FINALLY, WHO declares Coronavirus outbreak as 'public health emergency of international concern'.

"The only way we will defeat this outbreak is for all countries to work together."

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that the new coronavirus outbreak is a public health emergency of international concern, officials announced today (Jan. 30).

The news comes as the case count and death toll from the virus have soared in recent days. As of Thursday (Jan. 30), there were 7,736 cases and 170 deaths in China, as well as 98 cases in 18 other countries, the WHO said.

Although the number of cases outside of China is relatively small compared with the number in China at this time, officials stressed that efforts are needed to stop the spread of the virus further.

"The only way we will defeat this outbreak is for all countries to work together in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of WHO, said in a news conference Thursday. "We are all in this together."

Today's announcement is a reversal of WHO's decision last week not to declare a public health emergency of international concern.

The main reason for the declaration is concern that the virus could spread to countries with weaker health systems. "We don't know what sort of damage the virus could do if it were to spread in a country with a weaker health system," Ghebreyesus said.

As for the outbreak in China itself, Ghebreyesus emphasized that "WHO continues to have the confidence in China's capacity to control the outbreak" there.

The declaration can help WHO better coordinate an international response to the outbreak, particularly in countries that are less prepared for the virus, according to CNN.

Ghebreyesus stressed that, at this time, WHO is not recommending any trade or travel restrictions in response to the outbreak.

WHO has declared such an emergency just five times before: in 2009 for the "swine flu" pandemic, in 2014 for a polio outbreak, in 2014 for the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, in 2016 for the Zika outbreak and in 2019 for the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to The New York Times. The organization first established the declaration in 2005, after the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak.

WOMAN DIES OF LASSA FEVER IN OGUN STATE

Lassa fever has killed a 26-year-old woman, Titilayo Akinsola, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The victim died on Saturday at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, where she was admitted four days ago.

The hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Segun Orisajo, confirmed the death to reporters in Abeokuta Saturday night.

Orisajo, who stated that the deceased was admitted to the hospital, disclosed that series of tests showed she had Lassa fever.

The death came barely three days after the Ogun State government denied the outbreak of the hemorrhagic fever in the state.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, had denied a report by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NSCDC) which designated Ogun as one of the states with the case of Lassa fever in the country.

Speaking with reporters, Orisajo said the medical team of the hospital did everything possible to save the life of the victim.

“She (the victim) was rushed to the hospital four days ago and series of tests confirmed that she had Lassa fever. Our medical team did everything possible to save her life but unfortunately she died,” he said.

The official, however, allayed the fears of members of the public over the incident.

He assured that the hospital and the state government were jointly on top of the situation to contain spread of the disease.

When contacted, the state Health Commissioner also confirmed the death.

“It is true. Someone died of Lassa fever in the state today (Saturday),” Coker stated.

She, however, declined further comments.