Following the confirmation of the first coronavirus case contracted via human transmission in the U.S., the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern Jan. 30.
"We don't know what kind of damage this virus could do in countries with weaker healthcare systems," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, said. He made clear that the public emergency was not declared due to a lack of confidence in China and praised the Chinese government for the "extraordinary measures" it has taken to stop the spread of coronavirus. Applauding the speed in which the outbreak was detected, Dr. Tedros said China has set a new standard for outbreak response.
Dr. Tedros also cited eight cases of human-to-human transmission in four countries, including the U.S. Reported Jan. 30, a coronavirus patient from Chicago transmitted it to her spouse, STAT reports. The woman had recently returned from Wuhan, China, where the outbreak began. As of Jan. 31, the CDC has confirmed six coronavirus cases nationwide.
"Our assessment remains that the immediate risk to the American public is low," Robert Redfield, MD, director of the CDC, told reporters, according to STAT.
WHO also proposed "2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease" as the disease's interim name.
As of 4:30 p.m., Jan. 31, there are 9,926 confirmed coronavirus cases and 213 related deaths. Click here for symptoms of coronavirus.
Following the confirmation of the first coronavirus case contracted via human transmission in the U.S., WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern Jan. 30.
"We don't know what kind of damage this virus could do in countries with weaker healthcare systems," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, said. He made clear that the public emergency was not declared due to a lack of confidence in China and praised the Chinese government for the "extraordinary measures" it has taken to stop the spread of coronavirus. Applauding the speed in which the outbreak was detected, Dr. Tedros said China has set a new standard for outbreak response.
Dr. Tedros also cited eight cases of human-to-human transmission in four countries, including the U.S. Reported Jan. 30, a coronavirus patient from Chicago transmitted it to her spouse, STAT reports. The woman had recently returned from Wuhan, China, where the outbreak began.
"Our assessment remains that the immediate risk to the American public is low," Robert Redfield, MD, director of the CDC, told reporters, according to STAT.
WHO also proposed "2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease" as the disease's interim name.