The World Health Organization has now declared a global public health emergency due to the coronavirus.
In a press conference, WHO director general Tedros Adhanom said that “the main reason is 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 other countries with weaker health systems, which are ill-prepared to deal with it.”
WHO declares a global public health emergency when “an extraordinary event which is determined to constitute a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response.”
To date, nearly two dozen countries have confirmed cases of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
After long weeks of speculation and fear, the Philippines has confirmed the first case of the virus in the country yesterday.
According to health secretary Francisco Duque III, the patient is a 38-year old woman who traveled to the Philippines from Wuhan, China on January 21.
Following these reports, the Department of Health continues to remind and urge the public to practice proper hygiene, handwashing, and proper coughing etiquette.
The symptoms of a coronavirus are similar to that of a common cold: a cough, a sore throat, a runny nose, and maybe a fever and a headache. These symptoms can last for a few days. If your immune system is weak, you could also get bronchitis or pneumonia.
It may take a while for symptoms of the Wuhan virus to appear. Current patients have experienced a mild cough for about a week before having trouble breathing and then visiting the hospital because of it.
What do you think? Share your thoughts below!
Do you have a story for the WhenInManila.com Team? Email us at story.wheninmanila@gmail.com or send us a direct message at WhenInManila.com Facebook Page. Interact with the team and join the WhenInManila.com Community at WIM Squad.
