₦airaland Forum

[img]https://media1./images/8449c89b2a5a67af4d98b99a8e403eee/tenor.gif?itemid=21379361[/img]

Foolishness.......

[img]https://media1./images/2b3c8f98e7b16989c27160109360e93d/tenor.gif?itemid=17290851[/img]

Old timers.......

[img]https://c./5703G3mHbQIAAAAd/turn-spin.gif[/img]

Amotolongbo:
One needs no high IQ to know that high birth rate is an attribute of underdevelopment.

Some nations are so poor that the major source of pleasure the citizens enjoy is sex. The major products from their factories are babies.

US and China nko?

[img]https://media./images/3a73d00434ae01efe8758730a2ecc747/tenor.gif[/img]

[img]https://media1./images/2d9d39f99371794666c706e14cadfeb7/tenor.gif?itemid=20436210[/img]

She has succumb to 'Flexing'.....

[img]https://c./3zTr3DW-OJ0AAAAC/not-today-satan-nope.gif[/img]

[img]https://media1./images/8449c89b2a5a67af4d98b99a8e403eee/tenor.gif?itemid=21379361[/img]

[img]https://media1./images/50d089a0f9900949b83152346f77ee00/tenor.gif?itemid=21204532[/img]

[img]https://media1./images/b6bbf4741c7901a0b8aeb6c9923e2ef1/tenor.gif?itemid=22473951[/img]

After lamenting.........

[img]https://media1./images/a218af33a6df977d81932e6705eae90b/tenor.gif?itemid=22696307[/img]

....start dieting!

[img]https://media1./images/c9c36e07263ff7303d10fa1140b572d7/tenor.gif?itemid=20613752[/img]

[img]https://media1./images/8449c89b2a5a67af4d98b99a8e403eee/tenor.gif?itemid=21379361[/img]

....Oyel!

APC = PDP

PDP = APC

[img]https://media./images/173e83cc7048bc6b25c4a029c6b5bbcf/tenor.gif[/img]

FAILURE = FAILURE

[img]https://media1./images/8449c89b2a5a67af4d98b99a8e403eee/tenor.gif?itemid=21379361[/img]

Audio satellite...........

[img]https://c./F-rhUFgIV5oAAAAC/nope-no.gif[/img]

chatinent:
Give Nigeria their first position, dem no gree.

#

Nigeria has the largest population in Africa. The United Nations project that the overall population of Nigeria will reach about 401.31 million by the end of the year 2050. By 2100, if current figures continue, the population of Nigeria will be over 728 million.

According to the Census Bureau of the United States, the population of Nigeria will surpass that of the United States in 2047, when the population of Nigeria will reach 379.25 million. With those numbers, Nigeria will become the third most populated country in the world.

The major contributors to Nigeria’s population growth are early marriages, high birth rates, and a lack of family planning access. The birth rate in Nigeria is about 37 births per 1,000 people.

Nigeria Population Growth

The Nigerian government has been doing its best to help curb a rapid growth in population. They have offered free contraception over the past 10 years or so and they have even started taking steps to discourage people who are looking to have large families. The government is banking on smaller families as a way to secure financial salvation in the future. They are looking toward territories like Thailand – another area with large population growth issues – as a model for their current strategy.

Until the point where some success is found in these efforts, the current projections for 2050 are over 390 million total residents.

Nigeria Population Projections

Nigeria continues to grow faster than many other countries of similar size, but the rate is predicted to slow somewhat in the coming years with the current rate of 2.62% dwindling down to 2.04% by 2050. Nigeria's population is predicted to hit 206 million by 2020, and 264 million by 2030 - crossing the 300 million threshold around 2036.

Coolsperm:
Ok noted

Noted you've noted....

