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WHO reports 92 cases of human-to-human coronavirus cases outside China
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday confirmed 92 cases of human-to-human spread of the coronavirus in 12 countries outside China.
But the world health body said it does not have the data to make comparisons with China.
WHO Chief Tedros Ghebreyesus said in Geneva that the WHO has not seen sustained local transmission except in specific cases, such as on the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined in Japan.
China has reported 72,528 cases to WHO including 1,850 deaths as of Tuesday morning, Tedros said.
Chinese officials reported 1,886 new cases – the first time the daily figure has fallen below 2,000 since Jan. 30 – bringing the mainland China total to 72,436.
A figure of 98 new deaths marked the first time the daily toll in China had fallen below 100 since Feb. 11, bringing the total to 1,868.
Ghebreyesus said Chinese data “appears to show a decline in new cases” but any apparent trend “must be interpreted very cautiously”.
Outside China, there have been 827 cases of the disease, known as COVID-19, and five deaths.
More than half of those cases have been on a cruise ship quarantined off Japan.
China says figures showing a slowdown in new cases in recent days show that aggressive steps it has taken to curb travel and commerce are slowing the spread of the disease beyond central Hubei province and its capital, Wuhan.
But Tom Wingfield, a senior lecturer and physician at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, said: “It is too early to be certain whether this represents a sustained reduction in COVID-19 transmission and that the epidemic has peaked.”
The numbers appeared encouraging, said Mark Woolhouse, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at Britain’s University of Edinburgh, who described himself as cautious.
“Though it is unrealistic to reduce the transmission rate to zero it may have been reduced to a level where the epidemic is brought under control,” Woolhouse said. (Reuters/NAN)
February 19, 2020
WHO names new coronavirus, Covid-19
World Health Organisation (WHO) has named the new coronavirus, Covid-19.
WHO announced the new name in its tweeter handle at @WHO that “we now have a name for 2019nCov disease.
“The new name is COVID-19.
“The CO stands for corona, the VI for virus and the D for disease.”
The UN health agency wanted a name that do not refer to a geographical location, animals, an individual or a group of people.
WHO is leading a 2-day global research and innovation forum to mobilise international action in response to coronavirus outbreak in Geneva.
China’s National Health Commission said there were 2,478 confirmed new cases in the mainland and 108 additional deaths, most of them in Hubei province.
As of Monday night, the government said a total of 42,638 cases have been confirmed and 1,016 people have died in the country.
The outbreak’s epicentre is in the city of Wuhan in Hubei province, affecting 28 countries and territories around the world. (NAN)
February 12, 2020
1.35m people die annually from road accidents – WHO
World Health Organisation (WHO) says no fewer than 1.35 million people died annually from road traffic accidents.
WHO, in a statement posted on its website, stated that ministers from over 100 countries would meet to agree on new global road safety agenda reduce the number of deaths.According to the statement, the minister will meet to agree on new agenda to halve road accident traffic deaths and injuries by 2030.
It stated the officials would meet to discuss new steps to halve road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030 in line with global targets agreed in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The meeting, according to the statement, will hold in Stockholm, Sweden from 19 to 20 February.
The statement quoted Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, as saying: “ the fact that an estimated 1.35 million lives are lost every year due to road traffic collisions is an outrage.
“It is an unacceptable price to pay for mobility.”
Road traffic injuries are now the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged five to 29 years, according to WHO’s most recent Global status report on road safety.
More than half of all road traffic deaths occur among pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
The risk of a road traffic death remains three times higher in low-income countries than in high-income countries.
Moreover, as many as 50 million people experience non-fatal road injuries, which impose human suffering and major economic losses.
The statement further quoted Ghebreyesus, as saying “that most road traffic deaths and injuries can be prevented, using tried and tested strategies.
“This conference is an opportunity for the world to embrace a new agenda to radically reduce the number of lives lost on our roads.
“It is also an opportunity to re-think how we can provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all”.
