WHO Declares Wuhan Virus A Global Emergency To Help Developing Countries Prepare For Cases

Wuhan Virus Declared A Global Emergency As More Human-To-Human Transmission Cases Are Confirmed

After declining to declare the Wuhan virus a global health emergency twice, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is changing its mind, reported BBC on Friday (31 Jan).

As more cases of human-to-human transmission are confirmed around the world, WHO is classifying the virus as a global emergency.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declaring the emergency in a press conference
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By doing so, they can provide support to developing countries and help them prepare for potential cases.

Might spread to countries with weaker health systems

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus explained that the Wuhan virus is a global emergency because of “what is happening in other countries”.

He told the media,

Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems.

The declaration lets WHO help lower and middle-income countries to prepare them for any Wuhan virus cases.

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What matters most now is that the international community does more to ensure that “no one is left behind”.

This covers all interventions — public health measures, diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines available to everyone, according to Prof Jeremy Farrar, an infectious disease expert.

The Wuhan virus’s new status will “undoubtedly sharpen governments’ focus”, as quoted by The Straits Times (ST).

What does a global health emergency mean?

WHO will announce a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) when there is ” an extraordinary event”.

According to the website, this extraordinary event is defined as,

…a public health risk to other states through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response.

The global emergency declaration was created as a designation after the SARS outbreak in 2002 to 2003, reports Stat News. Previous PHEIC cases include the Swine flu – or H1N1 virus – pandemic in 2009.

Once a global emergency is declared, all countries will receive guidance to help prevent or cut down cross-border spread of disease. And at the same time, try to stop trade and travel from being unnecessarily interfered.

According to ST, national health authorities worldwide will also be informed on stepping up their monitoring, alertness, and containment measures.

Human-to-human transmitted cases reported

Experts also delayed the declaration as they wanted evidence on human-to-human transmission cases, reported ST.

Human-to-human transmission of the Wuhan virus has been detected in Japan Germany, Thailand, Taiwan, USA, and South Korea.

Here is a breakdown of the Wuhan virus’ latest developments.

Safety measures set in place by Singapore

WHO urges all countries to be prepared for containment, including active surveillance, and early detection in its statement.

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Singapore is also ramping up measures to curb the spread of the virus. Some of the steps the government has taken to curb the spread of the coronavirus on our shores include:

• Restricting travellers with passports issued in Hubei province from entering the country
• Conducting temperature screening at all land, air, and sea checkpoints
• Enforcing a mandatory leave of absence for students and teachers returning from China to Singapore
• Placing all recent travellers to Hubei under quarantine
• Stopping all inbound flights from Wuhan, China since 23 Jan.

Hope virus can be curbed

With all the greater awareness of the Wuhan virus, we hope that the spread of the virus can be curbed.

Stay safe, keep clean, and remember to wear a mask when you’re heading out.

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Featured image adapted from MSN.