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  • thank you very much for coming.

  • We'll just wait for two seconds.

  • Our two other speakers We may not have informed them on a change of the room.

  • Bizarre No.

  • Two That good afternoon again.

  • Now we have everyone sitting here on Welcome Thio, another daily press briefing from the course of the World Health Organization.

  • Today's the first day off the 2019 novel coronavirus global research and innovation for so beside our usual guests.

  • Dr.

  • Tadros, Lab Director General Yang is our director for Global Infectious.

  • As a preparedness on my crying, who is double checks up to director for health emergency programs.

  • We also have Dr Marry Corky that you may remember very well because she was with w show for many years she was a court share off the forum.

  • And we also have Dr Samia Swaminathan, who is a W chief scientist before giving before to Doctor.

  • That was just to remind everyone that we will have a We will have an audio file and transferred from this press conference.

  • Journalists joining us online If you are on line, please click on raise hand on your screen if you wanna be put in a queue for questions.

  • For those who are dialing in by phone, please type star nine.

  • And you will be putting a cure for questions for those in the rumor.

  • Very well.

  • Welcome.

  • There are many new faces that we're seeing for the first time in w show.

  • So hope you will have a good time with us and again to remind everyone please, one question for a journalist.

  • So we give opportunity to as many as we can.

  • And with that, I give a for medically doctor.

  • Thank you.

  • Thank you, Terry.

  • And good afternoon.

  • And we're off course.

  • We have many colleagues from media based in Geneva, but we see more today, and I understand this is because off the conference, we're well, we're hosting.

  • Thank you so much for your interest and welcome everybody.

  • Before I update you on the Corona virus outbreak, I would like to start with a few words about Ebola because, you know, we have two fronts now.

  • Although the world is now focused on Corona virus, we cannot and must not forget Ebola.

  • We're very encouraged by the current trend.

  • There have only been three cases in the past week and no cases in the past three days days, but until we have no cases for 42 days, it's not over.

  • As you know, any single case could reignite the epidemic, and the security situation in eastern DRC remains extremely fragile.

  • So we take the progress on Ebola with with caution, although it's a big success and we're in still full response.

  • More.

  • Yesterday alone, we had 5400 alerts.

  • That's what investigated.

  • Almost 300 samples were analysed.

  • More than 700 people were vaccinated and almost 2000 contacts were followed.

  • So still, it's a massive response.

  • And tomorrow the emergency committee for Ebola will meet to assess whether the Ebola outbreak in the RC continues to constitute a public ALS emergency off international concern.

  • So you will have more news tomorrow on Ebola, regardless off their recommendation or the easiest recommendation the world needs to continue to find the Ebola response.

  • Taking our foot off the accelerator now could be a father mystic, quite literally.

  • On Thursday, I will travel to Kinshasa for me.

  • Things with the president off the RC and other senior ministers to look beyond Ebola and sketch are ways to strengthen the our Ci's hell system, and I would like to use this opportunity toe.

  • Appreciate the government's leadership.

  • The current status off Ebola would not have been reached without the strong leadership by the government of the arson, the president president, because see Cassidy himself now to cut on a bias.

  • First of all, we now have a name for the business on Dhe.

  • It is Corbett 19 and I will spell it.

  • See all the I.

  • D hyphen 19 co c all standards for corners.

  • You know, the I stands for virus D for business or cove.

  • It under agreed guidelines between Dudley Joe, the world work, the World Health Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organization means W H O I.

  • E and foul off the United Nations.

  • We had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, and I need money on and on individual or group off people and which is also pronouncing him on related for the disease.

  • Having a name matters too prevalent.

  • They use off other names that can be inaccurate for stigmatizing.

  • It also gives us a standard four month to use for any future coronavirus outbreaks and now to the corner Nevada situation as off six AM Jenna about time this morning, there were 42,708 confirmed cases reported in China, and tragically, we have enough surpassed 1000 days.

  • 1017 people in China have lost their lives to this virus.

  • Most of the cases and most off it is in Kobe Province outside China.

  • There are 393 cases in 24 countries and one death.

  • Last week, I told you that we had engaged double agents, network off country representatives as well as the United Nations resident coordinators in countries to brief them on the outbreak and inform them about the steps they can take.

  • I also briefed Secretary General Antonio Gutierrez and we are agreed to leverage the power off the entire U.

  • N system in the response.

  • Today, we have also activated a U.

  • N crisis management team to be led by my general Doctor.

  • My cram.

  • This will help double edge of focus on the hell's response, while the other agencies can bring their expertise to bear on the wider social, economic and level of mental implications off the outbreak so we're all working for our sayings.

  • So my will be the chief still continue to be like chief Emergency, and we'll also coordinate the whole U.

  • N.

  • Response.

  • As you know, today and tomorrow, W.

  • H O is hosting a meeting off more than 400 scientists from around the world, both in person and virtually.

  • The main outcome we expect from this meeting is not immediate answers to every question that we have.

  • The main outcome is on agreed Rodman on what questions we need tow us and how we will go about unsettling those questions.

  • This is exactly what does nature is fourth, bringing the world together to coordinate the response.

  • That's the essence off multilateralism, which is very important for the world.

  • And the research road map is also important for organizations that fund research to have a clear sense of what the public health priorities are so they can make investments that deliver the biggest public ALS impact with the development off.

  • Vaccines and therapeutics is one important part off the research agenda, but it's not only one part they will take time to develop, but in the meantime, we're not defenseless.

  • There are many basic public ALS interventions that are available to us now and which can prevent infections now.

  • For instance, the first vaccine could be ready in 18 months.

  • So we have to do everything today using the available weapon to fight this virus while preparing for the long term using the preparation for the boxing's.

  • That's why we have sent supplies to countries to diagnose and treat patients and protect health workers.

  • We have advice countries on how to prevent the spread of disease and care for those who are sick.

  • We're strengthening the lab capacity all over the world.

  • We're training thousands off health workers, and we're keeping the public informed about what everyone can do to protect their own health and that off others.

  • It's when each and every individual becomes part off the prevention and control the containment strategy that we can succeed.

  • So that's why reaching out to the public directly and telling the public the kind of precautions they need to take this could be claimed.

  • Clean your hands regularly, either with uncle based drug or soap and water.

  • Keep your distance from someone who is coughing or sneezing, and when you calf or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow.

  • It's also important to remember that while we need investment in research and development, we also need investment in stopping this outbreak now.

  • Last week, that joke issued a call for $675 million which is what the world needs to support preparedness and response operations in countries.

  • We turned those countries that have contributed so far, and we call on all those who haven't to contribute urgently.

  • There are many positive signals in terms of funding, and we hope all these positive signals will matter.

  • Realize if we invest now in rational and evidence based interventions, we have a realistic chance off stopping this outbreak.

  • We have a window of opportunity.

  • Maybe you have your tired off me saying Window of opportunity.

  • But there is a window of opportunity.

  • If you see the number of cases in China and the rest of the world, it's not even compatible.

  • More than 40,000 in China, while in the rest of the world it's only in the three hundreds and only one this.

  • You strike hard when the opportunity is there, when the window of opportunity is there So that's what we're saying to the rest of the world.

  • Let's be serious in using the window of opportunity we have.

  • We shouldn't lose this opportunity.

  • If we lose, we will regret it.

  • And the opportunity was created because of the serious measures that China is taking in Wuhan and the other affected provinces.

  • That is slowing the spread of the virus to the rest off the world.

  • But I don't think this status can stay the same for room.

  • That's why we have to use the current window of opportunity to hit hard and standing in unison to fight this virus in every corner.

  • If we don't, we could have five more cases and fun hired hostess one out hands and I don't think anybody would step.

  • This is a common enemy and we have to fight it using this window of opportunity and fight it hard.

  • I thank you.

  • Thank you very much.

  • Ed up the dangerous for these opening remarks.

  • So just to remind you, some colleagues here, including my calling journalists friends, were asking me Where is Maria?

  • I didn't know Marie.

  • I saw popular So Maria Bancaire Kobe is part off the expertise and she is in Beijing and she's well, if you're worried, so you will see her.

  • Actually, it's name on Dhe, just for your information.

  • So she's with Bruce in Beijing and hopefully she's listening, as Berman had had had said.

  • But I'm very happy to see the respect you have for her.

  • And I'm glad that, you know, I have a very strong team, which I'm really proud.

  • They're working day and night 24 7 round the clock, under stress, but really going with commitment and saying that we will not rest until this outbreak is over.

  • So Maria is one off them.

  • And thank you so much for reminding me too.

  • As for asking me where that whereabouts is.

  • Thank you.

  • Take a magic detectors and greetings to Dr Rankin was listening to us before we start taking questions from the floor again to remind the journalist online Thio click reigns star nine.

  • So we will start with the questions here while gentle just in front of me than Christian.

  • And then we will go in the side.

  • Please introduce yourself on Del put you're working for.

  • And please, one short question.

  • Thank you.

  • Okay.

  • Young, with our news agency.

  • As Dr Charge was mentioned, the entire human system is willing to help.

  • So could you give us a few examples on what the other agencies in the U.

  • N can contribute to the control and prevention off the outbreak?

  • Thank you so much.

  • Yes, we have many sister agencies 20 to use this.

  • Yeah, No.

  • Okay.

  • Okay, way.

  • Have many important sister agencies in the United Nations system, many of whom need good information in order to manage their day to day operations in business continuity.

  • So our humanitarian partners peacekeeping partners need to understand.

  • The virus, like every other global business operation, needs to understand what's happening with the virus.

  • But there are many of our U.

  • N.

  • Agencies like the International Maritime Organization, the International Aviation Organization, who also can contribute huge amounts of information to our understanding, and equally we work closely with them.

  • We have agencies like UNICEF who are very important in risk communications and social stabilization, and working in education, in schools and and in the health care system, and on infection prevention and control.

  • And we work very closely with our colleagues in Eunice.

  • If there are the agencies who work on humanitarian response, and they obviously have a duty of care to refugees and two others.

  • And they need our imports in terms of best practice for themselves on.

  • We have the financial institutions like the World Bank, who were in a very strong position to look at the financial implications and shocked associated with this and look a means of mitigating those those impacts.

  • So the idea here is to bring together the U.

  • N System under the leadership of the SG with the director general to ensure that the work W.

  • H O is doing is feeding into the U.

  • N.

  • System in terms of its own business, but equally that the U.

  • N agencies who can contribute to the overall global effort are doing so.

  • And in particular, I make reference to the our resident coordinators in country for the U.

  • N.

  • System who integrate all of the U.

  • N.

  • Operations in country.

  • Many countries with weaker health systems may also have weaknesses and their economies and other potential shocks that might arise.

  • So working our country representatives will be angels.

  • Country representatives are working very, very closely with the resident coordinators of the U.

  • N system on that.

  • We intend to continue doing that.

  • In effect, have had live scan teleconferences with all resident coordinators in the world.

  • I think a couple of days ago, we brought them all together last week.

  • So I think that's the nature of the crisis management team operation.

  • And this will be a joint operation between the United Nations Office for Crisis Coordination in New York on our strategic strategic out operations center here at W.

  • Rachel in Geneva.

  • Given much Christian for journalists, please, President, use the mike.

  • Yes.

  • Hello.

  • This is Cristiana with the German Press Agency.

  • And it's a question for Dr Ted Rose.

  • There are reports today that the National Health Commission in China has changed the reporting rules off cases meaning that people who are confirmed to be infected with the virus but do not show symptoms are not being counted in the statistics.

  • Have you heard about that?

  • And what is your response?

  • I don't have that information, but we have regular communication with them.

  • So we will check that and we have also people on the ground.

  • So we will check and get back to you.

  • Thank you.

  • Yes, please.

  • Here and Then we will take a couple more questions from room here because we have all dreams will travel to Geneva so we'll give little bit off a priority to them.

  • Yes, please go ahead.

  • Has to be Yes.

  • Okay, I think it's Eric.

  • Good afternoon, Shing from Xinhua News Agency We've learned that there are also Chinese researchers attending today's forum in the virtual way.

  • So to what extent made the experience of China's health workers and front line and the collecting and sharing of data by the Chinese researcher helped design the road map of this research.

  • Thank you.

  • You have first hand experience and a lot of experience and surely they will help.

  • And not only that, they will significantly shape the road, but I will ask my other colleagues answer to to comment comment on this.

  • But we expect from them just to Adam.

  • We were very fortunate this morning to have both Dr Jordan cow on Doctor who from China CDC connected online and they presented the data, particularly the research that has already been initiated in China and we also have participants are going to stay with us throughout the two days, and it's essential that were involved in every aspect off the planning of the research.

  • Since most of the cases are in China now, so it could be critical for Chinese scientists and doctors and researchers to be involved.

  • You want something well, also to say that there have been a lot of preparation from a W two couldn't for his forearm and that Timothy Group have met virtually military conferences and as much as possible as much as they were available because they have things to deal with right now.

  • But the Chinese scientists have been involved in this discussion, and we certainly hope that they will continue to be engaged in in drafting in setting this this road map.