Many countries had already made progress through effective road safety management and focusing on better legislation and enforcement around key risks such as speeding; drinking and driving, and failing to use seat-belts.
They had also improved infrastructure through measures such as safer sidewalks and dedicated lanes for cyclists; implemented vehicle standards such as those that mandate advanced braking and electronic stability control; and enhanced post-crash care.
According to the statement, the conference will offer delegates an opportunity to share successes and lessons learned, chart future strategic directions for global road safety, and define ways to fast-track progress around proven strategies to save lives.
February 11, 2020
Coronavirus: WHO equips 168 labs globally with diagnosis capacity
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it has identified 168 labs around the world with the right technology to diagnose coronavirus.
This is part of WHO’s efforts at equiping laboratories with the capacity to rapidly diagnose novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) cases as part of its preparedness to tackle the outbreak globally.
Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, disclosed this on Monday during his daily media briefing on 2019-nCoV update.
“We have sent kits to Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Iran, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia.
“Many of those countries have already started using them,” the WHO director-general said.
According to him, another shipment of 150,000 tests is being assembled in Berlin and destined for more than 80 labs in all regions.
He noted that last week, the African Centre for Disease Control conducted a training in Senegal with 12 countries, using tests sent by WHO, adding that further training would take place in South Africa next week.
Ghebreyesus averred that WHO would continue working with all countries to prevent and detect rapidly new cases of coronavirus and to save lives.
According to him, as of 6 a.m. Geneva time on Feb. 10, there were 40,235 confirmed cases in China and 909 deaths.
He disclosed that outside China, there were 319 cases in 24 countries, with one death.
“The overall pattern has not changed. 99 per cent of reported cases are in China, and most cases are mild. About 2 per cent of cases are fatal which of course is still too many.
“A lot of people are asking, where is the outbreak going? Is it getting better, is it getting worse?
“We are doing several things to answer those questions,” he said.
He said that the meeting on research and innovation starting on Feb.11 would identify some of those questions and chart a path forward.
Furthermore, Ghebreyesus said that an advance team of WHO experts led by Dr Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director-General for Polio, Emergencies and Country Collaboration, had arrived in China to lay the groundwork for the larger international team.
“Bruce and his colleagues will be working with their Chinese counterparts to make sure we have the right expertise on the team to answer the right questions,” he said.
Ghebreyesus said that without vital diagnostic capacity, countries would be oblivious as to how far and wide the virus has spread, and who has coronavirus or another disease with similar symptoms.
“In recent days we have seen some concerning instances of onward transmission from people with no travel history to China, like the cases reported in France yesterday and the UK today.
“The detection of this small number of cases could be the spark that becomes a bigger fire.
“But for now, it is only a spark. Our objective remains containment. We call on all countries to use the window of opportunity we have to prevent a bigger fire,”he said.
Ghebreyesus expressed gratitude to all the people who had volunteered their expertise from all over the world to fight the 2019-nCoV outbreak. (NAN)
February 11, 2020
WHO doesn’t recommend, and opposes restrictions for travel, trade or other measures against China
The World Health Organization (WHO) doesn’t recommend, and actually opposes any restrictions for travel and trade or other measures against China, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a news conferences held in Geneva on Jan 30 local time.
At the conference, he declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern over the global outbreak of novel coronavirus and summarized recommendations in seven key areas.
There is no reason for measures that unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade, Ghebreyesus stressed, saying the WHO doesn’t recommend limiting trade and movement and calls on all countries to implement decisions that are evidence-based and consistent.
Didier Houssin, chair of the Emergency Committee (EC) of the WHO, explained that travel restrictions are not recommended, such as visa refusal, border closure, quarantine of travelers who are in good condition.
The WHO suggests some countries and regions provide science supporting for their decisions to issue travel restrictions and reconsider some restrictive measures they’ve taken.
Ghebreyesus expressed that the he had noticed that some airlines actually said that they are not flying. It’s not because of the virus, it’s because they don’t have enough passengers, the WHO chief said, adding that could be a reason, and it will be very difficult if that’s the case.
A WHO spokesman reiterated in an interview with People’s Daily that based on currently available information, WHO does not recommend any restriction of travel or trade. Countries are encouraged to continue strengthening their preparedness for health emergencies in line with the International Health Regulations (2005).
Marc Van Ranst, dean of the School of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in the Dutch-speaking town of Leuven in Belgium, is an authoritative medical scientist in Europe, and has long been the Interministerial comissionar, providing advices in dealing with influenza pandemic in Belgium. His team is currently conducting research on novel coronavirus.
In an interview with People’s Daily, he said that after the global outbreak of novel coronavirus was listed as a public health emergency of international concern, the WHO will be able to coordinate and organize more international assistance to jointly fight the epidemic. For instance, it could consult with China to dispatch an international medical expert group and raise more medical supplies.
The WHO spokesman said that the international expert group will go to China as soon as possible to join hands with Chinese experts to carry out more relevant research on virus transmission and outbreaks.
The release of public health emergencies of international concern is WHO’s normal practice based on the spread of the epidemic, said Ranst.
From the perspective of epidemic prevention and control, this move will help raise awareness among the government, the public, and relevant people, and provide conditions for the elimination of the epidemic, he added.
The 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic in the United States was classified as a public health emergency of international concern. In 2016, WHO announced the Zika virus outbreak in Brazil as a public health emergency of international concern. That year, Brazil even hosted the Olympics, and when the summer came, the epidemic in Brazil had greatly eased.
It is believed that the epidemic of the novel coronavirus will soon be curbed, said the expert.
Ghebreyesus highly praised China’s efforts to fight the epidemic again at the press conference and expressed great confidence in China’s success in fighting the epidemic.
He spoke highly of China’s efforts to fight the epidemic and believes that China’s actions set an example for the international community and made a huge contribution to curbing the spread of the epidemic outside China.
“We would have seen many more cases outside China by now – and probably deaths -if it were not for the government’s efforts and the progress they have made to protect their own people and the people of the world. The speed with which China detected the outbreak, isolated the virus, sequenced the genome, and shared it with WHO and the world are very impressive, and beyond words. So is China’s commitment to transparency and to supporting other countries. In many ways, China is actually setting a new standard for outbreak response, and it’s not an exaggeration,” said the WHO chief.
February 6, 2020
China deserves our gratitude and respect: WHO chief
Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and senior officials of the World Health Organization (WHO) gave high appraisal over China’s strong measure to contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus when briefing the WHO head’s visit to China at a press conference held on Jan. 29 in Geneva, Switzerland.
They believe what China is doing has manifested the country’s courage and responsibility.
The Director-General said he was impressed by China’s serious measures to combat the novel coronavirus, and these measures benefit both China and the world.
He said he was shocked by the resolution of the Chinese leadership and Chinese people to combat the virus, and paid respect to the country’s courage and responsibility.
Tedros said the WHO had a series of very candid discussions with China focusing on continued collaboration based on mutual understanding. He introduced that both sides will conduct further studies on the severity and transmissibility of the virus, and share data and biological material, adding that China’s practice to combat the virus is of vital significance for the world.
The WHO chief said the Chinese government has taken extraordinary steps to prevent the export of cases. “For that China deserves our gratitude and respect,” he noted.
China identified the pathogen in record time and shared it immediately, which led to the rapid development of diagnostic tools, Tedros noted, saying the country is completely committed to transparency.
Citing the quick identification and isolation of a novel coronavirus case in Germany, Tedros illustrated the importance of China’s efforts to actively carry out international cooperation. This example is a good illustration of how China is engaging with WHO and other countries based on the principles of solidarity and cooperation to address a global health emergency, he said.
