Official: WHO declares an international emergency with new corona virus spread from China

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially announced: The new corona virus that causes pneumonia in Wuhan, China, has now spread to 18 countries and created an international public health emergency. copper (PHEIC).

The statement was made just after the third meeting of the Emergency Committee at WHO on the morning of January 31 Vietnam time. In two sessions last week, the WHO declined to declare the new coronary disease epidemic as a PHEIC, citing its belief that China can effectively control the disease within its borders.

But by this time, ” the disease has spread to 18 other countries, infected 98 people outside the Chinese border, including 8 cases of human-to-human transmission in Germany, Japan, and Vietnam. USA, “ said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

Although no deaths outside of China have been recorded, and the number of patients in other countries remains low, Dr. Tedros said other countries, especially those with systems Weak health should be prepared to cope with this spread.

” We do not know how this strain could cause damage if it spreads to a country with a weaker health system , “ he said. ” For all of those reasons, I declare a public health emergency for this new corona virus outbreak.”

Official: WHO declares an international emergency for new corona virus to be spread from China

According to WHO regulations, Global Public Health Emergency (PHEIC) is declared when there is an ” abnormal ” situation, ” there is a public health risk to other countries from transmission.” spread of epidemics, “” requires a synchronized international response “ in disease prevention.

The appointment of PHEIC will allow Dr. Tedros, as WHO Director-General, to call on countries not to close borders or restrict trade. The reason for cutting off tourism and trade with a country dealing with the disease is thought to be unable to stop the spread.

On the contrary, it may cause countries to hide information and not be transparent about the situation.

Professor Didier Houssin, Chairman of the WHO Emergency Committee, during a press conference asked the science behind the decision of some countries to restrict trade and travel with China.

He said that these restrictions “are not an example of compliance [of WHO statement] but a decision to reconsider “.

Dr. Tedros stressed twice that the Public Health Emergency (PHEIC) declaration of the new corona virus, mainly to protect countries outside of China.

It is not because of the increased number of cases in China that the WHO loses confidence in the efforts it is making. ” I must emphasize once again that WHO continues to believe China is capable of doing so. ability to contain disease, “ said Dr. Tedros.

As of 31st January Vietnam time, China has recorded 213 deaths due to new corona virus and 9,692 infected people. Deaths are expected to slow down in the coming days, when the virus kills those with the weakest immune systems.

Regulations on PHEIC were developed after the outbreak of the SARS outbreak in 2003 and adopted by 194 countries in 2005. Since then, only 5 times WHO has declared PHEIC for pandemics: H1N1 swine flu in 2009, polio in 2014, Ebola in 2014, Zika in 2015 and an outbreak of Ebola in 2019.

In 2013, WHO also established an emergency committee to assess whether MERS virus should be declared a PHEIC. But eventually after many sessions, they concluded that the disease is not an international health emergency.

With the new PHEIC statement, there are a total of three epidemics in the world considered as a global public health emergency: Ebola outbreak in West Africa, polio outbreak in Middle East. and new coronary pneumonia outbreaks in 19 countries around the world.

“Now, all must act together to limit further spread, ” Professor Houssin said. The international community should help countries with weaker health systems be well prepared for an outbreak.

Countries should take measures against the spread of false information and false rumors, along with the public and transparent sharing of knowledge about viruses and disease data. WHO says it is ready to support every country in every way possible.

Consult WHO