The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Amid rising cases of new infections of the respiratory illness novel coronavirus in China and three other countries, the World Health Organisation (WHO) today informed that their emergency committee will convene tomorrow to advise if the current situation in China constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.
Speaking to the media today at the United Nations in Geneva, WHO’s spokesperson Tarik Jašarević said that “the Director-General has convened the Emergency Committee for tomorrow, Wednesday 22nd January, to advise him if the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern and what recommendations should be put in place”.
Mr. Jasarevic informed that “so far, worldwide there has been a total of 278 officially reported confirmed cases of 2019 novel coronavirus”.
According to Chinese Health Officials, six people have died since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease in December 2019.
Yesterday, China’s health authorities confirmed a human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus which could make the virus spread more quickly and widely.
According to WHO’s spokesperson, “4 cases have been reported outside China, two in Thailand, one in Japan and one in the Republic of Korea. This is what we have been informing about you previously”.
He added that “more cases should be expected in other parts of China and possibly in other countries in the coming days. A team from WHO are concluding a mission with health officials in Wuhan working on the response to novel coronavirus”.
The WHO said that the outbreak was believed to have originated in a seafood and animal market in the city of Wuhan from where it is spreading to cities including Beijing and Shanghai.
“Based on current information, an animal source seems the most likely primary source of this outbreak with limited human-to-human trans missional occurring between close contacts”, Tarik Jasarevic told the media. He confirmed that there is a human-to-human transmission. “Based on previous experiences with respiratory illnesses and in particular with other coronavirus outbreaks and other data analysis shared with China, human-to- human transmission is occurring”.
The virus causes a type of pneumonia and belongs to the same family of coronaviruses as SARS. Symptoms include fever and difficulty in breathing, which are similar to many other respiratory diseases.
According to Jasarevic, “reports suggest that the novel coronavirus infection can cause mild to severe disease and be fatal in some. Based on current data, some new cases seem to experience milder diseases which is within the milder end of the spectrum of symptoms caused by respiratory illnesses”.
So far, WHO has not recommended trade or travel restrictions. To reduce exposure and transmission of the novel coronavirus, WHO recommends cleaning hands with soap and water, covering mouth and nose with masks or sleeve when coughing or sneezing and seek medical advice if a person is showing symptoms.
The novel coronavirus has caused alarm because of its connection to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) which killed nearly 650 people across China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003.
- Exterior, Palais des Nations
- Wide shot, press briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English) - Tarik Jašarević, Spokesperson of the World Health Organisation (WHO): “The Director-General has convened the Emergency Committee for tomorrow, Wednesday 22nd January, to advise him if the situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern and what recommendations should be put in place”.
- Medium shot, journalists
- 5.SOUNDBITE (English) - Tarik Jašarević, Spokesperson of the World Health Organisation (WHO): “So far, worldwide there has been a total of 278 officially reported confirmed cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus”.
- Wide shot, press briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English) - Tarik Jašarević, Spokesperson of the World Health Organisation (WHO): “So far 4 cases have been reported outside China, two in Thailand, one in Japan and one in the Republic of Korea. This is what we have been informing about you previously. More cases should be expected in other parts of China and possibly in other countries in the coming days. A team from WHO are concluding a mission with health officials in Wuhan working on the response to Novel Coronavirus”.
- Close up, journalist
- SOUNDBITE (English) - Tarik Jašarević, Spokesperson of the World Health Organisation (WHO): “Based on current information, an animal source seems the most likely primary source of this outbreak with limited human-to-human trans missional occurring between close contacts. Based on previous experiences with respiratory illnesses and in particular with other Coronavirus outbreaks and other data analysis shared with China, human to human transmission is occurring”.
- Medium shot, journalists
- SOUNDBITE (English) - Tarik Jašarević, Spokesperson of the World Health Organisation (WHO): “Reports suggest that the Novel Coronavirus infection can cause mild to severe disease and be fatal in some. Based on current data, some new cases seem to experience milder diseases which is within the milder end of the spectrum of symptoms caused by respiratory illnesses”.
- Wide shot, panel
- Medium shot, panel
- Medium shot, journalists
- Two shot, journalists
- Close up, hands typing
- Medium shot, journalists
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The appointment on Thursday of Karla Quintana as head of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic is a key development after nearly a year and a half of work by the UN Human Rights Office supporting the institution’s launch.
1
1
1
Edited News | IOM , UNICEF , UNRWA , WHO
The head of the UN migration agency stressed on Friday that Syria is in no position to take back millions of Syrians following the fall of the Assad regime, while there is an urgent need to “re-evaluate” sanctions impacting the war-ravaged country.
1
1
1
Edited News | IIIM , UNHCR
Syria: ‘Key priority’ is to preserve evidence of crimes – UN investigators
In Syria, new access to evidence of horrific human rights violations means that accountability may be closer than ever – if only proof can be preserved, a top UN investigator said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OSE , ICRC , UNHCR
Syria: UN and partners urge action to preserve evidence of prison atrocities, stabilize country
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria five days ago, hundreds of people have rushed to Saydnaya prison, desperate to find loved ones. Disturbing images from the prison and other detention centers have since surfaced, exposing the “unimaginable barbarity Syrians have endured for years,” said Jenifer Fenton, spokesperson for the UN special envoy for Syria, on Friday.
1
1
2
Edited News | UNRWA
Gaza: “Sickening normalisation” of suffering, amid attacks on people and aid convoys
Ongoing military operations by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in Gaza continue to devastate Palestinian children and families, with mounting casualties and a critical lack of humanitarian aid for the desperate population.
“Local media reporting here that last night, 30 people were killed in this area in strikes” said a senior emergency officer with the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), Louise Wateridge, speaking to reporters in Geneva from central Gaza.
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | OHCHR
Rights experts call for end to impunity for Israel’s violations of international law
Four independent human rights experts have jointly called for the international community to sanction Israel’s conduct of hostilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as well as in the wider Middle East region - including in Syria, Lebanon and Iran. They also called for the restoration of trust in the international justice system through the abandonment of “extreme interpretations” and “double standards” in the application of the universal norms regulating the conduct of war.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNHCR
Syria: needs continue to grow amid highly uncertain situation, say aid teams
The historic power shift in Syria and the still volatile situation two days after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime have increased humanitarian needs in a country where nearly 17 million people, including millions of internally displaced, already depended on humanitarian aid before the recent events, UN aid teams said on Tuesday.
2
1
3
Edited News , Press Conferences | OSES
Barely 48 hours since opposition forces including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) swept into Damascus and forced out President Bashar al-Assad, the top UN negotiator tasked with helping Syrians’ create a peaceful and democratic future insisted that nothing could be taken for granted.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday called on States to do all in their power to end senseless conflicts and suffering.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
No evacuation order given before Kamal Adwan Hospital strike, says WHO
One of the last partially functional health centres in northern Gaza was reportedly hit again overnight into Friday by several strikes, leaving four health workers among the casualties and the dead, according to the UN World Health Organization (WHO).
2
1
2
Edited News , Press Conferences | OCHA
More than 280,000 people have been uprooted in northwest Syria in a matter of days following the sudden and massive offensive into Government-controlled areas led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is sanctioned by the Security Council as a terrorist group.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has called on the Georgian authorities to respect and protect the rights to freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly following several nights of protests that were marred by violence, and dispersed using disproportionate, and in some cases unnecessary, force by the police in the capital, Tbilisi.