The head of the WHO said China showed high transparency in combating the epidemic. He introduced that prior to his visit to China, he was in almost daily contact with China’s National Health Commission to discuss the response to the outbreak and how WHO can support.
China is doing the right thing, said Michael Ryan, Executive Director of WHO Health Emergencies Programme. “They are taking extraordinary measures in the face of what is an extraordinary challenge. I have never seen the scale and commitment of an epidemic response at this level,” Ryan said.
According to him, the Chinese scientists probably made the most rapid characterization of a novel pathogen in history and that was shared immediately. Multiple sequences were shared immediately on global platforms and that is what has allowed a lot of the diagnostics to be developed, he added.
WHO infectious disease expert Maria van Kerkhove believes China’s active surveillance system was crucial in spotting the first infector of the novel coronavirus, and China’s spirit of cooperation and openness played a critical role in the WHO’s issuing of testing and treatment guidelines. She said through international cooperation, the WHO is building a knowledge base of the virus, which is playing a very important part in the current battle against the epidemic.
A news release of the WHO said the National Health Commission presented China’s strong public health capacities and resources to respond and manage respiratory disease outbreaks.
Stopping the spread of this virus both in China and globally is WHO’s highest priority, and the WHO appreciates the seriousness with which China is taking this outbreak, especially the commitment from top leadership, and the transparency they have demonstrated, the news release said.
February 6, 2020
Coronavirus: WHO, ACDC, partners ramp up support for Nigeria
The Africa Centre for Disease Control (ACDC), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other partners have Nigeria and other African countries of adequate international support to check and prevent coronavirus. Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director-Genera, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), on Thursday in Abuja. Ihekweazu said that the support was geared towards ensuring that Nigeria was better prepared to respond, in the event of an outbreak of 2019-nCoV.
“The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), through its Division of Port Health Services and NCDC received the team of experts from the WHO Africa Regional Office. “Similar support has also been provided by WHO to eight priority countries in the African region, namely, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Republic of Congo. “In response to the ongoing outbreak in China and 23 other countries, NCDC established a multi-sectoral Coronavirus Preparedness Group that meets daily,” he disclosed. The NCDC Boss said that the the group which meets daily had representatives from the health ministry, , Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and international partners. “The partners include WHO, U.S. Centre for Disease Control (US-CDC), Public Health England (PHE) and others. “Since the confirmation of the 2019-nCoV outbreak in China on the 7th of January 2020, the Port Health Services Division of the Department of Public Health has heightened screening at the ports of entry, especially for travellers with a travel history to China,” he said. Ihekweazu said that NCDC had developed standard case definitions to guide diagnosis and laboratory confirmation of the virus in Nigeria. He said that the centre has also developed a public health advisory to provide guidance to Nigerians on how to stay safe. He, however said that the NCDC National Reference Laboratory had validated and announced its capacity to diagnose the 2019-nCoV. He added that the establishment of this laboratory was done in partnership with WHO, Germany’s Robert Koch Institute, Public Health England and the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team. “In addition to the support from WHO AFRO, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is training laboratory scientists from African countries including Nigeria, at the Institut Pasteur in Dakar. “These scientists will be trained on how to test for 2019-nCov and will serve as trainers on return to their countries,” he said. In order to further strengthen the country’s preparedness, Ihekweazu said that WHO AFRO would work closely with NCDC, Port Health Services and the Coronavirus Preparedness group to develop and test a comprehensive and strategic action plan for preparedness. According to the NCDC DG, the support from partners has been highly beneficial in strengthening the country’s preparedness. He said: ‘We are very grateful for the rapid support from all our partners in strengthening our capacity to respond in the event of a novel coronavirus outbreak and build our system for future outbreaks. “Given the spread across countries, the coordination provided by WHO, Africa CDC and the West African Health Organisation is critical to our work”. NAN, reports that as at the February 4, 2020, 20630 confirmed cases and 159 deaths from the 2019-nCoV had been reported from China and 22 other countries. No confirmed case has been reported in Nigeria or any other African country.
