Still too early to declare a public health emergency

The World Health Organisation (Who) has said it is “too early” to declare an international public health emergency over the coronavirus outbreak.

It came after infections expert Professor Jurgen Haas claimed there would likely be “many more cases” around the country.

Last night, the World Health Organisation said: “The emergency committee on the new coronavirus considered it is still too early to declare a public health emergency of international concern, given its restrictive and binary nature.”

Speaking at a press conference, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the Who, said: “Make no mistake, this is an emergency in China. But it has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one.”

He said 581 cases have been reported to the Who, including 17 deaths, with 575 of the overall cases and all the deaths reported in China.

Other cases have been reported in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the US and Vietnam.

Dr Tedros said the fact he was not declaring a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) “should not be taken as a sign that Who does not think the situation is serious”.

Prof Haas, head of infection medicine at Edinburgh University, said he believes there will probably be similar cases in “many other cities” in the UK.

He told the PA news agency: “The situation will be pretty similar in pretty much all UK cities with a large number of Chinese students.

“My suspicion is that there will probably be many more cases in many other cities in the UK. None of the cases I know of have been confirmed.”

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It has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one.

WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION