The head of the World Health Organization insisted on Monday it was "now or never" to strike a landmark global accord on tackling future pandemics, after the United States withdrew from negotiations.

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said no country could protect itself from the next pandemic on its own -- three days after US President Donald Trump's administration told the UN health agency it was leaving the pandemic agreement talks.

"We are at a crucial point as you move to finalise the pandemic agreement in time for the World Health Assembly" in May, Tedros told WHO members at the opening of the week-long 13th round of negotiations in Geneva.

"It really is a case of now or never. But I am confident that you will choose 'now' because you know what is at stake.

"You........

© Al Monitor