How can we avoid a new pandemic, according to Bill Gates?

In the book, Gates outlines steps to prevent future epidemics and provide better health care to people around the world 

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has written a book on how to avoid a new pandemic, in which he sees COVID-19 as the last pandemic.

Ambitious goal

"How to Prevent the Next Pandemic" will be released on 3 May by Knopf publishing in the US and Penguin Random House internationally.

Gates, whose foundation helped fund research for a COVID-19 vaccine, talks in the book about identifying steps to prevent future pandemics and provide better health care to people around the world using lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The book also shares stories from his conversations with top health leaders, such as Dr. Anthony Fauci , the top US official in charge of infectious diseases, and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Gates also explained that the book discusses how it has been the subject of conspiracy theories, such as the unsubstantiated claim that it encourages mass vaccination in order to inject people with traceable microchips.

"Our goal is ambitious," Gates wrote, "but the progress we've made over the past two years has already set us on the path to success. The world now understands how seriously we must take epidemics."

Vaccine Financing

Gates' net worth was $132.6 billion at the time this article was published, according to the Forbes Rich List, making him the fourth richest person in the world.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which Gates founded with his ex-wife, has been a major force in developing COVID-19 vaccines, and has helped fund Moderna and AstraZeneca's research efforts. Gates has called for years to improve pandemic response and vaccine research.