The World Health Organization has declared an emergency due to the outbreak of the Corona virus in China

The organization declared a global emergency due to the rapid spread of the virus. The organization's recommendations mainly include increasing monitoring and preparedness measures. According to the organization's chief executive, the main concern is that the virus will reach countries with a dilapidated health system. A first case of human-to-human corona infection was revealed in the US this evening

The World Health Organization has declared an emergency due to the outbreak of the Corona virus in China

The World Health Organization announced Thursday (Thursday) an emergency due to the outbreak of corona virus in China. World Health Organization CEO Tadros Adhnum Grabhisos announced the decision of the organization's emergency committee at a press conference in Geneva following the spread of the virus to 18 countries around the world.

The World Emergency Declaration includes recommendations for all countries on how to prevent or reduce the spread of the virus while avoiding unnecessary disruption to trade and transport. The global emergency contains the recommendations of all national health authorities around the world, including increasing their monitoring, preparedness and containment measures.

The CEO of the organization said in recent weeks that we have witnessed an unprecedented outbreak, which was answered in an unprecedented response. "The declaration of an emergency is not a vote of no confidence in China," he said. In addition, he said that the biggest concern facing health experts in the world "It is the potential for the virus to reach countries with weaker health systems. Grabhisos praised China's" extraordinary steps "to prevent the spread of the virus." I believe they will control this outbreak as soon as possible, "he added.

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Chinese soldiers wear masks over their faces for fear of contracting a virus (Photo: Reuters)

Officers wearing masks for fear of Corona in Beijing, China, January 30, 2020 (Photo: Reuters)

The global emergency decision comes after states around the world began to isolate their citizens evacuated from Wuhan city, the epicenter of the virus outbreak, which has already claimed the lives of 170 people, all in China. More than 7,000 people have contracted the virus, which belongs to the SARS family and has not yet been given a cure or vaccine. It probably originated in animals, sold in the market in Wuhan.

Dimensions of the new virus have already surpassed the SARS outbreak in 2002-2003. Dr. Michael Ryan, chairman of the emergency committee, said at a press conference yesterday after returning from a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his government officials in Beijing that China is taking "extraordinary steps in view of the extraordinary challenge" posed by the virus outbreak.

He noted that because of this, about 99% of the infections are currently in China. Dr. Ryan estimated the new virus death rate to be about 2% of those infected, but said the figure is still very preliminary. By comparison, the SARS virus killed 10% of people infected. The new virus is from the family of viruses that have cold viruses as well as serious illnesses More like SARS.

Ghana airport passenger check (Photo: Reuters)

Testing Corona Travelers at Ghana Airport, January 30, 2020 (Photo: Reuben Castro)

El Al, like many companies around the world, has announced delays in its flights to Beijing by March 25, 2020. The company said that "El Al will allow its customers holding air tickets to China and Hong Kong scheduled for 26/21/20 to cancel or change their dates. Free flight cancellation, change and handling fees by the end of February. " Lufthansa also announced yesterday that it would cease its flights to and from China by February 9, as well as all its subsidiaries - Suisse and Austrian Airlines.

Dr. Hagai Levin, chairman of the Association of Public Health Doctors of the Medical Association and Professor of Epidemiology, at the Hebrew University of Hadassah School of Public Health, said: "It is of public importance to declare and understand that it is an emergency that requires exceptional steps, but it is important to take it. Properly and reasonably, without panic. " He added that "although no cases have been identified in Israel, the new Corona virus has been rightly defined by the Ministry of Health as a dangerous contagious disease under the Public Health Ordinance. Appropriate backing and all the resources required for public health doctors are the ones that need to make the tough decisions to protect public health. Such as preventative and containment measures, active monitoring, isolation, movement restrictions, contact investigations and more. As required by developments in the coming weeks. "

Saudi Ministry of Health workers check passengers arriving from China at Riyadh airport (Photo: Reuters)

Saudi Ministry of Health workers check passengers arriving from China at Riyadh airport, January 22, 2020 (Photo: Reuters)

Health Organization CEO Tadros Adhnum Grabhisus (Photo: Reuters)

Dr. Levine said, "Public health and medical teams, who are on the front line of the epidemic, should be cherished and provided with the tools and support needed to prevent burnout. At this stage, it is important that we strengthen and prepare the public health infrastructure, such as building the capacity to identify the virus in several laboratories and not just one laboratory. "

Even before the World Health Organization decision, the U.S. Department of Health announced this evening that a first case of the corona virus transmitted from person to person in the state of Illinois was discovered. The patient is a man in his 60s whose wife recently returned from China and from whom the virus appears to be infected. The case brings the number of American patients to six.

Earlier, Minister of Health Jacob Litzman, at the opening of a special committee of the Ministry of Health convened to examine ways to deal with the Corona virus, announced that flights from China to Israel would be discontinued at this time, and no entry from the state would be authorized until further notice. He said that "after consultations and discussions in recent days, we have made all kinds of decisions about the Corona virus from China." He said, "First of all, we do not currently authorize entry into the country from China until further notice." Minister Litzman explained that "those who come from China, even those who do not come directly, we will also check them - that is, we have decided that everyone who comes and may infect should stay at home for two days."

The focus of the virus in China has become a ghost town: "It's like an apocalypse"

Hong Kong shelves are empty in the shadow of virus panic (Photo: Reuters)

Fear of Corona near empty shelves in Hong Kong supermarket, January 30, 2020 (Photo: Reuters)

Director General of the Ministry of Health Moshe Bar Siman said that the ministry has been conducting daily status assessments for more than a week, to bring about a good deal with the virus and the outbreak that started in China. Bar Siman added that "as has been said, an outbreak is not only in China and we do everything To prevent the first case from entering the country, but we assume there will be a case in the country. "

Bar Good sign pledged that "we will know how to contain it best. We take all measures to prevent people with suspicion from entering Israel, but no country has any hermetic control over its entry."

(First Update 21:46)

Crew members preparing to disinfect aircraft coming from China (Photo: Reuters)

Thailand Airways crews are preparing to disinfect an airplane coming from China to prevent the spread of the Koronawa virus at Bangkok airport (Photo: Reuters)