WHO ties up with CERN for an online global pandemic surveillance tool called ARIA. According to the WHO, the alteration aims to resolve a scientific disagreement that hindered the initial response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Member countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) are set to cast their votes on the final version of the agency’s “pandemic agreement” during the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, scheduled for May 27 to June 1, 2024. However, the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has stirred global controversy, with many expressing concerns about the organization, funded by hidden interests, potentially gaining increased authority over global health affairs in the future. Despite facing criticism, as the self-appointed specialized agency of the United Nations entrusted with international public health, the WHO remains resolute in its authoritative stance. In anticipation of the new treaty, the organization has modified the terminology related to airborne viruses, now labeling them as “pathogens transmitted through the air.” Moreover, they have collaborated with CERN to develop ARIA, an online tool aimed at evaluating the risks associated with future airborne transmissions across various public and private settings.
The WHO’s decision to modify the terminology surrounding airborne viruses comes amidst speculation that the revised WHO treaty might grant them the authority to globally mandate vaccinations if certain criteria are met. However, only time will reveal the true intentions behind this move. According to the WHO, the alteration aims to resolve a scientific disagreement that hindered the initial response to the COVID-19 crisis. In an April 18 press release, the WHO stated that, after consulting with public health agencies and experts, they are introducing updated language for pathogens transmitted through the air, formerly referred to as aerosol transmission. This change follows two years of consultations involving numerous scientists from prominent public health agencies, including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Jeremy Farrar, the WHO Chief Scientist, expressed hope that this modification would enhance clarity for addressing future pandemics.
“Together with a very diverse range of leading public health agencies and experts across multiple disciplines, we are pleased to have been able to address this complex and timely issue and reach a consensus. The agreed terminology for pathogens that transmit through the air will help set a new path for research agendas and implementation of public health interventions to identify, communicate and respond to existing and new pathogens.”
Admitting to its error, the WHO has disclosed that during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization initially denied the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2—a judgment it now acknowledges as having “cost lives.” In November 2022, the then-WHO chief scientist, Soumya Swaminathan, stated that the WHO’s recognition should have been issued much earlier based on available evidence at the time. However, the WHO did not revise its official document on COVID-19 transmission to include airborne transmission until December 2021. As a consequence of this delayed response, Nature magazine noted that the early infection control and prevention measures primarily emphasized surface cleaning, handwashing, and social distancing, rather than prioritizing mask-wearing and improved ventilation. With the WHO’s recent alteration, it’s conceivable that establishments lacking adequate indoor ventilation systems may face closure in future pandemics until necessary upgrades are implemented.
Nature magazine, in its coverage of the WHO’s modification of definitions, noted that virologists now understand SARS-CoV-2 primarily spreads through airborne transmission of minuscule particles that are inhaled and can linger in the air for extended periods. Instead of emphasizing the differentiation between aerosols and droplets—a distinction made during the pandemic to categorize particles based on size—the WHO has introduced the term “infectious respiratory particles” (IRP) to encompass all such particles, irrespective of their dimensions. The WHO now acknowledges that smaller IRPs can be transmitted over both short and long distances. In essence, this simplifies totalitarian measures by adopting a one-size-fits-all approach.
In its technical report on the proposed terminology change, the WHO does not categorize all pathogens that spread through the air as airborne. Instead, it utilizes “through the air” as a broad term to encompass any mode of transmission involving the pathogen traveling through or being suspended in the air. The report further delineates this into two categories. Firstly, ‘airborne transmission/inhalation’ occurs when infectious respiratory particles (IRPs) are inhaled from the air into the respiratory tract. Secondly, ‘direct deposition’ refers to instances where such particles travel a short distance before landing directly on a person’s mouth, nose, or eyes. According to Nature’s analysis, COVID-19 would be acknowledged as spreading through the air primarily via airborne inhalation/transmission, with a comparatively lower risk of transmission through direct deposition under this revised terminology.
As anticipated (and a crucial aspect of the ongoing discussion), Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) remained a contentious issue among the scientists contributing to the WHO’s report. Serving as a backdrop to the forthcoming reshaping of societal norms in line with the deep state agenda, Bloomberg dutifully highlighted that “infections capable of spreading over long distances through the air via minuscule respiratory particles may necessitate stringent and costly infection control measures, such as the utilization of particulate-filtering respirator masks and specialized hospital facilities in healthcare settings.” Acknowledging the mixed sentiments among scientists, Bloomberg noted that the report emphasized, “This would entail legal, logistical, operational, and financial implications that carry global ramifications concerning equity and accessibility.” Meanwhile, amidst the ongoing debates over equity and allocation, the WHO’s adjustment in terminology establishes a common language, facilitating the organization’s assessment of the broad implications of airborne particles and the requisite measures to address them. Farrar commented:
“In the first hours, days, and weeks of a new respiratory pandemic, it’s issues like, ‘do masks work?’ And, if masks do work, ‘what type of mask,’ which will have [an] enormous impact on the ability to protect communities and healthcare workers.”
How does CERN—which has been collaborating with the WHO since 2021 “to enhance understanding of COVID-19 airborne transmission risk in indoor environments”—fit into the new pathogen terminology? With minimal publicity, CERN, the intergovernmental organization overseeing the world’s largest particle physics laboratory, and the WHO unveiled ARIA on May 6, 2024. The partnership released a brief promotional video showcasing the WHO ARIA tool, developed utilizing the CERN Airborne Model for Indoor Risk Assessment (CAiMIRA). Given CERN’s expanding role in the future of genetic healthcare and the WHO’s ambition to oversee and regulate global health, their collaboration carries significant implications. Could CAiMIRA help streamline the WHO’s control in future pandemics? It appears plausible. CAiMIRA’s website elaborates:
“CAiMIRA has been developed by CERN with the intention of allowing members of personnel with roles related to supervision, health & safety, or space management to simulate the concerned workplaces on CERN sites. A hosted CERN version of the CAiMIRA Calculator is available on this site to members of the CERN personnel.
[The] WHO has invited CERN to become a member of a multidisciplinary expert group of international experts called ARIA, which will work to define a standardized algorithm to quantify airborne transmission risk in indoor settings. This will ensure that the model includes not only the science related to aerosol science but also the virological effects, such as host-pathogen interaction.
The collaboration takes place within CERN’s wide-ranging engagement with other international organizations, promoting shared solutions to societal challenges.”
On May 3, Mr. Farrar shifted his attention to the “highly pathogenic, airborne transmissible” H5N1, emphasizing its potential threat as an “animal pandemic” that has now evolved to infect humans and may soon acquire human-to-human transmission capabilities. Stressing the importance of preventing H5N1 from crossing over to humans, Farrar highlighted the urgent need for measures to curb its transmission. Amidst their prolonged debate over terminology changes for airborne pathogens instead of addressing the risks associated with mRNA vaccines, this group appears poised to declare the onset of the next pandemic. Their agenda likely includes promoting their vaccines as part of the response. Fortunately, numerous entities, including Attorneys General from 22 states and the commendable World Council for Health, are actively opposing such tyrannical measures.
Last year, the WHO and EU announced a global system of vaccine passports for ‘future pandemics,’ which will be the first building block of the WHO Global Digital Health Certification Network, as reported by GreatGameIndia.