[img]https://c./NtXOarIIRtcAAAAC/sperm-gif.gif[/img]

The birth rate is the number of live births per 1,000 people in a population over a specific period of time (typically a year). It is closely intertwined with total fertility rate, which tracks the average number of children that women in a given country give birth to during their childbearing years. The birth rate varies drastically by country. The average global birth rate was 18.5 births per 1,000 people in 2019, lower than in 2007 and 2012.

Birth rate and replacement rate

Both birth rate and fertility rate are helpful in analyzing a country's replacement rate, which compares the rate of births and deaths in a country to determine whether the population is growing or shrinking overall. This metric is important because populations that increase or decrease too rapidly can put a strain on a country's systems, including its economy, infrastructure, social programs.

The global decrease in birth rate has caused some countries to worry that their current birth rate is not enough to replace the older generation, which would lead to a population decline. Problems associated with population decline include a slowed economy, which can lead to the closing of businesses from restaurants to public transportation to schools to medical facilities. To help counteract these concerns, some governments offer financial incentives to encourage citizens to have children. Low birth rates are attributed to the high costs of raising a child, people choosing to further their careers over starting a family, and older average ages for first-time mothers.

On the other hand, some countries face overpopulation and the problems associated with it, such as overcrowding, poverty, an overwhelmed health care sector, low life expectancy, and low education levels. In these circumstances, a country's government might offer incentives for people to have only one child.

Top 10 Countries with the Highest Birth Rate (per 1000 people, CIA World Factbook 2021 estimate) - Black countries

Niger - 47.28
Angola - 42.22
Mali - 41.60 (tie)
Uganda - 41.60 (tie)
Benin - 41.55
Chad - 41.05
Congo (Dem Rep of) - 40.53
South Sudan - 38.26
Somalia - 38.25
Mozambique - 38.03

Top 10 Countries with the Lowest Birth Rate (per 1000 people, CIA World Factbook 2021 estimate) - Non black countries

Monaco - 6.63
South Korea - 6.89
Andorra - 6.91
Japan - 7.00
Taiwan (limited recognition) - 7.43
Greece - 7.72
Puerto Rico - 7.90
Portugal - 8.02
Spain - 8.05
Bulgaria - 8.15

Full List:

Country; Birth Rate 2021 Population
Angola 43.7 33,933,610
Niger 43.6 25,130,817
Mali 43.2 20,855,735
Chad 43 16,914,985
Uganda 42.4 47,123,531
Zambia 41.1 18,920,651
Burundi 40.9 12,255,433
Malawi 40.7 19,647,684
Somalia 39.3 16,359,504
Liberia 37.9 5,180,203
Mozambique 37.8 32,163,047
Afghanistan 37.5 39,835,428
Guinea Bissau 37.3 2,015,494
South Sudan 36.9 11,381,378
Burkina Faso 36.9 21,497,096
Guinea 36.4 13,497,244
Sierra Leone 36 8,141,343
Ethiopia 36 117,876,227
Tanzania 35.3 61,498,437
Nigeria 35.2 211,400,708
Cameroon 35 27,224,265
Benin 34.5 12,451,040
Sudan 34.2 44,909,353
Central African Republic 34 4,919,981
Zimbabwe 34 15,092,171
Republic of the Congo 33.7 5,657,013
Timor Leste 32.9 1,343,873
Senegal 32.9 17,196,301
Togo 32.8 8,478,250
DR Congo 32.8 92,377,993
Equatorial Guinea 31.7 1,449,896
Sao Tome And Principe 31.5 223,368
Madagascar 31 28,427,328
Ghana 30.2 31,732,129
Ivory Coast 30.1 27,053,629
Iraq 30 41,179,350
Mauritania 29.9 4,775,119
Rwanda 29.8 13,276,513
Eritrea 29.1 3,601,467
Egypt 28.8 104,258,327
Yemen 27.6 30,490,640
Namibia 26.8 2,587,344
Comoros 25.3 888,451
Guatemala 24.6 18,249,860
Solomon Islands 24.5 703,996
Lesotho 24.2 2,159,079
Marshall Islands 23.8 59,610
Tuvalu 23.7 11,931
Oman 23.7 5,223,375
Jordan 23.6 10,269,021
Vanuatu 23.5 314,464
Philippines 23.4 111,046,913
Djibouti 23.3 1,002,187
Papua New Guinea 23.3 9,119,010
Nauru 23.2 10,876
Laos 23.2 7,379,358
Belize 22.9 404,914
Tajikistan 22.8 9,749,627
Haiti 22.6 11,541,685
Kenya 22.6 54,985,698
Cambodia 22.5 16,946,438
Honduras 22 10,062,991
Tonga 21.8 106,760
Botswana 21.7 2,397,241
Kyrgyzstan 21.6 6,628,356
Bolivia 21.6 11,832,940
Pakistan 21.6 225,199,937
Algeria 21.5 44,616,624
Kiribati 21 121,392
Syria 20.7 18,275,702
Samoa 20.2 200,149
South Africa 19.9 60,041,994
Cape Verde 19.7 561,898
Micronesia 19.6 116,254
Guam 19.4 170,179
Nepal 19.1 29,674,920
American Samoa 19 55,100
Turkmenistan 18.9 6,117,924
Dominican Republic 18.9 10,953,703
Kuwait 18.8 4,328,550
Malaysia 18.8 32,776,194
India 18.7 1,393,409,038
Bangladesh 18.6 166,303,498
Venezuela 18.5 28,704,954
Fiji 18.2 902,906
Mongolia 18.2 3,329,289
Mexico 18.1 130,262,216
Israel 17.9 8,789,774
Myanmar 17.7 54,806,012
Panama 17.6 4,381,579
Ecuador 17.6 17,888,475
Peru 17.6 33,359,418
Nicaragua 17.5 6,702,385
Kazakhstan 17.5 18,994,962
Morocco 17.5 37,344,795
Tunisia 17.4 11,935,766
Iran 17.4 85,028,759
Libya 17.2 6,958,532
Bhutan 17 779,898
Brunei 16.9 441,532
Paraguay 16.6 7,219,638
Uzbekistan 16.6 33,935,763
Jamaica 16.5 2,973,463
Argentina 16.5 45,605,826
Maldives 16.1 543,617
El Salvador 16.1 6,518,499
Indonesia 15.9 276,361,783
Colombia 15.8 51,265,844
Antigua And Barbuda 15.6 98,731
Suriname 15.6 591,800
Saudi Arabia 15.6 35,340,683
Guyana 15.4 790,326
Turkey 15.4 85,042,738
Costa Rica 15.3 5,139,052
Azerbaijan 15.3 10,223,342
Grenada 15.2 113,021
Vietnam 15.2 98,168,833
Turks And Caicos Islands 14.9 39,231
Northern Mariana Islands 14.9 57,917
New Caledonia 14.8 288,218
Sri Lanka 14.8 21,497,310
North Korea 14.6 25,887,041
Faroe Islands 14.5 49,049
French Polynesia 14.5 282,530
Greenland 14.3 56,877
Lebanon 14.1 6,769,146
Brazil 13.9 213,993,437
Ireland 13.8 4,982,907
Cook Islands 13.7 17,565
Iceland 13.6 343,353
Seychelles 13.4 98,908
Chile 13.4 19,212,361
Albania 13.2 2,872,933
Saint Lucia 13.1 184,400
Bahrain 13.1 1,748,296
New Zealand 13.1 4,860,643
Saint Kitts And Nevis 13 53,544
Saint Vincent And the Grenadines 13 111,263
Uruguay 13 3,485,151
Mauritius 12.8 1,273,433
Armenia 12.6 2,968,127
United States Virgin Islands 12.5 104,226
Anguilla 12.4 15,117
United States 12.4 332,915,073
Aruba 12.3 107,204
Trinidad And Tobago 12.3 1,403,375
Norway 12.2 5,465,630
Georgia 12.1 3,979,765
Sweden 12.1 10,160,169
France 12.1 65,426,179
China 12.1 1,444,216,107
Cayman Islands 12 66,497
Australia 12 25,788,215
United Kingdom 12 68,207,116
Montenegro 11.9 628,053
Barbados 11.6 287,711
Luxembourg 11.6 634,814
Palau 11.3 18,169
Bermuda 11.3 62,090
Belgium 11.3 11,632,326
Moldova 11.2 4,024,019
British Virgin Islands 11.1 30,421
Thailand 11 69,950,850
Falkland Islands 10.9 3,533
Isle of Man 10.9 85,410
Denmark 10.9 5,813,298
Netherlands 10.9 17,173,099
North Macedonia 10.8 2,082,658
Finland 10.7 5,548,360
Russia 10.7 145,912,025
Cuba 10.6 11,317,505
Montserrat 10.5 4,977
Switzerland 10.5 8,715,494
Liechtenstein 10.4 38,250
Canada 10.2 38,067,903
Ukraine 10.1 43,466,819
Malta 10 442,784
Belarus 10 9,442,862
Estonia 9.9 1,325,185
Lithuania 9.8 2,689,862
United Arab Emirates 9.8 9,991,089
Latvia 9.6 1,866,942
Slovakia 9.6 5,460,721
Qatar 9.5 2,930,528
Austria 9.5 9,043,070
Poland 9.3 37,797,005
Slovenia 9.2 2,078,724
Czech Republic 9.2 10,724,555
Spain 9 46,745,216
Serbia 8.9 8,697,550
Hungary 8.9 9,634,164
Croatia 8.8 4,081,651
Hong Kong 8.8 7,552,810
Bosnia And Herzegovina 8.7 3,263,466
Singapore 8.7 5,896,686
Romania 8.7 19,127,774
San Marino 8.6 34,017
Germany 8.6 83,900,473
Bulgaria 8.5 6,896,663
Italy 8.5 60,367,477
Macau 8.4 658,394
Greece 8.3 10,370,744
South Korea 8.3 51,305,186
Portugal 8.2 10,167,925
Taiwan 8.2 23,855,010
Japan 8 126,050,804
Andorra 7.3 77,355
Monaco 6.5 39,511

