WHO’s emergency panel to reconvene on coronavirus

By Peter Kenny

GENEVA (AA) – The World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Committee will reconvene on Thursday to discuss the threat of the deadly coronavirus that emerged in China’s Wuhan city last month, the organization said on Wednesday.

The announcement came following the return of WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus from China.

“The challenge is great, but the response is massive. Of course, we are concerned and we have a major disease and we don't have an antidote,” Dr. Michael Ryan, WHO executive director of the Emergencies Program, said at a news conference.

He said 71 cases have been reported in 51 countries apart from China and the outbreak has prompted many countries to take action.

The death toll in China from the novel coronavirus outbreak has climbed to 132, the National Health Commission said Wednesday. Some 5,974 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the coronavirus have been reported in the country.

Dozens of cases have also been reported in Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Thailand, the U.S., Singapore, France, Germany, Malaysia, Australia and Vietnam.