The recent Coronavirus virus outbreak is causing a big stir worldwide. The World Health Organisation now recognizes the epidemic as a global emergency. This confirmation came today after the conclusion of the emergency meeting by WHO on Thursday, the 30 of January.
Reason for its declaration
The chief of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. said that the reason for recognizing it a global emergency has nothing to do with what is going on in China. Instead, it has to do with what is going on in other countries.
The main worry is due to what it could mean for the Coronavirus to spread to countries with the weaker health system.
So far, there are up to 98 reported cases of infection in 18 countries outside the borders of China, although no death so far.
WHO’s advice to countries on Coronavirus
In light of WHO declaring the Coronavirus, a global emergency, the World Health Organisation said that states shouldn’t reduce trade and travel with China. This is because many countries have put up travel restrictions on traveling to China.
According to WHO, the response of the Chinese government to the outbreak is not in doubt. Instead, the response has been admirable. The status of the Public Health Emergency of international concern is to prevent the spread of the infection to countries with the weaker health care system. These countries are usually lacking when it comes to types of equipment to deal with such an outbreak.
Reason for the delayed declaration of Coronavirus
Last week, WHO contemplated declaring the outbreak of a global emergency but reconsidered due to the limited spread of the infection to other countries. This week some countries like Germany, Japan, the united states, Vietnam, saw an increasing number of cases of Coronavirus infection.
One aspect of the virus that is worrying is the human-to-human mode of transmission of the infection. This week the US reported a limited case of human-to-human transfer. This has served to push the World Health Organisation to recognize the severity of the outbreak.
Several members of the WHO emergency committee were against the declaration of the global emergency. They hoped for the success of China’s efforts in controlling the outbreak and preventing a worldwide spread of the infection.
Almost 99 percent of the reported cases globally are in China. Also, a large number of cases in other countries are from people who traveled from or have been in contact with someone who was initially in China.
Reports as of on Thursday the 30 of January 2020, there are at least 7,800 cases of the infection already. Reports of ninety-eight cases have been outside China. There are 170 deaths, all of which happened in China.
So far, so good for Africa, there is no reported case of the infection. Any reported case in Africa will be disastrous. As the continent is probably the least equipped in diagnosing and managing the infection.
Thursday’s declaration comes on the heels of many countries, closing their borders to China.
Trade between many counties is also being reduced as many airlines are restricting flights to China.
The current Coronavirus outbreak is the reminder of the SARS outbreak, which lasted a year between 2002 and 2003. The infection killed about 800 people.
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