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/birth-rate-by-country

Japa....

[img]https://media1./images/a2c43466278c95614b827c440b6b434b/tenor.gif?itemid=15215931[/img]

[img]https://media1./images/18664d59b325467c2b71f636508c8eb8/tenor.gif?itemid=19376570[/img]

Oxfam Seeks Closure To Inequality Gap As Nigerian Billionaires’ Wealth Grew By 38% In 2020

January 17, (THEWILL) – While the global economy was on lockdown in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic, the world’s ten richest men doubled their fortunes from $700 billion to $1.5 trillion, a survey conducted by Oxfam, an International non-governmental organisation, has revealed.

The survey indicated that the 10 richest people, namely, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Bernard Arnault & family, Bill Gates, Larry Ellison, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Ballmer and Warren Buffet, as of 30 November 2021, saw their fortunes grew by $821 billion dollars since March 2020.

Meanwhile, the outcome of the survey titled “inequality kills” which was made public in Abuja, on Monday, further indicated that, in Nigeria, few billionaires saw their wealth grow by 38 percent during the pandemic, while 7.4 million people fell into extreme poverty in 2020.

The Report also revealed that two billionaires in Nigeria made more wealth than the bottom 63 million Nigerians.

Country Director, Oxfam Nigeria, Dr Vincent Ahonsi, in his remarks, said, “collectively, the total wealth of three billionaires in Nigeria equal to $24.9 billion, and throughout the pandemic, beginning in mid-March 2020, their wealth grew by $6.9 billion, while the majority of Nigerians became poorer.