February 6, 2020
Coronavirus: WHO supports FG effort to scale up preparedness
Dr Clement Peter, Officer-in-Charge of World Health Organisation (WHO) in Nigeria, says the agency is supporting Federal Government’s effort at scaling up preparations in handling coronavirus.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the virus, which originated in China (Wuhan), has been reported in 20 countries recording 500 deaths in China alone.
Peter told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the agency had been working with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to provide reagents for testing the virus.
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“I am happy to say that WHO is working with NCDC. But globally, we need to move to countries to provide reagents. What we called primers is because test can be done anywhere in Nigeria.
“These primers are very important, other partners are also bringing some reagents into the country. If we have suspected case, we can confirm through primers.
“But how do you rule out if it coronavirus or not? It is good to have good case definition, like who do you suspect?
“ So that when you take samples, you narrow it to those that you have suspected and not taken everyone.
“On the issue of capacity, at least to treat is very important. I think in Lagos and Abuja; there are some discussions to have isolation capacity.
“That was in the beginning, but with the declaration of coronavirus as a global health emergency, we need to scale up in terms of preparedness.
“ That means, we need to have more facilities available to be used as centres.
“We have five states that are considered high risk, with five points of entry, which are Enugu, Lagos, Rivers, Kano and the FCT. We need to have capacity to diagnose because with the declaration of global public health emergency.
“WHO does not restrict movement and trade, it has to continue because that affects the economy. People might come from China to Nigeria, so we need to be on alert.
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Peter also said the agency had been working with NCDC since the case was first reported, given the linkage between Nigeria and China citizens.
“A lot of Nigerians are in China and a lot of Chinese are in Nigeria or coming into Nigeria; this means in terms of risk, it is high and anything can happen.
“Secondly, from the presentation of the diseases, there are many unknown things about the virus, it presents like a mild illness, common cold and difficulty in breathing and death,’’ the official said.
According to him, the literature on coronavirus shows that the virus may not present any symptoms during screening at the point of entry, but develops symptoms later.
Peter said the most important thing was to have a case definition, a case surveillance for tracking, adding that screening at the ports of entry should be strengthened and capacity to diagnose.
The expert said the declaration of WHO to make coronavirus as global health emergency showed that the whole world had to be prepared for any possibility.
He said the whole world had to build capacity and surveillance to treat should there be an outbreak.
“It is not a situation that has been confined to one country because the cases have spread, so we do not control it globally, it will further spread to more countries and additional countries.
“ And it becomes challenging when countries with weak health system report these cases, it becomes challenging now that the WHO made it a global health emergency.
“The declaration is normal for three months and it will be reviewed.’’
NAN reports that WHO had on January 30, declared novel coronavirus as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), based on the recommendations of the Emergency Committee on Coronavirus.
February 5, 2020
World Cancer Day: Access to primary healthcare key to early detection —WHO
The World Health Organisation has stressed the need to urgently improve cancer services in low-and middle-income countries.
WHO made the call in a statement posted on its website on Tuesday to mark the World Cancer Day on February 4.
WHO warned that the world would see a 60 per cent increase in cancer cases over the next two decades if current trends continue.
It said that the greatest increase which was an estimated 81 per cent in new cases would occur in low-and middle-income countries, where survival rates were currently lowest.
“This is largely because these countries have had to focus limited health resources on combating infectious diseases and improving maternal and child health, while health services are not equipped to prevent, diagnose and treat cancers.
“In 2019, more than 90 per cent of high-income countries reported that comprehensive treatment services for cancer were available in the public health system compared to less than 15 per cent of low-income countries,” it said.
Dr Ren Minghui, Assistant Director-General, Universal Health Coverage/Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases, WHO, said the disparity was a wake-up call to tackle the unacceptable inequalities between cancer services in rich and poor countries.
“If people have access to primary care and referral systems, then cancer can be detected early, treated effectively and cured. Cancer should not be a death sentence for anyone, anywhere,” Minghui said in the statement.
