Risks of outbreaks and epidemics

A new pandemic could begin worldwide as soon as tomorrow – economies and healthcare systems of all countries must be prepared for it. This view was expressed in April 2025 by the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He emphasised that this is “not a theoretical risk” but an “epidemiological certainty.”

In December 2021, the WHO announced that in 2022 the organisation’s member states would begin discussing a global agreement on pandemic preparedness and response, particularly concerning rapid reaction to future epidemics. The final vote on the draft was initially planned for May 2024 but was later postponed by a year due to disagreements over several clauses.

Experts agree that countries can only confront epidemiological threats collectively. The experience of COVID-19 demonstrated that no nation can stop viruses alone. They easily cross borders, flying across the globe within hours, and thus can spread worldwide in a matter of days.

The financial losses of states resulting from reduced productivity and deteriorating public health are enormous. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, global GDP declined by 2.8 per cent in 2020, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This was the second contraction of the world economy since the Second World War – the first occurred in 2009, when GDP fell by 0.1 per cent.

The importance of cooperation in addressing global health challenges is emphasised in the final declaration of the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro:

“Recognising the interconnected nature of global health challenges and their transboundary implications, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening global health governance by enhancing international cooperation and solidarity.”

The BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Centre

Discussions about combating infections and viruses within BRICS began in 2018, when South Africa proposed establishing the BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Centre. It was inaugurated in 2022 as a unified platform for promoting exchange and collaboration in research, development, and testing of medical products.

“The BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Centre today is a reality, with laboratories from the five founding nations working together. The Centre seeks to ensure equitable vaccine distribution worldwide by combining technological capability, scientific infrastructure and a commitment to global health,” stated Luisa Calvett Costa, TV BRICS expert in sustainable development and health diplomacy.

Individual efforts of BRICS countries

Each BRICS country is also developing its own methods to combat epidemics. According to Shahed Zandiehrad, Manager for International Relations Development at the Iran University of Medical Sciences, speaking exclusively to TV BRICS, China and India are actively employing big data and telemedicine, while Brazil focuses on universal health coverage (UHC) – a system ensuring access to quality healthcare services for all people whenever needed.

South Africa plays a key role in genomic surveillance – monitoring the genetic profile of pathogens to better understand their behaviour and spread.

“Iran, in turn, has strengthened its public health network, particularly in rural areas, and implemented digital screening methods during the COVID-19 pandemic,” added Shahed Zandiehrad.

Vaccines developed by BRICS countries

Most new vaccines developed by BRICS nations target COVID-19. These include Russia’s Sputnik V, India’s Covaxin, China’s CoronaVac, and Brazil’s ButanVac. In Iran, researchers have produced several domestic vaccines, such as COVIran Barekat and Razi Cov Pars.

BRICS countries are also developing next-generation vaccines against tuberculosis, dengue fever, and influenza. India and China are investing heavily in platforms for developing and intranasally delivering mRNA vaccines – an innovative approach to immunisation. These vaccines contain no weakened viruses but train human cells to produce a protein that triggers an immune response when encountering a virus.

South Africa is advancing research on vaccines against tuberculosis and HIV. Russia is developing combined influenza and COVID vaccines. Brazil’s Butantan Institute produces vaccines against rabies, HPV, hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, and influenza. It is also partnering with China to develop a dengue vaccine.

“Today, BRICS countries are more than partners – they are key actors in ensuring global health security. Vaccine production means saving lives,” highlighted Luisa Calvett Costa.

According to international experts, BRICS nations possess the most significant resources and capacity to combat epidemics. India produces 60 per cent of the world’s vaccines and exports 44 types to over 170 countries. China has become the global leader in COVID-19 vaccination, distributing more than 2.1 billion doses to 120 countries and organisations. Russia, Brazil, and South Africa are recognised as centres of excellence in virology and pharmaceutical innovation.

Epidemic response exercises

In April, the first Russia–Africa rapid response team drills were held in Ethiopia. Epidemiologists, virologists, laboratory diagnostics experts, scientists, and practitioners from 15 African countries, Russia, and international organisations practised coordinated actions in case of sanitary and epidemiological emergencies.

In 2024, similar large-scale exercises took place in Nizhny Novgorod, involving medical and infectious disease specialists from 26 countries. Practical coordination skills during outbreaks represent another area of BRICS cooperation in combating infectious threats.

Experts do not rule out the possibility that the next pandemic could be caused by an unknown pathogen emerging unexpectedly anywhere in the world. Developing joint response, monitoring, and forecasting systems – and overall strengthening biological security – will help protect the populations of BRICS countries (and, more broadly, humanity as a whole) from biological threats.

Photo: Nastco, peterschreiber.media, Inside Creative House, Thx4Stock / iStock / Fana Media Corporation