  • We also have had the opportunity tohave vaccine manufacturers from China participate in today's meeting, and he has more information on the question You ask, So please yes way.

  • Ask our about the changes of definition on.

  • Indeed, it's normal to adapt the case definition to the reality so recently they have done.

  • The fourth adaptation to include a mild case isn't symptomatic cases, and so if a symptomatic cases become positive ATT laboratory testing, then they include them into the confirmed cases number.

  • And so they have indeed a broadened case definition because before the testing was only done on, people were hospitalized or attending some medical attention, getting medical attention.

  • But now, because they're following contacts, apparently they have also included some symptomatic people.

  • They are folded up, persisting automatic because into contactless.

  • Yeah, mild symptomatic actually is a good idea.

  • It's good.

  • It's good that they did that for clarifying this.

  • Now let's take few more from the rumor.

  • Let's try.

  • Our colleagues will travel to Geneva to be with us here, so I'll start with a tour guide and Tom Jones, please Donald.

  • Formal terrible years in London.

  • There have been reports of the Chinese National and Burkina Fasso who's been tested for Corona virus on Dhe.

  • As we speak, we're told that there is a Chinese China Embassy, W, H O and Bikini FSO.

  • Ministry of Health Press conference.

  • Can you tell us anything about what would be the first reported case in Africa so way don't have that information way?

  • Had some suspected cases in three or four countries which were all negative.

  • But the Burkina Faso is something Lee.

  • What which, which we haven't heard about and we will.

  • We will follow up on that.

  • Thank you.

  • Please.

  • You.

  • Right.

  • You mentioned a window of opportunity.

  • As time passes, are you becoming more or less confident that this virus can be contained?

  • No.

  • As time passes, my confidence will depend on how you know the strings off measures way take.

  • And that's why we're asking countries to be, as you know, aggressive as possible in or because we're still in containment strategy on dhe.

  • We shouldn't allow this virus to have the space to have looking transmission.

  • So, independence, we may, you know, Ms or squander this opportunity or use this opportunity.

  • And I'm saying we still have time and let's not squander this opportunity.

  • There is opportunity, window of opportunity that we can use Still still, Now there is There is.

  • There should be strong leadership, strong coordination.

  • And they have really, should you?

  • All the things will take all the measures they need to contain it.

  • Please.

  • Here we go.

  • Um, So there is a cruise ship, the western damn luxury liner, which has been unable to Doc.

  • It's been turned away from multiple ports.

  • Um, uh, given your guidance on travel, do you have any message about that?

  • And have you talked with any of the countries that have refused docking to this Western damn cruise ship?

  • Very in daily discussions as we speak with the International American Organization who who deal with these matters?

  • And my colleague here, George my George, to my left, our assistant director general Weirdness, has been leading those discussions on dhe.

  • We've been looking at a number of different ships, mainly carol vessels and not necessarily cruise liners.

  • It's really important that there's an appropriate risk management approach taken here on that that also state parties be reminded of their obligations under.

  • But I am more terms free practica, which is the ability for ships to duck unimpeded, especially to unload cargo and also reminding our state parties of the principles of the dignity and human rights of travelers, which the I am a jar also enshrines.

  • There are, uh, manageable risks associated with the conveyances, and there's plenty of guidance on how to do this properly.

  • We need to ensure that there is neither An overreaction are another reaction on DDE.

  • We need a proper risk management approach to this as we want to see to all types of gatherings on.

  • We're going to have this more and more in the coming weeks as we see more events and conferences and we see cruise ships anywhere where people come on congregate, there is always going to be concerned.

  • But we need to balance those concerns with the need for our society, civilization, our economies to move.

  • So we need to take a risk management approach.

  • We must accept that in these circumstances there is no such thing as a zero risk.

  • You must minimize risks.

  • We must protect people and very ready to react appropriately.

  • Should something on toward or something unexpected happened on in the same exact case of cruise ships again, a proper risk management approach to dealing with this issue is what we're advising on a CZ.

  • I say we will be further analyzing the number of ships were in this particular circumstance, and we'll have more data on that tomorrow.

  • But again, we call for the normal obligations under free practically on dhe for the normal principles of the dignity and human rights of travelers to be upheld.

  • Give Dr Ryan, we will take one more from here from Julie BBC here.

  • That'll go online.

  • Yeah.

  • Thank you.

  • Um, maybe you must be tired of me saying for some time now, since I became DJ many Jordan was just asking me what you what makes you what What wakes you up at night?

  • And I say pandemic any any pandemic diseases?

  • Um and the reason for that is exactly what you say because we have countries with weaker systems.

  • And as you know, we're as strong as the weakest link, and the world is getting smaller and smaller.

  • It's a globalized world, and whatever happens at the weakest link could affect all of us.

  • So that's why when we think about investing in our respective health systems, we should not forget to invest in countries we can Hello, systems that need supple.

  • So my message again in the middle of this outbreak is the same.

  • We have to invest in preparedness.

  • And preparedness means helping those countries who need a helping hand to strengthen their health system.

  • And that's going to be outgunned.

  • And we have identified by the way, as W Joe, the minimum is served.

  • 30 countries, if you pushed to the maximum, are not more than 45 countries who need our support and investing in those countries with weak our health systems is important.

  • I think we're now having a really problem in our hands and we must take what's happening now seriously and really commit to preparedness to strengthening Oh hella systems all over that would and make this world safer.

  • Still, I said it many times.

  • I have a great concern that if this virus necks it a week, our health system, it will create trouble.

  • It will.

  • For now.

  • It doesn't seem so, but it doesn't mean that it will not happen.

  • It's made.

  • It depends on how really we leave this response and how how we respond to the out.

  • So that's why I don't think it's too late.

  • We have the window of opportunity and the whole world should really stand in unison to contribute to strengthening the countries with weaker health systems.

  • And that's the answer for no.

  • But that's not just for now, but we have to continue.

  • This is not a few months or a few years off work.

  • It will be many years of work that should be sustained and make our hello system as strong as possible.

  • because we have already seen it.

  • Outbreaks can bring serious appearance, serious consequences to the world.

  • It's not just a health security issue or it's not the mother off somebody, see or you know, the number of people who are dead.

  • It's a matter off political, social and economic upheavals.

  • It can affect all all areas off so city, and that's why we have to take it seriously.

  • You know the world when it's when it talks about terrorism and imagine the level off preparation and zone is his image.

  • To be honest, a virus is more powerful in creating political, economic and social upheaval than any terrorist at that.

  • Believe it or not, I was a foreign minister, been one off my heart, discussing about terrorism and and so on.

  • But a virus can have more powerful consequences.

  • Done any terrorist action, and that's two.

  • And if the world doesn't want to wake up and consider this enemy virus as probably enemy number one, I don't think we will learn from our lessons.

  • It's number one enemy and to the whole world and to the bone humanity, and that's why we have to do everything to invest in health systems to invest in preparedness.

  • And that's why I always say That's what makes me up at night and it should wake all of us at night.

  • It's the worst enemy you can imagine.

  • It can create havoc.

  • Political, economic and social.

  • Thank you.

  • Thank you very much.

  • Secretary.

  • A single goal for a few questions from journalists online and hope If we are all shorts, we will be able to get back to the room.

  • Alcohol first, colleagues from CNN Vasko can Can you hear us?

  • Can you?

  • Is on a comments made by a doctor in Hong Kong today who said that this virus could reach up to 60% of the world's population.

  • What?

  • What do you have to say on that?

  • Good Someone from Hong Kong who said that this virus could reach 60% off world population?

  • Yeah, if if if fires are left unchecked, they can burned down the little forest Someone conspicuously uh, how fire a fire like this Come burn.

  • I think we, as the DJ said, when we look a disease outside China, we're dealing with less than 400 cases in 24 countries in over a month of transmission that that does not mean that that won't escalate.

  • It doesn't mean that that won't accelerate.

  • But that is not in that sense, it on an insurmountable problem.

  • We have the unknowns about period and transmissibility.

  • We have the unknowns above my cases.

  • But what the date is telling us that we still have an opportunity we have the opportunity to contain, to confine, to slow down.

  • To prepare Andi, we need to be extremely careful not to.

  • Overly.

  • Everyone is talking about social media.

  • Everyone is talking about staying cam and keeping our populations camp.

  • Yet every chance we get, we seem like we wantto accelerate the infant emmick on, not contain the epidemic.

  • So I think we need to be very balanced and careful here with our populations with our communities.

  • They already have concerns on they're concerned on.

  • The real issue is to empower our communities, to take action, to protect themselves, to give them things to do.

  • And there are things that every single human being on this planet could do to protect themselves from this disease.

  • So let's be careful in throwing around figures, speculation and scaring people.

  • Let's let us plan on focus.

  • Laser focused on containment, confinement and slowing the virus down.

  • And if we have to deal with the circumstances at a later date of a more widespread epidemic, way will do that.

  • Uh, and that could be a Mylar disease at that point.

  • So we just just caution everybody to to not start throwing around figures that there is no basis for at the moment, I would maybe add to that just to remind you one thing when Ebola started.

  • If you remember, there was a lot of speculation and there were some people were saying it will really move or spread all over the world.

  • This is going to be dangerous and and estimates speculation after speculation.

  • And our position was okay, expecting the words may be fine, but let's see what we can do.

  • And we say as tablature containment is possible.

  • So let's not just go into extremes.

  • And you remember we were actually being attacked for advocating for containment, keeping this virus Ebola in DRC and finally finish it and you remember that and what happened now?

  • A year and 1/2 it's contained in DRC.

  • You remember it crossed to Uganda 34 cases and it was hammered because Uganda was prepared, still contained in the RC.

  • There were speculations, there could be speculations and I don't mind with speculations.

  • But let's have also the violence.

  • What can we do is in our hand to really contain this outbreak and the strategy, by the way, with what we're using now is the same Haman the source.

  • Hammer the epicenter slow or prevent spread off that virus to the rest of the world.

  • And that was exactly what was what we were trying to do in DRC.

  • So we don't want that you go into speculations we prefer actually okay, People cannot projections that we prefer what could be done with the A Kidman's or with the solutions at hand and do our best to contain it at the source without undermining its gravity without undermining the serious consequences it may have.

  • And that's what we did and that we want for this one off course.

  • Ebola and these are not the same.

  • Ebola is lousy.

  • This is airborne colonize.

  • It's more contagious and you have seen it how it went into 24 countries.

  • Although it's small number of cases in terms off rotation to wreck havoc.

  • The Corona is very different from Ebola.

  • Corona has more potency.

  • Vitamins.

  • We take it more seriously, but still the position should be instead of speculation, really to focus at the source, to do everything at the source.

  • Slow, desperate sport.

  • Stop the spread, invest more in containment and based on the situation, moving to other strategies, if necessary.

  • So meaning we have to be realistic.

  • We have to become.

  • But we have to take also serious measures.

  • That's what we advise, and many off the instruments to check it are in our hands.

  • But we can expect off course serious things.

  • But let's do whatever we can and contain it.

  • Thank you.

  • Dangerous.

  • Let's take one more question from line.

  • John Quinn from science.

  • John, can you hear us?

  • I can't hear me.

  • Yes.

  • Do you hear me?

  • Yes.

  • Um so quickly.

  • Clarify what the virus name is used the disease name.

  • And also have you received any information from China about the environment or sample environmental samples tested at the marketplace and whether any animals were tested?

  • Do you have any details at all school?

  • So the name of the disease is isco vered 19.

  • That's Corona virus disease.

  • 19.

  • And the reason for choosing the name.

  • I think the director general pointed out the principles of a new near the disease.

  • Um, Corona virus is a group of viruses that's quite common that are already many known human strains of Corona and many, many animals, strains of Corona.

  • So it is possible that in the future there'll be another strain off Corona virus, and then that could be also named by the year in which it appears so it allows for future naming off a dock Corona viruses.

  • And at the same time, this disease also allows the entire spectrum of clinical manifestations.

  • Toby Toby covered.

  • It is because it's the respiratory.

  • It could also manifest in other forms, and so it's a it's a broader name.

  • The virus itself is named by the international group off virologists who will look into the taxonomy.

  • There's a particular taxonomy that they follow, and then the Gina's, the species, et cetera, would be would be specified.

  • But it's important to have a name for this disease that everybody uses both for scientific purposes to compare.

  • When you want to compare the literature, you want to compare data, you need a common terminology and also to avoid a number of different stigmatizing or other forms off confusing names.

  • Thank you very much.

  • I think there was another question.

  • Sylvie.

  • Yes, we have received information on them.

  • Animal source of these virus.

  • So from the first genetic sequences that was put on the weapon and publicly available to scientists, some scientists have done some feeling genetic studies, and they have identified that this virus is very similar to a virus that is corner of arrows that can be found in bats.

  • But when they did some sampling in the one seafood market, they didn't find so many bats.

  • And so it's very likely that there is an intermediate host that has been contaminated on Dhe but still have done a lot off samples in the various animal species.

  • But I have not found yet which intermediate always could have bean Thea amplifier, at least in this ruined city.