“It’s a remarkable surge in wealth at the very top of the society, which has not impacted positively on the majority. We can end this inequality, and it’s a moral duty for the billionaires and corporations to play their part to end hunger, disease and poverty.”

He stated that extreme inequality is a form of economic violence, where policies and political decisions that perpetuate the wealth and power of a privileged few result in direct harm to the vast majority of ordinary people across the world and the planet itself.

“As the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated socio-economic distress impact more on the families, women and girls are faced with unprecedented risk of physical, sexual and psychological abuse and violence”, said Dr Ahonsi.

Oxfam recommended that governments urgently claw back the gains made by billionaires by taxing the huge new wealth made since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic through permanent wealth and capital taxes.

It also suggested that the government invest the trillions that could be raised in taxes towards progressive spending on universal healthcare and social protection, climate change adaptation, and gender-based violence prevention and programming.

In addition to that, it advised government to tackle sexist and racist laws that discriminate against women, racialised people and create new gender-equal laws to uproot violence and discrimination.

“We should also work towards ending laws that undermine the rights of workers to unionise and strike, and also set up stronger legal standards to protect them.

“Similarly, rich governments must also waive intellectual property rules over COVID-19 vaccine technologies to allow more countries to produce safe and effective vaccines to usher in the end of COVID-19 pandemic”, said Dr Ahonsi.

Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Awwal Rafsanjani, in his remarks, commended Oxfam and its partners for the success of the survey, and advised government to adopt the recommendation of the survey in order to reduce the growing socio-economic inequality that is partly responsible for the rising insecurity across Nigeria.

He maintained that they are not against the wealthy but there’s a need for a significant reduction in the inequality gap in the society.

https://thewillnigeria.com/news/oxfam-seeks-closure-to-inequality-gap-as-nigerian-billionaires-wealth-grew-by-38-in-2020/

Even angels self.....

[img]https://media1./images/7d5b9d7341d10667f2867a892370eb28/tenor.gif?itemid=13738821[/img]

Biased....

[img]https://c./VJZl5fqo9SkAAAAC/play-sports-premier-league.gif[/img]

Road to 2023: Why Muslim-Muslim ticket won’t work in Nigeria now – Archbishop Akinfenwa

The Bishop of Ibadan Diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev’d Joseph Akinfenwa, on Monday gave practical reasons that will not make the kite of Muslim-Muslim ticket being flown in some quarters to fly in Nigeria for the 2023 presidential election.

He made the observation when he fielded questions from journalists during a press conference held at Bodija, Ibadan to herald the 70th anniversary of the Ibadan Diocese of the church, with the theme: ‘God With Us, As With Our Fathers’, which will hold from January 24 to 30, 2022 in Ibadan.

The Senior Pastor of Trinity House Church, Lagos, Ituah Ighodalo; former Dean of the Church of Nigeria and ex-Bishop of Ondo Province, Prof George Latunji Lasebikan; and the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev’d Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba; are expected to minister on Monday, Tuesday and Sunday respectively, during the weeklong activities.

According to Akinfenwa, who stated that the Ibadan Diocese within the past 70 years has grown and has given birth to 25 daughter dioceses, “The society we are in, this generation is a sensitive one. That’s why political parties must be careful. They don’t have to do anything that will cause more havoc for this nation. If it were to be other societies and time, it will be safe and easy. Nigeria has gone down than before. There was a time it was acceptable, but not now. Different groups and tribes have suffered so much that there is no trust again.

“Look at what has happened in terms of security and distribution of the wealth of this nation. It will be wise of any political party that wants to have the votes of the people, especially Christians not to consider a single-religion ticket for both presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Let the two go together pari-passu because this society is sensitive now as we suspect ourselves so much. Maybe one day will come, when we will be more mature, more educated and more understanding, not to consider religion factor in our choice.

