WHO chief denies agency not taking Wuhan coronavirus threat seriously

The World Health Organization’s emergency committee said on Thursday that it was “too early” to declare an international public health emergency over the coronavirus outbreak in China.

As of today, the deaths have risen to 25 and infections continue to rise within China. The total has climbed to 830.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the WHO, said: “Make no mistake. This is an emergency in China. But it has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one.

“I wish to reiterate, the fact that I am not declaring a public health emergency of international concern today should not be taken as a sign that WHO does not think the situation is serious, or that we are not taking it seriously. Nothing could be further from the truth. WHO is following this outbreak every minute of every day.”