According to WHO, progress in poorer countries is achievable.
“WHO and the International Agency for Research on Cancer are releasing two coordinated reports on World Cancer Day which is on February 4,’’ it said.
It noted that the report was in response to governments’ calls for more research into the scope and potential policies and programmes to improve cancer control.
Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO, said: “At least seven million lives could be saved over the next decade by identifying the most appropriate science for each country’s situation.
“By basing strong cancer responses on universal health coverage and by mobilising different stakeholders to work together.”
Dr Elisabete Weiderpass, Director of IARC, said the past 50 years had seen tremendous advances in research on cancer prevention and treatment.
“Deaths from cancer have been reduced.
“High-income countries have adopted prevention, early diagnosis and screening programmes, which together with better treatment, have contributed to an estimated 20 per cent reduction in the probability of premature mortality between 2000 and 2015.
“Low-income countries only saw a reduction of five per cent.
“We need to see everyone benefitting equally,” Weiderpass said in the statement.
Weiderpass noted that the challenge would be for countries to select treatments, balancing considerations including cost, feasibility and effectiveness.
“Each government is tasked with choosing the appropriate innovative cancer therapies while recognising that established treatments, many of which are very effective and affordable, can provide benefits for cancer without causing financial hardship,” she said.
WHO highlighted a wide range of proven interventions to prevent new cancer cases which includes controlling tobacco use that is responsible for 25 per cent of cancer deaths.
Vaccinating against hepatitis B to prevent liver cancer and eliminating cervical cancer by vaccinating against Human papillomavirus.
It listed others as screening and treatment, implementing high-impact cancer management interventions that bring value for money and ensuring access to palliative care including pain relief.
February 4, 2020
WHO committee says coronavirus not a global emergency
World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday said novel coronavirus is not a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
Several members of the WHO Emergency Committee considered that it was too early to declare it PHEIC, given its restrictive and binary nature.
In a statement issued from its headquarters in Geneva, the UN body said the Committee would reconvened in approximately ten days’ time, or earlier should the Director-General deem it necessary.
It said the members expressed divergent views on whether this event constitutes a PHEIC or not.
“ At that time, the advice was that the event did not constitute a PHEIC.
“ But, the Committee members agreed on the urgency of the situation and suggested that the Committee should be reconvened in a matter of days to examine the situation further.’’
The Committee, however, urged to support ongoing efforts through a WHO international multidisciplinary mission, including national experts.
“The mission would review and support efforts to investigate the animal source of the outbreak, the extent of human-to-human transmission.
“ The screening efforts in other provinces of China, the enhancement of surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections in these regions and to reinforce containment and mitigation measures.
“A mission would provide information to the international community to aid in understanding of the situation and its potential public health impact.
“WHO should continue to provide all necessary technical and operational support to respond to this outbreak and to allow for the advancement of research and scientific developments in relation to this novel coronavirus,’’ it stated.
According to the statement, in the face of an evolving epidemiological situation and the restrictive binary nature of declaring a PHEIC or not, WHO should consider a more nuanced system, which would allow an intermediate level of alert.
It said such a system would better reflect the severity of an outbreak, its impact, and the required measures, and would facilitate improved international coordination, including research efforts for developing medical counter measures.
Novel coronavirus was first identified in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
By Wednesday, there were more than 440 confirmed cases, and 17 reported deaths, almost doubling the death toll in the space of one day.
All of the deaths have occurred in Wuhan, which  has a population of some 11 million, similar to that of the UK capital, London. Now the entire city, has in effect, been quarantined, according to news reports.
The Chinese city of Macau reportedly confirmed its first case of Novel Coronavirus,  and there have been cases in Thailand, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and the US.
Several places have reportedly stepped up airport screening procedures for passengers arriving from Wuhan, including Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the USA, Russian and Japan. (NAN)
January 24, 2020