott insisted the best way to prepare for a potential new pandemic is to "stay vigilant" – and be prepared to take drastic measures if necessary.

She told Sky News: "We need to stay vigilant, prepared and ready to make sacrifices again."

The infectious disease expert argued that the looming climate crisis could play a part in the next pandemic.

She noted growing temperatures could contribute to turning countries that previously enjoyed moderate weather conditions into the perfect breeding ground for a new infection.

Dr MacDermott made the example of exotic mosquitos, suggesting the warmer climate could attract the animals to nations like the UK and result in the increased risk of animal-to-human virus transmission.

She added: "As temperatures increase around the world, even the UK will become an area where it's possible for those types of mosquitoes to live."

The scholar's warning comes as Europe experienced a rise in mosquito and tick-borne viruses in recent months.

Cases of Dengue, chikungunya, and Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) have been reported across the continent in recent months.