The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries to cooperate with each other rather than playing the blame game about the origin of the deadly coronavirus, warning that the 'patient zero'&nbsp; might never be found.

"We need to be very careful about the use of the phrase ‘patient zero’ which many people indicate as the first initial case. We may never find who the patient zero was,"&nbsp;Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO, technical lead on COVID-19 said in a press conference.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-says-latest-covid-outbreak-is-due-to-foreign-travellers-357086" hreflang="en">China says latest COVID outbreak is due to foreign travellers</a>

"We may never find who patient zero was. What we need to do is follow the science and follow the studies," she added.

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"We need to be careful about the use of the phrase patient zero, which many people indicate as the first initial case. 
 
We may never find who patient zero was. What we need to do is follow the science and follow the studies," -<a href="https://twitter.com/mvankerkhove?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mvankerkhove</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/WHO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WHO</a>'s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> mission to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/China?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#China</a>. <a href="https://t.co/orFtof9PKy">pic.twitter.com/orFtof9PKy</a>
— Global Health Strategies (@GHS) <a href="https://twitter.com/GHS/status/1350179735691735042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The statement has come at a time when WHO's team of expert scientists have gone to China's Wuhan — the original epicentre of the virus — to investigate the origin of coronavirus, which is alleged to be Wuhan.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/global-covid-death-toll-crosses-2-million-357070" hreflang="en">Global COVID death toll crosses 2 million</a>

Kerkhove also warned people to keep following the basic safety measures such as hand sanitisation, face masks and social distancing till the virus is completely in control. "We have to be part of the collective action towards ending the pandemic," she said. "We have to prevent ourselves from getting infected and if we do get infected, make sure the virus stops with us and we don't allow it to pass to someone else."

Talking about the different variants which have been identified all over the world — UK, South Africa and Brazil — WHO assured people that while the new variant can bring a surge in cases, it can also be blamed on lapses in behaviour than the mutations.

"On variants, (the committee) called for a global expansion of genomic sequencing and sharing of data, along with greater scientific collaboration to address critical unknowns," the WHO said.

Kerkhove also addressed the concern of new mutations in her briefing and said, "It's not just as simple to say we've identified a mutation... there needs to be a system in place to understand what each of these mutations mean what these variants mean and how it impacts the behavior of the virus."

The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries to cooperate with each other rather than playing the blame game about the origin of the deadly coronavirus, warning that the 'patient zero' might never be found.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries to cooperate with each other rather than playing the blame game about the origin of the deadly coronavirus, warning that the 'patient zero' might never be found. "We need to be very careful about the use of the phrase ‘patient zero’ which many people indicate as the first initial case. We may never find who the patient zero was," Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO, technical lead on COVID-19 said in a press conference. Also read| China says latest COVID outbreak is due to foreign travellers "We may never find who patient zero was. What we need to do is follow the science and follow the studies," she added. "We need to be careful about the use of the phrase patient zero, which many people indicate as the first initial case. We may never find who patient zero was. What we need to do is follow the science and follow the studies," -@mvankerkhove on @WHO's #COVID19 mission to #China. pic.twitter.com/orFtof9PKy — Global Health Strategies (@GHS) January 15, 2021 × The statement has come at a time when WHO's team of expert scientists have gone to China's Wuhan — the original epicentre of the virus — to investigate the origin of coronavirus, which is alleged to be Wuhan. Also read| Global COVID death toll crosses 2 million Kerkhove also warned people to keep following the basic safety measures such as hand sanitisation, face masks and social distancing till the virus is completely in control. "We have to be part of the collective action towards ending the pandemic," she said. "We have to prevent ourselves from getting infected and if we do get infected, make sure the virus stops with us and we don't allow it to pass to someone else." Talking about the different variants which have been identified all over the world — UK, South Africa and Brazil — WHO assured people that while the new variant can bring a surge in cases, it can also be blamed on lapses in behaviour than the mutations. "On variants, (the committee) called for a global expansion of genomic sequencing and sharing of data, along with greater scientific collaboration to address critical unknowns," the WHO said. Kerkhove also addressed the concern of new mutations in her briefing and said, "It's not just as simple to say we've identified a mutation... there needs to be a system in place to understand what each of these mutations mean what these variants mean and how it impacts the behavior of the virus."

'We may never find patient zero': WHO urges countries to cooperate

China is trying to rebrand Wuhan, the city of the novel coronavirus.

The regime of President Xi Jinping is trying its best to dissociate Wuhan from the deadly virus.

Watch&nbsp;|

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-china-tries-to-rebrand-wuhan-356771/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

It is holding an exhibition to pain Wuhan as a victim of the virus and not its epicentre.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-reports-first-coronavirus-death-in-eight-months-as-who-team-arrives-356538">China reports first coronavirus death in eight months as WHO team arrives</a>

China is celebrating Wuhan's sacrifice, struggles and courage and is celebrating Wuhan's medical staff and how they fought the outbreak.&nbsp;

However, the exhibition has no mention of whistleblower Ai Fen or Zhang Yongzhen.

Yongzhen is the doctor who went against the wishes of Xi and shared the genome with the world.

The wall of martyrs does include Dr Li Wenliang, but it doesn't say how he was hounded by the government.&nbsp;

The internet is also being filled with terms like 'first anniversary' on January 23, the first day of the Wuhan lockdown.

<h2>The questions remain</h2>

Wuhan should be praised for bouncing back, but there are several crucial questions that need to be addressed.&nbsp;

These questions include: what led to the Wuhan outbreak, who is responsible for it, is the virus man-made, what role did the Wuhan Institue of Virology play?

China is trying to hide these questions by rebranding the city.&nbsp;

A team of experts from the World Health Organization arrived in Wuhan today.

They will enter a two-week quarantine before they can begin their probe.

In other words, China gets 14 more days to whitewash people's memories and crime scenes.

The WHO's team has 10 members, their job is to find the origin of the virus.&nbsp;

It will be challenging for this team to find the true origins as China has not even assured the team a visit to the Wuhan lab.&nbsp;

WHO is complaining sometimes, but mostly helping China maintain its shroud of secrecy.&nbsp;

Beijing is also not sharing the itinerary of the visit and the WHO is playing along, suggesting that it will be difficult for the world to know the places the team visited.&nbsp;

The Xi regime controlled all research related to the outbreak and the scientists were not allowed to speak to the press.&nbsp;

In July, Wuhan was suddenly flooded, perhaps it was needed to wash out all the evidence.&nbsp;

The WHO says it is trying to build "a better, healthier future for people all over the world", but it's actions show otherwise.&nbsp;

<h2>Return of Covid-19</h2>

Meanwhile, China recorded 138 infections today, its highest single-day tally since March 2020.&nbsp;

It also confirmed its first virus death since May last year.&nbsp;

At least 20 million people are under a lockdown in the province of Hebei with its capital city Shijiazhuang becoming the latest epicentre.&nbsp;

Neighbouring Xingtai, home to seven million people has been locked down for almost a week now.&nbsp;

The infections have spread to Heilongjiang where daily cases have tripled.

The province has declared an emergency with its 37.5 million residents being told not to leave the province until absolutely necessary.&nbsp;

This started a week after Xi declared China's victory over Covid-19, beamed images of new year parties without masks.&nbsp;

This is a deja vu moment as the Wuhan outbreak also started in a similar fashion.&nbsp;

China should know that traces can be hidden with holograms, but not a deadly virus that is transmitting.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

China is trying to rebrand Wuhan, the city of the novel coronavirus. The regime of President Xi Jinping is trying its best to dissociate Wuhan from the deadly virus.

China is trying to rebrand Wuhan, the city of the novel coronavirus. The regime of President Xi Jinping is trying its best to dissociate Wuhan from the deadly virus. Watch | It is holding an exhibition to pain Wuhan as a victim of the virus and not its epicentre. Also read | China reports first coronavirus death in eight months as WHO team arrives China is celebrating Wuhan's sacrifice, struggles and courage and is celebrating Wuhan's medical staff and how they fought the outbreak. However, the exhibition has no mention of whistleblower Ai Fen or Zhang Yongzhen. Yongzhen is the doctor who went against the wishes of Xi and shared the genome with the world. The wall of martyrs does include Dr Li Wenliang, but it doesn't say how he was hounded by the government. The internet is also being filled with terms like 'first anniversary' on January 23, the first day of the Wuhan lockdown. The questions remain Wuhan should be praised for bouncing back, but there are several crucial questions that need to be addressed. These questions include: what led to the Wuhan outbreak, who is responsible for it, is the virus man-made, what role did the Wuhan Institue of Virology play? China is trying to hide these questions by rebranding the city. A team of experts from the World Health Organization arrived in Wuhan today. They will enter a two-week quarantine before they can begin their probe. In other words, China gets 14 more days to whitewash people's memories and crime scenes. The WHO's team has 10 members, their job is to find the origin of the virus. It will be challenging for this team to find the true origins as China has not even assured the team a visit to the Wuhan lab. WHO is complaining sometimes, but mostly helping China maintain its shroud of secrecy. Beijing is also not sharing the itinerary of the visit and the WHO is playing along, suggesting that it will be difficult for the world to know the places the team visited. The Xi regime controlled all research related to the outbreak and the scientists were not allowed to speak to the press. In July, Wuhan was suddenly flooded, perhaps it was needed to wash out all the evidence. The WHO says it is trying to build "a better, healthier future for people all over the world", but it's actions show otherwise. Return of Covid-19 Meanwhile, China recorded 138 infections today, its highest single-day tally since March 2020. It also confirmed its first virus death since May last year. At least 20 million people are under a lockdown in the province of Hebei with its capital city Shijiazhuang becoming the latest epicentre. Neighbouring Xingtai, home to seven million people has been locked down for almost a week now. The infections have spread to Heilongjiang where daily cases have tripled. The province has declared an emergency with its 37.5 million residents being told not to leave the province until absolutely necessary. This started a week after Xi declared China's victory over Covid-19, beamed images of new year parties without masks. This is a deja vu moment as the Wuhan outbreak also started in a similar fashion. China should know that traces can be hidden with holograms, but not a deadly virus that is transmitting.

The rebranding of Wuhan despite unanswered crucial questions

The WHO has distorted India's map to depict Jammu & Kashmir as non-Indian territory. But the distortion is not limited to the health body. From American Universities to Bollywood films to Wikipedia, India's map has been wrongly depicted several times.

Gravitas: The distortion of India's map

The W.H.O team has landed in Wuhan to probe the origin of the virus. But China may not let the experts visit the Wuhan lab. What's more - China is rebranding Wuhan.

Gravitas: China tries to rebrand Wuhan

The World Health Organization experts have arrived in Wuhan to initiate investigations into COVID-19 origin. This visit is a significant one because it comes amidst the sudden resurgence of the infections.

W.H.O team finally arrives in Wuhan to begin the COVID-19 origin probe

India has strongly raised the issue of inaccurate depiction of Indian map showing union territories of J&amp;K &amp; Ladakh separately by the World Health Organisation (WHO).&nbsp;

The matter was raised by Indian envoy to UN in Geneva Indramani Pandey with WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

In the letter the top Indian diplomat expressed his "deep displeasure" at the "inaccurate depiction of the boundaries of India in the maps of various web portals of WHO."

He called Tedros for "immediate intervention" and "removal of maps" which have been inaccurately depicting the boundaries of India and replacing them with "accurate maps".

It is the third time India has raised the matter with the WHO in a matter of month. The previous two Indian mission to the UN in Geneva had written to Tedros and now with the envoy himself has raised the issue

The Indian envoy in the letter said: &nbsp;"I draw your attention to our previous messages sent to WHO pointing out similar inaccuracies."

Earlier this month WION had reached out to the WHO on the wrongful depiction of the Indian map with the body distancing itself and putting the responsibility on the UN.

WHO told WION that its "approach is to follow UN guidelines and practice regarding maps as far as possible"

Explaining, "WHO, as a UN specialized agency, follows the United Nations on the representation of territories and boundaries on maps because the United Nations is entrusted with addressing issues involving matters of geo-politics for the UN system."

India has strongly raised the issue of inaccurate depiction of Indian map showing union territories of J&K & Ladakh separately by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

India has strongly raised the issue of inaccurate depiction of Indian map showing union territories of J&K & Ladakh separately by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The matter was raised by Indian envoy to UN in Geneva Indramani Pandey with WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. In the letter the top Indian diplomat expressed his "deep displeasure" at the "inaccurate depiction of the boundaries of India in the maps of various web portals of WHO." He called Tedros for "immediate intervention" and "removal of maps" which have been inaccurately depicting the boundaries of India and replacing them with "accurate maps". It is the third time India has raised the matter with the WHO in a matter of month. The previous two Indian mission to the UN in Geneva had written to Tedros and now with the envoy himself has raised the issue The Indian envoy in the letter said: "I draw your attention to our previous messages sent to WHO pointing out similar inaccuracies." Earlier this month WION had reached out to the WHO on the wrongful depiction of the Indian map with the body distancing itself and putting the responsibility on the UN. WHO told WION that its "approach is to follow UN guidelines and practice regarding maps as far as possible" Explaining, "WHO, as a UN specialized agency, follows the United Nations on the representation of territories and boundaries on maps because the United Nations is entrusted with addressing issues involving matters of geo-politics for the UN system."

Government raises inaccurate depiction of Indian map with WHO chief Tedros; calls for immediate removal

A World Health Organization delegation is set to visit the Chinese city of Wuhan tomorrow to understand the origins of the pandemic. A team member on Wednesday claimed that the team will spend a month in Wuhan, including two weeks in quarantine.

A Vietnamese biologist - Hung Nguyen told Reuters that the team was not expecting any roadblocks in the work in China. On Thursday, the team will fly from Singapore to Wuhan, where the first instance of COVID-19 was recorded in late 2019.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-wuhan-over-75-of-hospitalised-patients-still-suffer-from-covid-symptoms-356331/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Countries have called for an investigation into the origins of the virus, and have accused China of downplaying the severity of the virus, with the US claiming that this shortcoming caused the virus to spread globally.

The US had also criticised Chinese experts who had undertaken the first phase of research. 
 
"My understanding is in fact there is no limit in accessing the information we might need for the team," Hung told Reuters.&nbsp;

However, he did add the following - "We will see. We are not in China yet."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/herd-immunity-will-not-be-reached-in-2021-despite-vaccines-says-whos-soumya-swaminathan-356159" hreflang="en">Herd immunity will not be reached in 2021 despite vaccines, says WHO's Soumya Swaminathan</a>

Over the last few months, the WHO team has been conducting virtual meetings with researchers in China, in preparation for the trip.

WHO's chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had claimed that the organisation is looking forward to working with China, hoping to identify the source of the pandemic.

The organisation's chief also claimed to have been "very disappointed" upon realising that China had denied authorisation to let in experts earlier in January, which caused two members to return. China claims that a "misunderstanding" had led to this.

The team will quarantine in a Wuhan hotel for two weeks, after which they will spend another two weeks interviewing people from various research institutes, hospitals, and wet markets in Wuhan, where the virus is believed to have emerged.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/chinese-critic-who-urged-us-to-tear-down-chinas-censorship-jailed-355629" hreflang="en">Chinese critic who urged US to 'tear down' China's censorship jailed</a>

In addition, the team is slated to stay in Wuhan for the majority of their trip.

The WHO had claimed that it is not looking for "culprits", and is ready to go "anywhere and everywhere" to find the source of the virus. 
Recently, China has been aggressively pushing the narrative of COVID-19 originating not in the country, but in Europe. It based these claims on the discovery of virus on imported frozen food packaging, and by putting forward scientific papers which posit that the virus has been making the rounds in Europe since 2019. 
&nbsp;

A World Health Organization delegation is set to visit the Chinese city of Wuhan tomorrow to understand the origins of the pandemic. A team member on Wednesday claimed that the team will spend a month in Wuhan, including two weeks in quarantine.

A World Health Organization delegation is set to visit the Chinese city of Wuhan tomorrow to understand the origins of the pandemic. A team member on Wednesday claimed that the team will spend a month in Wuhan, including two weeks in quarantine. A Vietnamese biologist - Hung Nguyen told Reuters that the team was not expecting any roadblocks in the work in China. On Thursday, the team will fly from Singapore to Wuhan, where the first instance of COVID-19 was recorded in late 2019. Countries have called for an investigation into the origins of the virus, and have accused China of downplaying the severity of the virus, with the US claiming that this shortcoming caused the virus to spread globally. The US had also criticised Chinese experts who had undertaken the first phase of research. "My understanding is in fact there is no limit in accessing the information we might need for the team," Hung told Reuters. However, he did add the following - "We will see. We are not in China yet." Also read: Herd immunity will not be reached in 2021 despite vaccines, says WHO's Soumya Swaminathan Over the last few months, the WHO team has been conducting virtual meetings with researchers in China, in preparation for the trip. WHO's chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had claimed that the organisation is looking forward to working with China, hoping to identify the source of the pandemic. The organisation's chief also claimed to have been "very disappointed" upon realising that China had denied authorisation to let in experts earlier in January, which caused two members to return. China claims that a "misunderstanding" had led to this. The team will quarantine in a Wuhan hotel for two weeks, after which they will spend another two weeks interviewing people from various research institutes, hospitals, and wet markets in Wuhan, where the virus is believed to have emerged. Also read: Chinese critic who urged US to 'tear down' China's censorship jailed In addition, the team is slated to stay in Wuhan for the majority of their trip. The WHO had claimed that it is not looking for "culprits", and is ready to go "anywhere and everywhere" to find the source of the virus. Recently, China has been aggressively pushing the narrative of COVID-19 originating not in the country, but in Europe. It based these claims on the discovery of virus on imported frozen food packaging, and by putting forward scientific papers which posit that the virus has been making the rounds in Europe since 2019.

'No limit' for WHO team visiting Wuhan, says delegation member

The hopes of an inoculation drive in poor nations now hinge on access to vaccine supplies. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has redoubled pleas for vaccine makers to provide COVID-19 shots to its COVAX programme for poor nations.

WHO: Inoculation drive in poor nations hinges on vaccine supplies

Dr Tedros used his first press conference of the year to criticise China. The WHO chief said China hasn't given permission to UN investigators to probe the origins of the Wuhan Virus.

Gravitas: Why Dr Tedros is unhappy with China

Microsoft co-founder BillGates & W.H.O chief Tedros Adhanom have praised India's efforts to launch a vaccine. Meanwhile, A medical association in Brazil has called Bharat Biotech's Covaxin 'very promising'.

Gravitas: Global support for India's vaccination programme

The head of the World Health Organization said on Tuesday he was "very disappointed" that China has still not authorised the entry of a team of international experts to examine the origins of the coronavirus.

The 10-strong team had been due to set off in early January as part of a long-awaited mission to probe early cases of the coronavirus, first reported over a year ago in China's Wuhan.

"Today we learned that Chinese officials have not yet finalised the necessary permissions for the team's arrival in China," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told an online news conference in Geneva.

"I have been in contact with senior Chinese officials and I have once again made it clear the mission is a priority for the WHO," he said of the trip he said was developed with Beijing.

The mission was due to be led by Peter Ben Embarek, WHO's top expert on animal diseases that cross the species barrier, who went to China on a preliminary mission last July.

Two members of the international team had already set out on their journey to China. One has now turned back and the other is in transit in a third country, emergencies chief Mike Ryan said.

However, he added: "We trust and hope that is just a logistic and bureaucratic issue that can be resolved very quickly."

Ahead of the trip, Beijing has been seeking to shape the narrative about when and where the pandemic began, with senior diplomat Wang Yi saying "more and more studies" showed that it emerged in multiple regions. Ryan has previously called this "highly speculative".

China has dismissed criticism of its handling of early cases that emerged in late 2019, although some including U.S. President Donald Trump have questioned Beijing's actions during the outbreak.

Washington, which has announced plans to leave the WHO, has called for a "transparent" investigation and criticised its terms under which Chinese experts conducted the first phase of research.

The head of the World Health Organization said on Tuesday he was "very disappointed" that China has still not authorised the entry of a team of international experts to examine the origins of the coronavirus.

The head of the World Health Organization said on Tuesday he was "very disappointed" that China has still not authorised the entry of a team of international experts to examine the origins of the coronavirus. The 10-strong team had been due to set off in early January as part of a long-awaited mission to probe early cases of the coronavirus, first reported over a year ago in China's Wuhan. "Today we learned that Chinese officials have not yet finalised the necessary permissions for the team's arrival in China," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told an online news conference in Geneva. "I have been in contact with senior Chinese officials and I have once again made it clear the mission is a priority for the WHO," he said of the trip he said was developed with Beijing. The mission was due to be led by Peter Ben Embarek, WHO's top expert on animal diseases that cross the species barrier, who went to China on a preliminary mission last July. Two members of the international team had already set out on their journey to China. One has now turned back and the other is in transit in a third country, emergencies chief Mike Ryan said. However, he added: "We trust and hope that is just a logistic and bureaucratic issue that can be resolved very quickly." Ahead of the trip, Beijing has been seeking to shape the narrative about when and where the pandemic began, with senior diplomat Wang Yi saying "more and more studies" showed that it emerged in multiple regions. Ryan has previously called this "highly speculative". China has dismissed criticism of its handling of early cases that emerged in late 2019, although some including U.S. President Donald Trump have questioned Beijing's actions during the outbreak. Washington, which has announced plans to leave the WHO, has called for a "transparent" investigation and criticised its terms under which Chinese experts conducted the first phase of research.

