Coronavirus declared a global health emergency by WHO — Forbes Report
World Health Organization declared coronavirus a public health emergency of the international issue at a news convention Thursday in Geneva.
WHO can hold countries to account when they needlessly exceed these global standards. This is critical to ensuring the international response is evidence-based, measured & balanced to protect human health in ways that are neither over-reactive nor under-reactive. What does the Public Health Emergency of Intl Concern mean? WHO issues temporary recommendations. These are non-binding but practically & politically significant measures that can address travel, trade, quarantine, screening, treatment. WHO can also set global standards of practice.
Coronavirus infections are spreading at a rapid pace. The virus is officially a public health emergency and thousands of people have been infected to date. Health officials are currently tracking the infection across several countries in an effort to stay one step ahead of the virus
Now you can track live the global Geographic distribution of COVID-19 cases — Click to visit
The Committee emphasized that the declaration of a public health emergency should be seen in the spirit of support & appreciation for, its people & the actions. has taken on the frontlines of this outbreak, with transparency, and, it is to be hoped, with success -share data, knowledge & experience with WHO & the world. The only way we will defeat this outbreak is for all countries to work together in a spirit of solidarity & cooperation. We are all in this together, & we can only stop it together “We must support countries with weaker health systems” -accelerate the development of vaccines, therapeutics & diagnostics; -combat the spread of rumors & misinformation. -review preparedness plans, identify gaps & evaluate the resources needed to identify, isolate & care for cases, & prevent transmission.
“There is no reason for measures that unnecessarily interfere with intl. travel & trade. We call on all countries to implement decisions that are evidence-based & consistent. WHO stands ready to provide advice to any country that is considering which measures to take”
“We must remember that these are people, not numbers. More important than the declaration of a public health emergency are the committee’s recommendations for preventing the spread of the #2019nCoV virus and ensuring a measured and evidence-based response” “In total, there are now 7834 confirmed #2019nCoV cases, including 7736 in #China, representing almost 99% of all reported cases worldwide. 170 people have lost their lives to this outbreak, all of them in China”
RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADVICE to be Safe from coronavirus via WHO Statement.
During previous outbreaks due to another coronavirus (Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), human-to-human transmission occurred through droplets, contact, and fomites, suggesting that the transmission mode of the 2019-nCoV can be similar. The basic principles to reduce the general risk of transmission of acute respiratory infections include the following:
- Avoiding close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections.
• Frequent hand-washing, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment.
- Avoiding unprotected contact with farm or wild animals.
- People with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette (maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, and wash hands).
• Within healthcare facilities, enhance standard infection prevention and control practices in hospitals, especially in emergency departments. WHO does not recommend any specific health measures for travelers. In case of symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness either during or after travel, travelers are encouraged to seek medical attention and share their travel history with their healthcare provider.
this is the simplest the 6th time such an emergency has been declared, with past examples along with the Ebola outbreak inside the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Zika virus.
The WHO reserves the designation for “first-rate occasions” that pose a public fitness chance through threatening to spread across the world.
the primary cause of human-to-human coronavirus transmission inside the U.S. has been confirmed, in a patient in Illinois, the facilities for disease manage and Prevention announced Thursday.
The transmission up-to-date between a husband and wife, who had been in close contact with one another. The spouse, a girl in her 60s, had traveled up-to-date Wuhan, China, and become recognized with the virus last week. The husband, a Chicago resident additionally in his 60s and who has underlying fitness issues, had no longer traveled up to date China.
“The chance up-to-date most people in Illinois remains low,” state health officers careworn. They said that they do not agree with the virus is spreading extensively in communities and are working up-to-date to ensure fitness care people at the up-to-date where the affected person is being handled are protected.
The nation branch issued a “Do now not up-to-date” warning for China on Thursday night, it is the most powerful caution. the extent 4 advisories already up-to-date in the region for Wuhan, the middle of the outbreak. It additionally suggested individuals in China up to date go away through business flights.
cases of human-up to date-human transmission formerly were said outdoor of China, in Germany, Japan, Vietnam, and Taiwan.
The up to date suggestions for individuals who’re worried approximately their fitness is up to date practice right flu season hygiene, along with frequent hand washing, overlaying coughs and retaining on new statistics from the CDC. The CDC does now not advocate sporting a face masks up to date to prevent coronavirus.
“Our evaluation stays that the immediate threat to the American public is low,” stated Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the centers for ailment manipulate and Prevention. by Indian Research Press Release.
The transmission in Illinois marks the 6th case of coronavirus in the U.S.
The WHO deliberated for two days remaining week before deciding now not to declare an emergency. considering then, however, patients from Germany, India, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the U.S. have been identified with the brand new coronavirus while not having visited China. the new coronavirus is inside the equal circle of relatives of viruses because of the commonplace cold and SARS.
That human-to-human transmission outside of China “concerns us,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-popular at WHO said for the duration of a Wednesday information conference.
At ultimate matter, extra than 7,seven-hundred humans have been sickened by the radical coronavirus and one hundred seventy have died from it. greater than 90% percent of those cases, and every demise, had been in China.
consistent with WHO, 20% of instances are taken into consideration to be extreme and a pair of% have been deadly. it’s predicted that the fatality rate of the brand new coronavirus will decrease as more instances are pronounced since the sickest people have a tendency to are seeking scientific treatment first.
in the united states, 165 humans are below research for the new coronavirus. of these people, sixty-eight have tested negative and six have tested high-quality. The final individuals’ assessments are in transit or have pending consequences.
Twenty American airports are screening passengers for signs of sickness and dispensing educational materials the symptoms of coronavirus to human beings coming back from China.
Airlines around the world have suspended a few routes to China — United, Delta, American Airways, British Airways, Air Seoul, Lion Air, Lufthansa organization, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Air Asia, Air India, Air Canada, All Nippon Airlines, Asiana Airways, and Korean Air.
This week, the U.S. authorities-chartered a flight to evacuate 196 Americans from Wuhan, China. those evacuees were screened and monitored for signs and symptoms of contamination earlier than and for the duration of their flight. After touchdown in California, the passengers entered a voluntary three-day quarantine and can be presented checking out for the virus, in keeping with the centers for ailment manipulate and Prevention.
The main reason is not because of what is happening in China but because of what is happening in other countries? Forgive me if I’m mistaken, but isn’t what’s happening in China the reason why it’s happening in other countries? Cause vs effect? Misrepresentation vs spread?
Some Facts —
Previously, there have been 5 public health emergencies of international concern declared:
2009 H1N1
2014 polio
2014 Ebola in West Africa
2016 Zika
2019 Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
