WHO Declares Coronavirus A Global Health Concern
WHO Declares Coronavirus A Global Health Concern. Since there have been reports of the virus in other countries, it is no longer a concern for China only.
More than 20 countries and territories outside of mainland China have confirmed cases of Coronavirus. The virus has spread across Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East. India, Italy and the Philippines reported their first cases on Thursday.
The decision by the WHO has prompted governments to upgrade their own response to the virus. The South Africa’s health authorities have increased their surveillance of travelers arriving from countries reporting cases of Wuhan flu, by using thermal scanners at airports.
WHO has previously declared five global public health emergencies:
- Swine flu, 2009 –The H1N1 virus spread across the world in 2009, killing more than 200,000 people
- Polio, 2014 – Although closer than ever to eradication in 2012, polio numbers rose in 2013
- Zika, 2016 – The WHO declared Zika a public health emergency in 2016 after the disease spread rapidly through the Americas
- Ebola, 2014 and 2019 – The first emergency over the virus lasted from August 2014 to March 2016 as almost 30,000 people were infected and more than 11,000 died in West Africa. A second emergency was declared last year as an outbreak spread in DR Congo