WHO ‘very disappointed’ China hasn't granted entry to Covid experts

The head of the World Health Organisation (W.H.O.) said that he is very disappointed as China once again has delayed the investigation into the origin of the Coronavirus pandemic.

W.H.O chief says, 'very disappointed as China delays the probe into COVID-19 origin'

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday granted emergency validation to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, paving the way for countries worldwide to quickly approve its import and distribution.&nbsp;

Britain launched its inoculation drive with the US-German vaccine on December 8, with the United States, Canada and EU countries following suit.

WHO said the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was the first to receive its "emergency validation" since the novel coronavirus first broke out in China a year ago.

WHO said its emergency use listing opens the way for regulators in different countries to approve the import and distribution of the vaccine.

It said it also enables UNICEF, which plays a key logistical role in distributing anti-Covid vaccines, and the Pan-American Health Organisation to procure the vaccine for countries that need it.

WHO convened its own experts and those from around the world to review the data on the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine’s "safety, efficacy and quality," weighing the benefits against the risks.

"The review found that the vaccine met the must-have criteria for safety and efficacy set out by WHO, and that the benefits of using the vaccine to address COVID-19 offset potential risks," it said.

(with inputs from AFP)

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday granted emergency validation to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, paving the way for countries worldwide to quickly approve its import and distribution.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday granted emergency validation to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, paving the way for countries worldwide to quickly approve its import and distribution. Britain launched its inoculation drive with the US-German vaccine on December 8, with the United States, Canada and EU countries following suit. WHO said the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was the first to receive its "emergency validation" since the novel coronavirus first broke out in China a year ago. WHO said its emergency use listing opens the way for regulators in different countries to approve the import and distribution of the vaccine. It said it also enables UNICEF, which plays a key logistical role in distributing anti-Covid vaccines, and the Pan-American Health Organisation to procure the vaccine for countries that need it. WHO convened its own experts and those from around the world to review the data on the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine’s "safety, efficacy and quality," weighing the benefits against the risks. "The review found that the vaccine met the must-have criteria for safety and efficacy set out by WHO, and that the benefits of using the vaccine to address COVID-19 offset potential risks," it said. (with inputs from AFP)

WHO grants 'emergency validation' to Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine

Covid-19 has killed nearly 1.8 million people around the world, out of over 80 million infected.

'COVID-19 not the big one, it's a wake up call', says WHO

World Health Organisation Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that coronavirus crisis will not be the last pandemic, and attempts to improve human health is "doomed" without tackling climate change and animal welfare.

"History tells us that this will not be the last pandemic, and epidemics are a fact of life... The pandemic has highlighted the intimate links between the health of humans, animals and planet... Any efforts to improve human health are doomed unless they address the critical interface between humans and animals, and the existential threat of climate change that's making our earth less habitable," said Ghebreyesus.

In a video message marking the first International Day of Epidemic Preparedness, Ghebreyesus said that it is time to learn lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. "For too long, the world has operated on a cycle of panic and neglect... We throw money at an outbreak, and when it's over, we forget about it and do nothing to prevent the next one. This is dangerously short-sighted, and frankly difficult to understand," he said.

