The new Coronavirus diseases (COVID-2019): A global Public Health Emergency

by, Dr. Lumturi MERKURI

Abstract

Public health is facing threats from diseases that are periodically emerging, many with the potential to cause pandemic with social and economic impact worldwide. World Health Organization (WHO) in 2015, has compiled a list of top diseases with potential to generate a public health emergency, and need urgent attention. According to WHO, the list will be reviewed annually or when new diseases emerge. WHO has compiled a list of top 10 threats to global health to focus in 2019. Te list contains a number of serious issues but emerging infectious diseases dominate WHO’s list. On 31 December 2019, WHO was informed of cases of pneumonia detected in Wuhan City, China which identifed as a novel (new) type of coronavirus that has not been previously identifed in humans. WHO has confrmed COVID-19 (a shortened version of coronavirus disease 2019) as the name of the disease that CoV infection causes. Coronaviruses are a zoonotic viruses that cause illness from the common cold to more severe diseases such as MERS&SARS. Te situation of Covid-19 is rapidly evolving with case counts and deaths increasing each day. On January 30, WHO announced that COVID-19, was a public health emergency of international concern, as latest fgures show that 9,826 people have been infected and 213 have died and rates the global risk assessment as high. Cases have been reported and in 26 countries outside of China. On February 20, globally 75 748 cases are confrmed, and 2121 deaths. WHO is working with researchers and other experts to coordinate global work to provide advice and to support countries to prevent the spread of this current 88 MEDICUS / NO. 3, 2020 outbreak. Countries have shared information with WHO under the International Health Regulations -IHR 2005, to prevent, protect, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease.