WHO says it no longer uses 'pandemic' category, but Coronavirus still a global emergency

An official of World Health Organisation (WHO) reportedly said that organisation  longer has a process for declaring any new viral outbreak a pandemic, but COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak remains an international emergency. Tarik Jasarevic, a spokesperson for WHO told media that re was official category for a pandemic. He said that WHO ceased to employ old phasing system. A 'pandemic' was used to dete outbreak of a newer pathogen that was transmitted human-to-human across globe, he said.

According to reports, Geneva-based ncy h declared H1N1 swine flu outbreak a pandemic in year 2009. This led to several pharmaceutical companies scrambling to develop a vaccine, despite outbreak turning out to be a mild one. It also earned WHO criticism for decision.

On or hand, WHO has declared Wuhan virus that originated in Hubei province, China in December 2019 a public health emergency of international concern.

Tarik furr elaborated that for sake of clarification, WHO has discarded use of old system of 6 phases that some people may be familiar with after  H1N1 outbreak in 2009. Phase 1 that included reports of animal influenza causing human infections, to phase 6 - a pandemic.

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WHO still vises making containment efforts

He furr said that termilogies aside, WHO still vises world to put elaborate containment efforts to stop global spre of disease. Tedros ham Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general said, "we are still in a phase where containment is possible. Our window of opportunity is narrowing."

He furr issued a warning. "That's why we called on international community to act quickly, including financing," he said while speaking at Geneva conference. He said that outbreak could go in any direction. If nations did contain it well, y could avert any serious crisis, but if y squandered opportunity, n countries would have a serious problem on ir hands, he ded.

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(With ncy Inputs)