  • So studies are ongoing because they are checking a number off animals disease, so it takes some time what they have done as well as they are tested.

  • The number off environmental samples on surfaces and a different place in the market And so they have found, indeed, the coronavirus that he's now responsible of this epidemic.

  • Inhuman.

  • So there was some environmental contamination, probably also at the beginning of this outbreak.

  • Now this market has been closed as being disinfected, and so this environmental contamination doesn't exist anymore.

  • But studies are still ongoing to try to better understand what has happened in the animal world before human beings were contaminated.

  • And it's still ongoing.

  • And we hope that this meeting on research will provide us a little bit more information on this aspect of the outbreak that is still not very clear and requires more research.

  • Okay, Sorry.

  • I used the military world airborne.

  • It meant to spread by droplets or respiratory transmission.

  • Please take it that way.

  • Not the military language.

  • Thank you.

  • Don't thank you very much for for clarification, we will go back to the rumors.

  • I have some questions.

  • We'll start with body than Stephanie Gunilla.

  • Very short.

  • One question, please.

  • It's you.

  • It's for, for example, to priority.

  • Focus on the epicenter were this is exiting.

  • So could you tell us more about the next guy Guide map on 80 center about the science on the federal colors.

  • It should be done in the epicenter of the outbreak next, other than what's being done now.

  • Okay, Yeah, I think certainly from our observations have been working with the Tardis in China.

  • They've been heavily focused on two issues.

  • Three issues woman who bay itself.

  • The surrounding are the provinces who have been more heavily affected than others.

  • And they're sort of in a three pronged approach, and you can see the way they've had.

  • Very strong measures from Hamburg have extended those measures to defined areas outside Wu Han where they feel the epidemiology was getting more difficult or more challenging.

  • So they're operating, sort of, I believe in sort of a three pronged strategy.

  • Um uh, the you can see over the last number of days and weeks that the initial focus was clearly on caring for the sick on dhe, really dealing with that shock to the system of so many unwell people presenting.

  • And you saw that with the efforts to build new isolation facilities.

  • But increasing what we're seeing is the community at large community committees in the mobilization of community based surveillance community based activity in order to detect milder cases and you can see by the way, the case definition is being shifted.

  • There's a move now to move out and try and detect all of cases, even the milder cases on DDE.

  • That seems like a very prudent thing because you want to check that you're seeing all the cases when you're facing a fire large fire, and this happened in West Africa to with Ebola and when the disease was extremely intense.

  • It's very hard to do this.

  • Classic public health things like contact tracing.

  • You're dealing with a massive wave of cases you're trying to do with sick.

  • And as you get control on that and as the number of very sick patients drops or stabilizers, you try to push the surveillance out towards the community.

  • You try to detect more and more of the cases.

  • That's if you're still focusing on containment as your approach because you want to try and break the chance of transmission.

  • So we believe China is really pushing the surveillance into the community.

  • It's an attempt to try and shut down transmission.

  • We've said it before.

  • Neither they are.

  • We are sure that that will work because the virus has its own characteristics in terms of its period of transmission.

  • Are asymptomatic people being able to transmit, But they're making an attempt now to push surveillance.

  • Forget it, forget it, open community and see if we can shut down the virus.

  • There is no guarantee of that.

  • So that's what we're seeing in terms of the shift on our team in in China is working closely with with Chinese authorities and scientists to look at that.

  • I think the other part of this will be having a much better understanding off the clinical severity and under clinical picture, because if the disease work to spread further in the world, and if we see more cases in the world, the clinical techniques and the clinical information on the clinical knowledge that's been gained in China right now will be absolutely central to the successful treatment of patients elsewhere in the world.

  • So that's another vital gift to the world.

  • So again, pulling that information together in a systematic way, gathering systematic clinical data now, not just reports, not just anecdotes, but systematic clinical information is absolutely central success.

  • So all of the activities are aimed the containment, but all of those activities will support a broader mitigation effort should the virus continue to straight in other parts of the world.

  • Just is that yeah, he reminded me that right now, with the caseload in China, while it's very terrible toll on again, we recognize the work of the health workers and the suffering of communities of families and China.

  • They're suffering on behalf of result.

  • But there is an opportunity to test drugs, and already at least one clinical trial is underway.

  • We're working with Chinese scientists on further clinical trials that will allow the immediate testing of drugs in that setting, and the results again of those trials will be available in time to guide conditions and other parts of the world.

  • So again, that's another important strand and again a further and complete understanding of the source.

