The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged the world to be on alert to deal with the rapidly spreading coronavirus that originated from China.
The virus that has spread across China had killed 170 people to date and 7,711 people have been identified as infected with the virus while it has been detected in 16 countries.
Dr Michael Ryan, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergency Programme, has praised China for its transparency and protocols established in response to the outbreak. An emergency meeting is to be held by WHO on Thursday to decide whether to declare Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to the outbreak.
The government of China have been taking stringent measures to stop the outbreak. In that regard movement in and out of the infected cities is limited, which has been further reinforced. Similarly, Wuhan city, where the virus originated, is under lock down. Meanwhile, Australian Scientists have recreated the virus to identify a treatment for the virus.
Countries have been evacuating their citizens in China to their home countries and many countries have advised their citizens to avoid travelling to China. Meanwhile, British Airways has suspended travelling to China until further notice and the Maldives has suspended inbound direct flights from China indefinitely. Some countries have also deferred issuing on arrival visa to those arriving from China.
