British Doctor Who Leads UN Handling Ebola And COVID-19 Dies

Illustration. Health workers take a break in the COVID-19 isolation room at Dadi Keluarga Hospital, Ciamis, West Java in June 2021. (Between-Adeng B).

JAKARTA - Dr. David Nabarro, a British doctor who became the head of the UN envoy on the front lines of handling the world health crisis such as bird flu, Ebola, and the COVID-19 pandemic, has died.

The director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed this sad news on his X social media account.

"David is a great fighter in global health and health equality, as well as a wise and generous mentor to many individuals," Tedros wrote on Saturday.

"His work touched and had an impact on so much life around the world," he continued.

Deeply shocked and saddened by the passing of our dear friend, colleague and @WHO Envoy David Nabarro.

David was a great champion of global health and health equity, and a wise, generous mentor to countless individuals. His work touched and impacted so many lives across the… pic.twitter.com/xc6zrxpLs7

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) July 26, 2025

Deeply shocked and saddened by the passing of our dear friend, college and @WHO Envoy David Nabarro.

David was a great champion of global health and health equity, and a wise, generally mentor to countless individuals. His work touched and affected so many live across the... pic.twitter.com/xc6zrxpls7

The 4SD Foundation, a social company in Switzerland that focuses on assisting future generations of leaders in global sustainable development, becomes where David works as a strategic director before he dies.

According to the 4SD Foundation, David died suddenly on Friday local time. However, 4SD did not elaborate further.

" David's generosity and firm commitment to improving the lives of others will be missed," the foundation wrote on its website on Saturday.

David during his lifetime contributed to the world of health. King Charles III is noted to have awarded David the title of nationality in 2023. The award was awarded for David's contribution which became one of the six WHO special envoys for COVID-19.

David also won the 2018 World Food Award for his work on health and hunger issues.

In addition, he was also a candidate for the highest position at WHO in 2017 but lost to Tedros in the final round of the vote. Since then, David decided to enter 4SD out of his position at the United Nations.