  • As I said, a presumption of the source is a dangerous thing because even if we were successful in this attempt to confine and contain the virus, if we don't know the source, then we're equally vulnerable in future to a similar outbreak and understanding that source is a very important next step in the strategy.

  • Much Sam off.

  • Our speakers have to go, So we'll take super short.

  • Two questions that I promised to Stephanie and Gunilla.

  • Very short, because you have to go.

  • We will have other opportunities already.

  • Tomorrow will be here.

  • Stephanie and I just wondered the Director General in your speech you referred to a very grave threat potentially to the rest of the world from this virus, which is clearly an emergency in China.

  • I wondered if you could elaborate on that, especially for our visual colleagues.

  • And what led you to use that language this morning?

  • Was there some assess changing your risk assessment overnight?

  • Was it information coming in from Hong Kong about suspect cases in a building which was later dismissed on the basis of results?

  • Could you elaborate?

  • No, Um, it's the issue is about the use of the window of opportunity.

  • We have a window of opportunity now for the rest of the world.

  • We see what's happening in China in terms of the number of cases and fatality.

  • So if we don't use the window of opportunity we have now, if we don't operate with a sense of urgency, there could be a serious consequence.

  • That's what I meant to say and I'm reminding the world to use this opportunity to do whatever it can.

  • Two contain this outbreak, do everything it can.

  • And there is time because, as I say, the number of cases in the rest of the woman is less than 400 there is only one death.

  • That's a window of opportunity.

  • So I'm reminding there is time that time is ticking and time is the essence in this outbreak and the virus will not sleep and wait.

  • We cannot sleep.

  • So we have to operate with a sense of urgency and with strong political commitment throughout the world.

  • And then we can beat this outbreak.

  • If not, then the other side will happen.

  • So that's why I'm just I was reminding this morning.

  • I remind now I will continue to remind, until the world really takes this seriously, do it with sense off urgency and believes from the heart that the time is the essence time.

  • Is that the sense now?

  • That's what I wanted to say.

  • Thank you special.

  • And then we will complete very short, buzzy gorilla, Swedish dog, not it.

  • I have a question about the British man who obviously infected 11 people while he traveled across the world.

  • What else?

  • Just tell you this case doesn't tell you that the virus is changing in any way.

  • It's mutating on dhe.

  • How can countries prepare for these kind of cases and this kind of spread?

  • My colleagues will say more, but that's why we're saying time is the essence.

  • Because mutation is another issue crosses every host.

  • Then you know what happens, and everybody knows.

  • So that's why we say time.

  • Is there a sense again?

  • But I would be happy if our colleagues could be saying mutation, be one of them.

  • I really wish we could refrain from personalizing these issues down to individuals who spread disease.

  • This is deeply, deeply unhelpful.

  • These are very unfortunate events in which families and others are wrapped up in friends and others.

  • There are circumstances that allow disease to transmit.

  • People are not full, they're never at fault in this situation.

  • So let's be extremely careful, really, really important.

  • We don't attach unnecessary stigma to this.

  • This is an unfortunate event, and there are circumstances around the way in which disease may have been transmitted on DS on.

  • There may be other clusters like that this is by no means and compared to other events, a massive super spreading.

  • This is, uh, unusual events, and it is away.

  • A couple called because there may be other circumstances and pitch.

  • This disease could spread like this, and we need to study those circumstances for sure.

  • But it doesn't change your overall assessment on again.

  • I cast your mind back to size when we had the Metropole Hotel.

  • Everyone said It's all over, It's global now and then we had the Amoy Gardens and everyone said, It's all over.

  • It's in these buildings and that's it.

  • We can't be stuffed right on way, and it's important that we stopped when we have those events.

  • The cruise ship issue in Japan at the moment on these unusual events offer an opportunity to study the virus, but none of them individually change the overall risk assessment.

  • You take them all together, and that may change a risk assessment overtime, so we just need to be careful to study these types of situations, understand more from the what's happening, and if overall through a series of those events we see a dynamic shift in the virus, then we will tell you openly and transparently that we see that at the moment we don't see that here.

  • Thanks to everyone watching us online dialing my phone which has no Twitter account.

  • We will have all your file very shortly and transcript likely tomorrow morning posted on our website regarding two more a press conference on a mercy committee on Ebola outbreak in DRC and the end off research forum.

  • We will send a note either tonight or tomorrow morning.

  • So thank you for being with us and have a nice day.

thank you very much for coming.

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