“What the politicians are doing now does not make us trust them. We can’t trust a Muslim-Muslim ticket at the moment. What Nigeria needs now is healing. We have been battered and injured. To the glory of God, we have Christians and Muslims in a family without any problem, but when it gets to political terrain, honestly the more you look, the less you see and understand.”

Akinfenwa further noted that “before 2023, God has been showing us that He is in control. We are always disappointed seeing people running after what God has not destined them for. For instance, if people have been running around canvassing and campaigning for years they haven’t lived to, we can’t even count the number of people that have gone in the last 16 days we started this year on sudden death.

“I think the important thing is to seek for the direction of the Lord. It would be wise of those running around now to start doing something for us to see even before they get there. They should begin to take care of the poor and the downtrodden. Only God knows how many people will get to 2023 and that is very fundamental. Let’s trust God and work towards getting to that year.”

https://www.sunnewsonline.com/road-to-2023-why-muslim-muslim-ticket-wont-work-in-nigeria-now-archbishop-akinfenwa/

Drug deal?...

[img]https://c./yVUd90xP9XEAAAAd/scarface-al-pacino.gif[/img]

[img]https://media1./images/4d38b799c539f44f4b07b064b2e1d542/tenor.gif?itemid=23104130[/img]

The pandemic has made the world's wealthiest far richer but has led to more people living in poverty, according to the charity Oxfam.

Lower incomes for the world's poorest contributed to the death of 21,000 people each day, its report claims.

But the world's 10 richest men have more than doubled their collective fortunes since March 2020, Oxfam said.

Oxfam typically releases a report on global inequality at the start of the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos.

That event usually sees thousands of corporate and political leaders, celebrities, campaigners, economists and journalists gather in the Swiss ski resort for panel discussions, drinks parties and schmoozing.

However for the second year running, the meeting (scheduled for this week) will be online-only after the emergence of the Omicron variant derailed plans to return to an in-person event.

This week's discussions will include the likely future path of the pandemic, vaccine equity and the energy transition.

Danny Sriskandarajah, Oxfam GB's chief executive, said the charity timed the report each year to coincide with Davos to attract the attention of economic, business and political elites.

"This year, what's happening is off the scale," he said. "There's been a new billionaire created almost every day during this pandemic, meanwhile 99% of the world's population are worse off because of lockdowns, lower international trade, less international tourism, and as a result of that, 160 million more people have been pushed into poverty."

"Something is deeply flawed with our economic system," he added.

According to Forbes figures cited by the charity, the world's 10 richest men are: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Bernard Arnault and family, Bill Gates, Larry Ellison, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Ballmer and Warren Buffet.

While collectively their wealth grew from $700bn to $1.5tn, there is significant variation between them, with Mr Musk's fortune growing by more than 1,000%, while Mr Gates' rose by a more modest 30%.

Oxfam's report is based on data from the Forbes Billionaires List and the annual Credit Suisse Global Wealth report, which gives the distribution of global wealth going back to 2000.

The Forbes survey uses the value of an individual's assets, mainly property and land, minus debts, to determine what he or she "owns". The data excludes wages or income.

The methodology has been criticised in the past as it means that a student with high debts, but with high future earning potential, for example, would be considered poor under the criteria used.

Oxfam also says that due to the fact prices have risen during the pandemic, it has adjusted for inflation using the US Consumer Price Index (CPI), which tracks how fast the cost of living has is increasing over time.

Oxfam's report, which was also based on data from the World Bank, said a lack of access to healthcare, hunger, gender-based violence and climate breakdown contributed to one death every four seconds.

It said 160 million more people were living on less than $5.50 (£4.02) a day than would have been without the impact of the Covid pandemic.

The World Bank uses $5.50 a day as a measure of poverty in upper-middle-income countries.

The report also says:

- The pandemic is forcing developing countries to slash social spending as national debts rise

- Gender equality has been set back, with 13 million fewer women in work now than in 2019 and over 20 million girls at risk of never returning to school

- Ethnic minority groups have been hardest hit by Covid, including UK Bangladeshis and the US's black population

"Even during a global crisis our unfair economic systems manage to deliver eye-watering windfalls for the wealthiest but fail to protect the poorest," Mr Sriskandarajah said.

