Coronavirus: WHO Likely to Issue Health Emergency

The coronavirus death toll rose to 170 and confirmed cases mounted past 7700 in China, according to Chinese officials and the World Health Organization.

China now has more cases of the virus than it had of SARS- its last worrying viral outbreak. SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, which hit China in 2002-2003, ultimately killed 774 people in 17 countries. The Chinese authorities were severely criticized for their feeble response to the epidemic. But comparing the two viruses is not so easy.

According to current data, the new coronavirus is less likely to result in deaths than SARS, which killed 1 in 10 infected patients. However, experts are concerned with new evidence that the coronavirus can be transmitted before a person shows any signs of illness, rendering it possible that the virus spreads seamlessly throughout the world to reach the most vulnerable people- ultimately resulting in even more deaths.

WHO had previously refused to declare the growing viral pneumonia outbreak in China a public health emergency of international concern, claiming its expert committee shall meet again on Thursday for further discussion.

With the disease spreading rapidly across the globe, the World Health Organization is gathering Thursday to consider issuing a health emergency.

Thailand has reported 14 cases of coronavirus infection; Japan has 11; Hong Kong and Singapore have 10; Taiwan has eight; Australia, Malaysia and Macau each have seven; France has five; South Korea, Germany and the United Arab Emirates each have 4; Canada has three; Vietnam has two; and India, the Philippines, Nepal, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Finland each have one.

By Elene Dzebisashvili