WHO declares global emergency

New York, Jan. 31: The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak sparked by coronavirus in China that has spread to more than a dozen countries as a global emergency on Thursday after the number of cases spiked more than tenfold in a week.

The UN health agency defines an international emergency as an “extraordinary event’’ that constitutes a risk to other countries and requires a coordinated international response.

China first informed WHO about cases of the new virus in late December. To date, China has reported nearly 10,000 cases including 212 deaths. Eighteen other countries have since reported cases, as scientists race to understand how exactly the virus is spreading and how severe it is.

Experts say there is significant evidence the virus is spreading among people in China and have noted with concern instances in other countries — including the United States, France, Japan, Germany, Canada, South Korea and Vietnam — where there have also been isolated cases of humanto-human transmission.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted the worrisome spread of the virus between people outside China.

“The main reason for this declaration is not because of what is happening in China but because of what is happening in other countries,” he said. “Our greatest concern is the potential for this virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems which are ill-prepared to deal with it.”

In the wake of numerous airlines cancelling flights to China and businesses temporarily closing hundreds of shops, Mr Tedros said WHO was not recommending limiting travel or trade to China.

The United States, however, advised against all travel to China on Friday.

The US State Department’s level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory, the highest grade of warning, told Americans in China to consider departing using commercial means.