http://www.bjreview.com FEBRUARY 13, 2020 BEIJING REVIEW 25
Copyedited by Sudeshna Sarkar
Comments to [email protected]COVER STORY
W
hen the World Health Organization
(WHO) declared the novel corona-
virus (2019-nCoV) a public health
emergency of international concern (PHEIC)
on January 31, it was not an unprecedented
measure, nor does it have any political
overtone.
WHO Director General Dr. Tedros
Adhanom Ghebreyesus made it clear at the
ensuing press conference on that day that
the declaration was “not because of what is
happening in China, but because of what is
happening in other countries.”
“Our greatest concern is the potential for
the virus to spread to countries with weaker
health systems and which are ill-prepared
to deal with it,” Dr. Tedros said. The PHEIC
declaration was intended to draw global at-
tention and help countries with a relatively
underdeveloped healthcare system to cope
with potential spread of the virus.
In accordance with the International
Health Regulations (IHR), when a PHEIC is
declared, WHO will put forward interim or
long-term suggestions on health measures
related to people, luggage, cargoes, contain-
ers, transport vehicles, etc. to prevent or
reduce the global spreading of diseases and
disruptions through international transport.
However, given China and other coun-
tries’ efforts to prevent and contain the
epidemic, Dr. Tedros said, “There is no
reason for measures that unnecessarily
interfere with international travel and trade.
WHO doesn’t recommend limiting trade and
movement.”
With the likelihood of exports from
China and its imports being curbed due to
unreasoning panic, WHO has also urged
other countries not to take any discrimina-
tory action.
Under Article 43 of the IHR, state parties
implementing additional health measures
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traffic (refusal of entry or departure of in-
ternational travelers, baggage, cargoes,
containers, conveyances, goods, and the
like, or their delay, for more than 24 hours)
are obliged to send to WHO the public health
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their implementation. WHO will review the
justification and may request countries to
reconsider their measures.
Chinese authorities have shown transpar-
ency in handling the emergency. There have
been constant updates on the number of
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ysis of the pathogen, preventive measures
and treatment through press conferences.
Since the outbreak, China has kept in touch
with WHO and other countries, sharing infor-
mation, including the genome sequence of
the virus.
While meeting Dr. Tedros, President Xi
Jinping said China is ready to work with WHO
as well as the international community to
safeguard regional and global public health
security. Based on China’s reports on the
epidemic, the IHR Emergency Committee,
which comprises health experts from around
the world, has held several meetings to
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the epidemic.
The Chinese Government has taken
the toughest measures to bring the situ-
ation under control. It designated experts
to investigate the cause of the epidemic
and when they pinpointed the new strain
of the coronavirus, emergency monitor-
ing and epidemiological investigations
started. Diagnostic kits were developed
and dispatched to health institutions andsafety guidance is being sent to the public
regularly.
All sections of society have been mobi-
lized to help Wuhan in its fight against the
epidemic. Medical equipment and gear are
being sent to the city regularly and more
than 10,000 medical personnel have been
dispatched.
The local seafood market in Wuhan
where the outbreak originated has been shut
down and management of wildlife trade and
catering has been tightened. Since January
23, Wuhan has closed its airport, railway
stations and long-distance bus stations to
prevent the spread of the virus.
Governments at various levels in other
cities and provinces have activated the
highest level of public health emergency
response. Mass gatherings have been can-
celed and the Spring Festival holiday was
extended for many sectors. Travel agencies
have been instructed to suspend their busi-
ness while those who had to cancel their
travel plans due to the epidemic will be
refunded without having to pay any cancel-
lation charge.
Responding to the measures, Dr. Tedros
said, “In many ways, China is actually setting
a new standard for outbreak response.”
This is not the first time that WHO
has declared a PHEIC since the IHR was
released in 2005. The current declara-
tion is a normal practice in terms of virus
prevention and control, with no political
motivation and should be taken in the right
spirit by all.Q67521*ó())(&7,9(
AND TRANSPARENT
WHO acknowledges China’s efforts to prevent the spread of
novel coronavirus %\ó/DQó;LQ]KHQ