WHO is particularly concerned about the emergence of cases outside of China “without a clear epidemiological link, such as travel history or contact with a confirmed case”.
Concern is growing at WHO. The World Health Organization said for the first time on Friday February 21 that the timing is right to stop the epidemic caused by the new coronavirus Covid-19 “shrinking” and was alarmed by the absence of “clear epidemiological link” in cases that have arisen outside of China.
New outbreaks of the disease are increasing: first confirmed case in Lebanon, two additional deaths in Iran, doubling of cases in South Korea and some 500 infected prisoners in China.
A sign of growing nervousness, a dozen cities in northern Italy closed bars, schools and other public places on Friday due to suspected contamination of 16 people.
In Geneva, the boss of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, sounded the alarm: “As we speak, we are still in a phase where it is possible to contain the epidemic”. But the “shooting window shrinks”, he warned, deploring the lack of international financial support.
WHO is particularly concerned about the emergence of cases outside China “no clear epidemiological link, such as travel history or contact with a confirmed case”.
“We see that the situation is changing”, underlined Dr Sylvie Briand, director of the department Global preparation for infectious risks at WHO: “Not only is the number of cases increasing but we are also seeing different patterns of transmission in different places”.
WHO refuses for the moment to speak about pandemic, but considers that there is “different epidemics, showing different phases”, she explained. “We are trying to make sense of all these different situations in the world”.
Sign of his concern, the UN specialized agency announced the appointment of six special envoys, including David Nabarro, former UN coordinator for Ebola during the epidemic that affected West Africa between end of 2013 and 2016.
Encouraging news, however: even if the WHO does not expect an operational vaccine in at least a year, China announced that its researchers could carry out the first human trials at the end of April.
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