WHO warns world to 'take action' over China virus

World Health Organization on Wednesday warned all governments to "take action" over SARS-like virus spreing from China that has killed 132 people and infected around 6,000 ors. WHO called an urgent meeting for Thursday over wher viral epidemic should be declared a global health emergency -- a designation that can increase international coordination.

Airlines have begun suspending flights to and from China following cases of onward transmission outside country. And some countries have begun airlifting ir nationals trapped in Wuhan, quarantined Chinese city of 11 million people at centre of epidemic.

A US charter flight from Wuhan with about 210 Americans on board, including consulate staff, was met at a California military base on Wednesday by emergency vehicles with flashing lights and personnel in white biological hazard suits. evacuees will be monitored for symptoms and sent to local hospitals if y are found to be ill, US defense department said.

Among 206 Japanese nationals who returned home Wednesday, 12 were hospitalised for tests after y reported y felt unwell or showed flu-like symptoms. A growing number of governments -- including United States, Britain and Germany -- have vised ir citizens to avoid n-essential travel to China.

China has urged its own citizens to delay trips abro, with at least 18 countries having confirmed cases of disease. In Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros ham Ghebreyesus said organisation "deeply regrets" its reports last week that referred to global risk of outbreak as "moderate" inste of "high".

"I have decided to reconvene International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on new #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) tomorrow," Tedros said on Twitter.

Michael Ryan, he of WHO Health Emergencies Programme, told reporters that " whole world needs to be on alert w. whole world needs to take action." Ryan said declaring an international health emergency could streamline measures taken, stressing that 194 countries implementing unilateral policies was a "potential recipe for disaster".

Outside China, 68 furr cases have been identified in more than a dozen or countries, including Germany, Japan and Vietnam where cases of human-to-human transmission have been confirmed.

British Airways was first major airline to anunce a suspension of flights to and from China, citing travel vice of foreign office.

It was followed by German flag carrier Lufthansa, which said all flights to mainland China would be suspended until February 9. Indonesia's Lion Air Group, Souast Asia's biggest carrier, said it would halt services to and from China from Saturday, and airlines from Myanmar and Nepal followed suit.

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific has reduced flights, citing low demand and city government's response plan to virus.

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In one of most dramatic measures, tiny Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea anunced travellers from Asia would be allowed in.

"Although numbers outside China are still relatively small, y hold potential for a much larger outbreak," Tedros said.

" world is pulling toger to end outbreak, building on lessons learned from past outbreaks. China needs world's solidarity and support," he ded, saying that he h held "frank talks" with President Xi Jinping.

China has taken extraordinary measures to try and stop disease spreing, including bans on tour groups travelling overseas, suspending schools and extending Lunar New Year holiday.

Most street traffic in and around Wuhan has been banned, leaving more than 50 million people shuttered in ir homes.

"This is first day since lockdown that I've h to go out," a man in his 50s told AFP on mostly deserted streets of industrial city on Wednesday. "I have choice because I need to buy food." Some 250 French citizens and 100 or Europeans will be flown out of Wuhan on board two French planes this week.

Nearly 600 European citizens in China want to be repatriated because of coronavirus epidemic, EU said. France said it would keep its returnees in a holding facility in Paris for 14 days -- estimated incubation period for virus.

Australia plans to house any citizens evacuated on an island rmally used to detain asylum seekers. number of confirmed cases across China climbed to 5,974, while death toll nationwide jumped to 132.

scale of deepening crisis was emphasised with total number of infections on Chinese mainland exceeding that of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2002-03. But death toll is so far much lower than SARS, which claimed nearly 800 lives around world -- with most fatalities in mainland China and Hong Kong.

virus is believed to have originated in a wild-animal market in Wuhan, where it jumped to humans before spreing across country as peak travel period for New Year festivities got under way. virus has rattled global markets and started to dent Chinese ecomy.

Japanese automaker Toyota said it would keep its plants in China closed until at least February 9.

Tech giant Foxconn said Wednesday that Taiwan staff at its vast network of factories in China do t need to return to work until mid-February, a move threatening supply chains for everything from iPhones to flat-screen TVs and laptops. 

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