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  4. Bill Gates has warned of an impending pandemic for years. Here's how he's dealing with the coronavirus pandemic — from pledging $100 million to fight the outbreak to becoming Warren Buffett's "scientific adviser."

Bill Gates has warned of an impending pandemic for years. Here's how he's dealing with the coronavirus pandemic — from pledging $100 million to fight the outbreak to becoming Warren Buffett's "scientific adviser."

Debanjali Bose   

Bill Gates has warned of an impending pandemic for years. Here's how he's dealing with the coronavirus pandemic — from pledging $100 million to fight the outbreak to becoming Warren Buffett's "scientific adviser."
Bill Gates.Gus Ruelas/Reuters
  • Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates called President Trump's decision to cut US funding for the WHO during the coronavirus pandemic "dangerous."
  • In a Financial Times interview earlier this month, Gates warned that an outbreak on the scale of the coronavirus pandemic might occur "every 20 years or so."
  • For years, Bill Gates has warned the world of an impending severe pandemic.
  • In a 2015 TED Talk, Gates said that "we're not ready for the next epidemic." In 2017, Gates wrote in an op-ed article for Business Insider that the next epidemic could be "a super contagious and deadly strain of the flu."
  • Gates has called the coronavirus a "once-in-a-century pathogen," and his charitable organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has committed $100 million to fight the outbreak.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Read the original article on Business Insider

In a recent BBC Radio interview, Melinda shared that the couple had a stockpile of food in their basement. She said, "A number of years ago, we had talked about, you know, what if there wasn't clean water? What if there wasn't enough food? Where might we go? What might we do as a family?" She didn't say whether they had tapped into their stash yet.

In a recent BBC Radio interview, Melinda shared that the couple had a stockpile of food in their basement. She said, "A number of years ago, we had talked about, you know, what if there wasn
"Xanadu 2.0," Gates' mansion in Medina.      Bing Maps

Source: Business Insider

  • The Gates Foundation did not respond to requests for comment.

As for how Gates and his wife, Melinda, are personally weathering this pandemic, Melinda shared in an Instagram post that they're working remotely and enjoying the "natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest," while following social distancing guidelines.

As for how Gates and his wife, Melinda, are personally weathering this pandemic, Melinda shared in an Instagram post that they
Bill and Melinda Gates.      Lindsey Wasson / Reuters

Barrett said the money might go to organizations sanctioned by the Chinese government to deal with the crisis, not necessarily aid workers on the ground in Wuhan — where the outbreak originated — who have complained about a lack of resources.

Barrett said the money might go to organizations sanctioned by the Chinese government to deal with the crisis, not necessarily aid workers on the ground in Wuhan — where the outbreak originated — who have complained about a lack of resources.
Hospital staff members in Wuhan, China, in January.      AP Photo/Dake Kang

Fortune's Eamon Barrett wrote in February that the money committed by billionaires like Bill Gates and Alibaba CEO Jack Ma for fighting the coronavirus outbreak might not necessarily go to the people who need it the most.

Fortune
Alibaba CEO Jack Ma.      Sean Gallup/Getty Images

In February, Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett called Gates his "scientific adviser" and said Gates was focused on finding a long-term solution to the threats posed by the coronavirus.

In February, Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett called Gates his "scientific adviser" and said Gates was focused on finding a long-term solution to the threats posed by the coronavirus.
Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett.      Reuters/Rick Wilking

Source: CNBC

Chinese President Xi Jinping has thanked Gates for his "generous support."

Chinese President Xi Jinping has thanked Gates for his "generous support."
Chinese President Xi Jinping.      Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty

Source: Bloomberg

The Gates Foundation also funded a project to develop at-home coronavirus detection for people in the Seattle area.

The Gates Foundation also funded a project to develop at-home coronavirus detection for people in the Seattle area.
Nurses at a testing station in Seattle on Friday.      AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

In March, the Gates Foundation joined Wellcome and Mastercard in, together, pledging up to $125 million toward a COVID-19 Therapeutic Accelerator to speed up the response by enhancing treatment. The foundation put in up to $50 million, earmarked from its initial coronavirus pledge, toward this venture.

