The disease that originated in Wuhan has already affected more than 200 people and left 6 dead. At this alarming situation, the World Health Organization (WHO) will discuss proclaiming a state of international health emergency due to the discovery of the transmission of the disease among people; when they found that medical staff that was treating a patient were infected. The organization’s Emergency Committee will meet this Wednesday to make a decision.
These measures are usually taken when there are cases of severe epidemics that could cross borders and fast and coordinated international action is required. Global emergencies have been declared for crises that include the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Zika virus emergency that occurred during 2016 in the American region and the Ebola outbreak in West Africa during 2014.
The virus has spread to Beijing, Thailand, Japan, and South Korea. The WHO mentioned that it is estimated that the virus will continue to spread throughout the Asian region. Doctors reported that those infected in Beijing had traveled to Wuhan in recent weeks. The population is alarmed because the symptoms of this disease are similar to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) that killed 800 Chinese citizens 18 years ago.
