World Health Organization (WHO), on Friday declared the coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern.
The WHO had previously declared widespread diseases like
Swine flu (2009), Polio (2014), Ebola (2014 and 2018), and Zika (2016), as
international public health emergencies. The latest is the coronavirus
(2019-nCoV).
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The WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,
who made the declaration during a press conference about the WHO’s Emergency
Committee meeting on coronavirus, or 2019-nCoV, said: “I am declaring a public
health emergency of international concern over the global outbreak of
2019-nCoV.
“There have now been
more than 7,800 confirmed cases, and 170 deaths. We must remember that these
are people, not numbers.
“To the people of China and to all of those around the world
who have been affected by this outbreak, we want you to know that the world
stands with you. We are working diligently with national and international
public health partners to bring this outbreak under control as fast as
possible”.
The novel coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China, and was
first reported to the WHO on the 31st of December, 2019. It has spread across
Asia, US, Australia, Europe and the Middle East.
Code named 2019-nCoV, the new coronavirus portrays common
signs like respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and
breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia,
severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
Its infections start off much like many other less dangerous diseases. It can take about a week before an infected person feels sick enough to seek medical care.
The deadly coronavirus has spread outside of China, with 7,800 confirmed cases, and 170 deaths.