Coronavirus now poses 'very high' risk at global level - WHO

By Stephanie Nebehay

 

Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attends a news conference on the situation of the coronavirus (COVID-2019), in Geneva, Switzerland, February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

 

GENEVA (Reuters) - The risk of a global spread and impact of the coronavirus is now "very high", the highest level of alarm, but containment is still possible, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

 

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it would be a "big mistake" to switch from a public health strategy of containment to mitigation, where authorities accept the virus is spreading.

 

In recent days, 24 cases had been exported from Italy to 14 countries and 97 cases from Iran to 11 countries, Tedros said.

 

"Our epidemiologists have been monitoring these developments continuously. We have now increased our assessment of the risk of spread and the risk of impact of COVID-19 to 'very high' at global level," he told a news briefing.

 

He added: "We do not see evidence as yet that the virus is spreading freely in communities. As long as that is the case we still have a chance of containing this virus."

 

China's 329 reported cases in the past 24 hours was the lowest there in more than a month, he said.

 

"We are on the highest level of alert and the highest level of risk assessment in terms of spread and in terms of impact.

But that is not in order to alarm or scare people," said Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO's emergencies programme.

 

"People need to take a reality check now and really understand an all-of-government, an all-of-society approach is needed," Ryan said.

 

"We have been dealing with this virus for two months and I think this is a reality check for every government on the planet - wake up, get ready...You have a duty to your citizens, you have a duty to the world to be ready."

 

The WHO mission to Iran has been delayed due to "issues with getting flights and access to Iran right now", Ryan said, but the government of the United Arab Emirates was helping to facilitate access and delivery of supplies.

 

"The UAE is helping with this. We hope Sunday at the earliest, if not by Monday, we should have people on the ground," Tedros said.

 

Ryan said Nigeria, whose first case was confirmed as an Italian man who arrived from Milan, had "well-tested mechanisms for dealing with these dangerous pathogens", citing experience with Lassa fever and cholera.

 

The most populous African country has expanded its influenza diagnostics and the same labs can now do COVID diagnosis, he said.

 

"That is not to say that there are not risks. Nigeria is a vast country with a huge population, and it has many vulnerable people, especially in the north and lots of refugees and many others.

 

"So it is disappointing to see the disease arrive, but it's also heartening to see that the disease was picked up and a single importation was confirmed quickly. And that isolation and other activities have already begun," Ryan added.

 

Mexico has become the second country in Latin America to report cases: "There is no reason to think (the virus) would act differently in different climate settings," said Dr. Maria van Kerkhove, a WHO epidemiologist.

 

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Catherine Evans and John Stonestreet)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-29

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The same organization that in early February said there was nothing to worry about when in fact there was everything to worry about.

 

From Feb 3...

 

GENEVA (Reuters) - World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday there was no need for measures that “unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade” ...

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-who/who-chief-says-widespread-travel-bans-not-needed-to-beat-china-virus-idUSKBN1ZX1H3

Edited February 28, 20206 yr by Kelsall

2 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

The same organization that said there was nothing to worry about back when there was everything to worry about.

Schit's getting real.

18 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

The same organization that in early February said there was nothing to worry about when there was everything to worry about.

 

GENEVA (Reuters) - World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday there was no need for measures that “unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade” in trying to halt the spread of a coronavirus that has killed 361 people in China.

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-who/who-chief-says-widespread-travel-bans-not-needed-to-beat-china-virus-idUSKBN1ZX1H3

And there will be no accountability - bureaucrats and socialists are skilled at getting away with things.

40 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

The same organization that in early February said there was nothing to worry about when in fact there was everything to worry about.

They don't seem to know what they are talking about. And I would suggest that what they can say is heavily affected by their close ties with the CCP.

 

 

Edited February 29, 20206 yr by SteveK

55 minutes ago, canuckamuck said:

Schit's getting real.

Already hit the fan in Iran.   

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-51669434

 

• At least 210 patients have died in Iran, health sources have told BBC Persian, way above the official figure of 34. Iran denies withholding information about the number of people infected

popping up a lot here in the states as well

 

 

Edited February 29, 20206 yr by unsubscribe

Good thing if you ask me, solve the pension crisis in one stroke, most of those dying being in the older category. Oops, I'm 64 - never mind, my altruistic side overcomes my petty selfish concerns. Ha! But then there's my Dad, he's 90+. Conflicting thoughts on this one.

