How WHO is dealing with Coronavirus?

With the beginning of the 2020, the whole world was shocked with the dangerous virus named Corona. The origin was from China and it is believed to have come from the Bat (Chamagaadad) Soup consumed by a Chinese lady.

The symptoms were quite visible, the sneezing, red eyes, breath problem, high fever and uncontrollable disease resulting the death. It has widely spread in the China from Wuhan to other parts of the country. The cases were then visible in other countries such as Italy, Singapore. etc.

The World Health Organization issued the Advisory that how to prevent from the Corona Virus. By the third week of the January 2020, the WHO came out with the notification for the countries affected with the Corona Virus and also warned the health authorities and the common man  that how you can be saved yourselve4s from the Corona Virus with the Do and Don`ts.

The incubation period of the Corona virus range from 2-10 days as per the latest estimates, and these estimates will be refined as more data become available. Knowing and checking  the time when infected patients may transmit the virus to others is critical for control efforts.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General  and  other concerned officers met in Beijing (China) with government and health experts supporting the response. The  aim of this mission was to understand the latest developments and strengthen the partnership with China, in particular for the response.

The epidemiological information regarding the epidemiological from more people infected is needed to determine the infectious period of 2019-nCoV, in particular whether transmission can occur from asymptomatic individuals or during the incubation period. WHO issued Advisories to the countries to notify WHO of cases following the guidance included in:

https://www.who.int/publications-detail/global-surveillance-forhuman-infection-with-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov)

With the continuous monitoring by WHO developments and on standby to reconvene the Emergency Committee on very short notice as needed. Committee members are regularly informed of developments.

Out of the 37 cases identified outside of China, three were detected without the onset of symptoms, while among the remaining 34 patients, there is information on date of symptom for 28 individuals.

As per the median age of cases detected outside of China is 45 years ranging from2 to 74 years, 71% of cases were male (information was missing on age for 6 cases, and on sex for 4 cases).

Hence out of the 27 cases for whom we have detailed information on date of symptom onset and travel date from China, 8 cases had symptom onset in China, 5 had onset on the same day as travel, and 14 developed symptoms after leaving China.

The available 36 cases had travel history to China, of whom 34 had travel history in Wuhan city, or had an epidemiological link to a confirmed case with travel history to Wuhan. Out of these remaining two, investigations into their travel histories are ongoing.

The result of human-to-human transmission among close family contacts in Viet Nam was one additional case.

The strategic objectives of WHO to this response was:

To  limit the human to human transmission including, reducing secondary infections among close contacts and health care workers, preventing transmission amplification events, and preventing further international spread from China*;

Towards the care for patients early, it is to identify, and isolate including providing optimized care for infected patients; identify and reduce transmission from the animal source;

About clinical severity, extent of transmission and infection, addressing crucial unknowns treatment options, and accelerate the development of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines;

Critical risk and event information to all communities and counter misinformation to be communicated;

Minimize social and economic impact through multi-sect oral partnerships.

*This can be achieved through a combination of public health measures, such as rapid identification, diagnosis and management of the cases, identification and follow up of the contacts, infection prevention and control in healthcare settings, implementation of health measures for travellers, awareness raising in the population, risk communication.

Accordingly during the previous outbreaks due to other coronavirus (Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)), human to human transmission occurred through droplets, contact and fomites, suggesting that the transmission mode of the 2019-nCoV can be similar.

To reduce the general risk of transmission of acute respiratory infections as a basic principle is to  include the following:

Close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections to be avoided.

Hand-washing, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment to be made frequent and a habit. 

Unprotected contact with farm or wild animals to be avoided.

The people with the visible symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette (maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, and wash hands).

Enhance standard infection prevention and control practices in hospitals, especially in emergency departments as healthcare facilities. WHO does not recommend any specific health measures for travelers.

The symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness either during or after travel, the travelers are encouraged to seek medical attention and share their travel history with their health care provider.