In March, the Gates Foundation joined Wellcome and Mastercard in, together, pledging up to $125 million toward a COVID-19 Therapeutic Accelerator to speed up the response by enhancing treatment. The foundation put in up to $50 million, earmarked from its initial coronavirus pledge, toward this venture.
A patient in a biocontainment unit at a hospital in Rome on Monday.      Alessandra Tarantino/AP

In early February, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pledged to donate $100 million to fight the outbreak, including funding for frontline responders, prevention efforts, and treatment. A big chunk is reserved for vaccine development.

In early February, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pledged to donate $100 million to fight the outbreak, including funding for frontline responders, prevention efforts, and treatment. A big chunk is reserved for vaccine development.
Bill and Melinda Gates head up the Gates Foundation.      LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images

Gates also suggested an international database that countries could use to share information.

Gates also suggested an international database that countries could use to share information.
A law enforcement officer at a drive-through testing station in Denver on Saturday.      Jim Urquhart/Reuters

Gates called the coronavirus a "once-in-a-century pathogen" in an op-ed article for the New England Journal of Medicine. He also outlined steps the world could take to contain its spread, including the speedy development and delivery of vaccines.

Gates called the coronavirus a "once-in-a-century pathogen" in an op-ed article for the New England Journal of Medicine. He also outlined steps the world could take to contain its spread, including the speedy development and delivery of vaccines.
A person reaching for hand sanitizer.      Avery Hartmans/Business Insider

In 2018, Gates said that the next pandemic was imminent and that he believed it would arise and spread within the next decade. "In the case of biological threats, that sense of urgency is lacking," he said. "The world needs to prepare for pandemics in the same serious way it prepares for war."

In 2018, Gates said that the next pandemic was imminent and that he believed it would arise and spread within the next decade. "In the case of biological threats, that sense of urgency is lacking," he said. "The world needs to prepare for pandemics in the same serious way it prepares for war."
Bill Gates in 2018.      AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

Gates repeated the sentiment in a 2017 op-ed article for Business Insider, reiterating that "we are not prepared." He said that he viewed the threat of a pandemic as being on the same level as climate change and nuclear war and that the next epidemic could be "a super contagious and deadly strain of the flu."

Gates repeated the sentiment in a 2017 op-ed article for Business Insider, reiterating that "we are not prepared." He said that he viewed the threat of a pandemic as being on the same level as climate change and nuclear war and that the next epidemic could be "a super contagious and deadly strain of the flu."
A flu vaccine.      Karoly Arvai/Reuters

In a 2015 TED Talk, Gates said the world was unprepared for the next epidemic. He highlighted the stellar efforts of health workers in 2014 to contain the Ebola outbreak. "There's no need to panic ... but we need to get going," he said.

In a 2015 TED Talk, Gates said the world was unprepared for the next epidemic. He highlighted the stellar efforts of health workers in 2014 to contain the Ebola outbreak. "There
A health worker injecting a man with an Ebola vaccine in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo.      Reuters

Source: TED

For years, Gates has talked extensively about the potentially catastrophic nature of a pandemic.

For years, Gates has talked extensively about the potentially catastrophic nature of a pandemic.
Bill Gates.      Scott Olson / Getty Images

In March, Gates announced in a LinkedIn post that he would step down from the boards of Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway to spend more time overseeing philanthropic ventures, with a continued focus on global health and development.

In March, Gates announced in a LinkedIn post that he would step down from the boards of Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway to spend more time overseeing philanthropic ventures, with a continued focus on global health and development.
Gates hasn't worked full time at Microsoft since 2008.      Elaine Thompson/AP Photo

In an interview with Financial Times earlier this month, Gates called the coronavirus pandemic "the biggest event" most people will experience in their lifetimes. Gates also warned that a viral outbreak on this scale could occur "every 20 years or so."

In an interview with Financial Times earlier this month, Gates called the coronavirus pandemic "the biggest event" most people will experience in their lifetimes. Gates also warned that a viral outbreak on this scale could occur "every 20 years or so."
In the years leading up to the coronavirus outbreak, Gates had warned of an impending pandemic for years.      Yana Paskova/Getty Images

Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates criticized President Donald Trump's decision to cut US funding for the WHO in a tweet on April 15. Gates called the decision "dangerous" and said "the world needs WHO now more than ever."

Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates criticized President Donald Trump
Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates      Spencer Platt/Getty

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