Rest easy here in the states mike pence is in charge lol the guy who screwed up the aids response in Indiana oh it’s well and truly going to hit the fan!

And this may be the reason the WHO is still refusing to label the coronavirus a "pandemic."  

Quote

Wenham co-authored a paper criticising pandemic bonds in which it was found that more money was paid out to investors than to countries facing disease outbreaks. Payments would have only been triggered in two out of more than 60 disease outbreaks analysed – Ebola in west Africa and rift valley fever in 2006, the paper found. Wenham said: “If the aim of it is to prevent pandemics, why would you wait for arbitrary numbers? Global health security is predicated on prevention rather than response, so waiting for it to get to a certain number of deaths in a certain number of countries before they pay out, is counterintuitive. It is not fit for purpose. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/feb/28/world-banks-500m-coronavirus-push-too-late-for-poor-countries-experts-say

 

Edited February 29, 20206 yr by zydeco

I believe the WHO as much as I believe the regime—which is to say, not at all.

48 minutes ago, Isaan sailor said:

I believe the WHO as much as I believe the regime—which is to say, not at all.

But great music right ?

 

1 hour ago, Chelseafan said:

But great music right ?

 

Hopefully we won't get fooled again.

4 hours ago, Tug said:

Rest easy here in the states mike pence is in charge lol the guy who screwed up the aids response in Indiana oh it’s well and truly going to hit the fan!

COVID-19 or TDS?

All they can do is hope to slow it down until some kind of  vaccine or other scientific method is developed.  One good thing is, that research on viruses is taking quick and big steps forward, using multiple methods and testing in order to attack viruses by different mechanisms 

Edited February 29, 20206 yr by Redline

6 hours ago, unsubscribe said:

popping up a lot here in the states as well

 

 

A typical reply from Fox’s medical correspondent. Blaming the media, the Dems and now WHO and hoping for miracle seem this administration’s measure so far. 

“Marc Seigel slams 'bunch of alarmists' at World Health Organization: 'They always overstate the problem”. 

8 hours ago, rooster59 said:

"Our epidemiologists have been monitoring these developments continuously. We have now increased our assessment of the risk of spread and the risk of impact of COVID-19 to 'very high' at global level," he told a news briefing.

 

I have seen estimates of the mortality rate of COVID-19 run from 2% all the way to 15%. In some areas higher due lack of early detection and proper treatment. The mortality rate will most likely drop/improve due to better treatments and diagnosis.

 

By my own rough calculations, the current mortality rate is around 4%.  

 

Here is a good web site that discusses the COVID-19 mortality rate:

 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Mortality Rate

 

Mexico has become the second country inLatin America to report cases: "There is noreason to think (the virus) would actdifferently in different climate settings," saidDr. Maria van Kerkhove, a WHO epidemiologi

 

Many Thais, including the government think that they are safe in Thailand from Covid19 because they are under the  misapprehension that the virus will not survive in a warm climate. 

15 hours ago, Garbol56 said:

Mexico has become the second country inLatin America to report cases: "There is noreason to think (the virus) would actdifferently in different climate settings," saidDr. Maria van Kerkhove, a WHO epidemiologi

 

Many Thais, including the government think that they are safe in Thailand from Covid19 because they are under the  misapprehension that the virus will not survive in a warm climate. 

I think that was the TV experts.

 

Went shopping at Tesco-Lotus yesterday where large numbers of masked Thai were clearing the shelves of canned and dried goods.  So they know.

 

Thai also know their flu season is in the summer time, government bulletins tell them every year.

The health report : 250.000 to 500.000 people die from ordinary flu around the globe every year. We can guess how many get infected . No doubt this corona virus is dangerous, but again ordinary flu can be very dangerous too, more people have died from it (from Oct.2019 ) than from the corona virus this year. With proper measures applied, soon this nasty flu should be contained. Don't panic! Just eat good, healthy food and take proper hygienic measures.

Also, it looks like the corona virus situation is getting politicized.