Corona Virus: A World Health Emergency Announced
The World Health Organization has announced that the Coruna virus has become a global health emergency, with cases emerging in countries other than China.
"The main reason is not what is happening in China, but what is happening in other countries," Tidros Adhanum Gebresos said at a press conference in Geneva.
Of concern is the transmission of the virus to countries with weak health systems.
Corona Virus: How serious might the newly discovered disease be?
The number of deaths due to infection with the virus in China reached 213.
The World Health Organization said there were 98 cases in 18 countries other than China, but no deaths so far.
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At the press conference, Gypressus described the Coruna virus as an "unprecedented outbreak" that was confronted with an "unprecedented response."
He praised the "extraordinary measures" China had taken to prevent the virus from spreading.
The BBC's Health Affairs correspondent, James Gallagher, says the World Health Organization will help low- and middle-income countries strengthen disease surveillance capabilities and prepare for potential cases.
Image source: GETTY IMAGES
Researchers at global research centers are working hard to find a vaccine to protect people from the virus. A laboratory in California announced a new human vaccination trial in June or July.
When will the global emergency be declared?
The World Health Organization declares a state of emergency when it becomes clear to it that "a certain incident has become a threat to public health in neighboring countries through its spread internationally."
It has previously declared a state of emergency 5 times
Swine flu, 2009: The H1N1 virus spread worldwide in 2009 and killed more than 200,000 people.
Poliomyelitis, 2014: Polio was on the verge of extinction in 2012, but it spread in 2013, prompting a state of emergency for fear that the campaign to eradicate it would fail.
Zika, 2016: The World Health Organization announced the outbreak of the Zika virus as a global emergency after its widespread spread in Latin America because of the threat it poses to pregnant women.
Ebola, 2014 and 2016: The deadly disease has declared two global birds. Between 2014 and 2016, more than 30,000 people were infected, 11,000 of whom were killed in West Africa.
How does China cope with the spread of the virus?
The spread of the Coruna virus is now confirmed in all regions of China after one case has been announced in Tibet.
Despite questions about transparency, the World Health Organization has praised China's efforts to tackle the crisis. President Xi Jinping has vowed to eradicate the virus.
Hubei Province, where all deaths were registered, was placed in isolation. The region, with a population of 60 million, includes the city of Wan, the source of the virus.
The authorities have suspended all means of transportation and asked departments and institutions for their employees to work from their homes until conditions improve and their exit becomes safe.
The virus crisis affects the Chinese economy, which is the largest in the world after the United States, as many countries have advised their citizens after traveling to China unless absolutely necessary.
Airlines have suspended or curtailed flights to China, and giants such as Google, IKEA, Starbucks and Tesla have closed their stores or suspended their activities in China.
How does the world act?
Many countries have evacuated their citizens who wish to leave Wuhan on private flights.
These countries intend to isolate their citizens after returning to their countries from China for a period of two weeks to verify that they are free of the virus and that they are not infected.
Russia has decided to close its border with China along 4,300 km to prevent the transmission of the virus.
Six thousand people on a cruise ship were prevented from disembarking in Italy after a Chinese passenger was suspected of carrying the virus, but it was confirmed after examination that it was safe.
India confirmed the discovery of the first injury on its soil. This concerns a student in Kerala who was studying in Wuhan.