GENEVA – The World Health Organization (WHO) declared on Thursday the coronavirus epidemic in China now constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, announced the decision after a meeting of its Emergency Committee, an independent panel of experts, amid mounting evidence of the virus spreading to around 18 countries.
“Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems,” Tedros said.
The WHO panel, chaired by Didier Houssin of France, is composed of 16 independent experts.(Reuters)