He said political leaders now had an historic opportunity to back bolder economic strategies to "change the deadly course we are on".

Many girls are unlikely to return to school after the pandemic, according to Oxfam
That should include more progressive tax regimes, which impose higher levies on capital and wealth, with the revenue spent on "quality universal healthcare and social protection for all" Mr Sriskandarajah said.

Oxfam is also calling for the intellectual property rights on Covid-19 vaccines to be waived to enable wider production and faster distribution.

Earlier this month the president of the World Bank, David Malpass, voiced his concerns over widening global inequality, arguing the impact of inflation and measures to tackle it were likely to cause more damage to poorer countries.

"The outlook for the weaker countries is still to fall further and further behind," he said.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60015294

The new variant will create widespread immunity for at least a year, he predicts.

The current wave of Omicron variant Covid-19 infections will be a challenge for health care systems to deal with. But once it's over, cases should drop and life may regain some semblance of normalcy, at least for the rest of 2022.

That prediction came from Bill Gates during a Twitter Q&A this week with Devi Sridhar, professor of global public health at the University of Edinburgh Medical School. Sridhar asked Gates the question that's on everyone's mind: "How and when will the pandemic be over?"

"As countries experience their Omicron wave, health systems will be challenged," he answered. "Most of the severe cases will be unvaccinated people. Once Omicron goes through a country, then the rest of the year should see far fewer cases, so Covid can be treated more like a seasonal flu." In other words, Covid could transition from its current pandemic state to an endemic state in which the disease is still around, and remains dangerous, especially to the most vulnerable, but enough people have enough immunity that it no longer disrupts our daily lives. Several past pandemics have made this transition to endemic status, including the 1918 influenza and the swine flu pandemic of 2009.

It should be emphasized that in the United States, we are still very much in the grip of the Omicron wave. The day before Gates's Q&A, the United States hit a new high of 1.35 million new cases in a single day. Infections are four times higher than they were at last winter's peak, with hospitalizations at an all-time high as well.

Once the current wave is over, though, we may get some respite from Covid for the balance of the year. "A more transmissive variant is not likely but we have been surprised a lot during this pandemic," Gates tweeted. "Omicron will create a lot of immunity at least for the next year." But, he added, "We may have to take yearly shots for Covid for some time."

Subject to misinformation

Sridhar also asked Gates about the challenges of fighting the pandemic when misinformation has spread so rapidly on social media. "Social media got behind on trying to get factual information out--there will be a lot of debate about how to do better on that," Gates said. "People like you and I and Tony Fauci have been subject to a lot of misinformation. I didn't expect that. Some of it, like me putting chips in arms, doesn't make sense to me--why would I want to do that?" ("I'd make a joke but would cause a storm," Sridhar responded with a laughing emoji.)

Sridhar also tackled what might be the most important question of all--how prepared are we for the next pandemic? This time around, Gates said, only a few countries acted swiftly to put social distancing measures in place and isolate the infected. Those that did were able to "limit the number of deaths dramatically," he added. "Once the numbers get large in a country, it is too late."

To deal more effectively with the next pandemic, world leaders will need to prepare ahead of time, Gates noted. And there are some signs that may happen. For example, Gates noted, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has already begun an important conversation about how to prepare for the next pandemic. He also praised Sridhar, saying he appreciated her work in this area. "We can do a lot better next time!!" he tweeted. Let's hope he's right.

https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/bill-gates-omicron-predictions-twitter-devi-sridhar.html

Something is not right....

[img]https://c./feCObuZPsE0AAAAd/columbo-thinking.gif[/img]

[img]https://media./images/173e83cc7048bc6b25c4a029c6b5bbcf/tenor.gif[/img]