The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board's September 2019 first annual report on global readiness for health emergencies that was released a few months before the pandemic broke out said that the planet was woefully underprepared for a potentially devastating pandemic.&nbsp;

Ghebreyesus said that the world has turned upside-down in the past 12 months. He pointed out that the impacts of the pandemic has gone far beyond the disease itself, with "far-reaching consequences for societies and economies". He added that the coronavirus pandemic should not have come as a surprise considering all the repeated warnings. "We must all learn the lessons the pandemic is teaching us," he said.&nbsp;

The WHO chief said that the countries must invest in preparedness capacities to prevent, detect and mitigate emergencies of all kinds and called for stronger primary health care provision. He said that through investments in public health countries can ensure children inherit a safer, more resilient and sustainable world.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

World Health Organisation Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that coronavirus crisis will not be the last pandemic, and attempts to improve human health is "doomed" without tackling climate change and animal welfare.

World Health Organisation Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that coronavirus crisis will not be the last pandemic, and attempts to improve human health is "doomed" without tackling climate change and animal welfare. "History tells us that this will not be the last pandemic, and epidemics are a fact of life... The pandemic has highlighted the intimate links between the health of humans, animals and planet... Any efforts to improve human health are doomed unless they address the critical interface between humans and animals, and the existential threat of climate change that's making our earth less habitable," said Ghebreyesus. In a video message marking the first International Day of Epidemic Preparedness, Ghebreyesus said that it is time to learn lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. "For too long, the world has operated on a cycle of panic and neglect... We throw money at an outbreak, and when it's over, we forget about it and do nothing to prevent the next one. This is dangerously short-sighted, and frankly difficult to understand," he said. The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board's September 2019 first annual report on global readiness for health emergencies that was released a few months before the pandemic broke out said that the planet was woefully underprepared for a potentially devastating pandemic. Ghebreyesus said that the world has turned upside-down in the past 12 months. He pointed out that the impacts of the pandemic has gone far beyond the disease itself, with "far-reaching consequences for societies and economies". He added that the coronavirus pandemic should not have come as a surprise considering all the repeated warnings. "We must all learn the lessons the pandemic is teaching us," he said. The WHO chief said that the countries must invest in preparedness capacities to prevent, detect and mitigate emergencies of all kinds and called for stronger primary health care provision. He said that through investments in public health countries can ensure children inherit a safer, more resilient and sustainable world. (With inputs from agencies)

History tells us this won't be last pandemic, says WHO chief on coronavirus

The World Health Organization reported that the overuse of antibiotics to treat the coronavirus — sometimes unnecessarily — has caused the sexually transmitted infection to find a new way to thrive, reports The Sun. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-will-stay-with-us-for-the-next-10-years-says-vaccine-creator-351920">Also read | Coronavirus will stay with us for the next 10 years, says vaccine creator</a> 
 
The World Health Organisation clearly states the sexually transmitted infection (STI) may become even more resistant to the recommended treatments like azithromycin, which typically is used for chest and sinus infections. Azithromycin has seen an increase in usage during the pandemic. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-us-nurse-passes-out-after-getting-pfizer-biontechs-covid-19-vaccine-350712">Watch: US nurse passes out after getting Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine</a>

"Such a situation can fuel the emergence of resistance in gonorrhea including gonorrhea superbug (super gonorrhea) or gonorrhea with high-level resistance to current antibiotics recommended to treat it," a WHO spokesperson told British media outlet The Sun. &nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/four-trial-volunteers-who-got-pfizers-covid-19-vaccine-developed-bells-palsy-348547">Also read: Four trial volunteers who got Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine developed Bell's palsy</a> 
&nbsp; 
This so-called ‘Super Gonorrhea’ does not respond to the normal first-line treatments, making it particularly dangerous and uncomfortable for those afflicted. 
 
Doctors and medical experts have long warned of the possibility that “superbugs” that are antibiotic-resistant could become more commonplace, and this is one example of such a thing happening.

One reason the new strain is exploding is because most people aren’t going to the hospital unless they come down with COVID-19 symptoms. Instead they’re self-medicating, meaning, a WHO spokesperson told The Sun, that doctors aren’t catching this disease in time. And to make matters worse, “super gonorrhea” is extremely resistant to antibiotics.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said cases of gonorrhea, which is caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, have increased 63 per cent since 2014. The US agency has also warned that this could "facilitate transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)." Not only this, it can also cause eye infections.

In Europe, the UK has the highest gonorrhea rate and there are likely to be more than 420,000 new cases annually by 2030.

(With inputs from agencies)

The World Health Organization reported that the overuse of antibiotics to treat the coronavirus — sometimes unnecessarily — has caused the sexually transmitted infection to find a new way to thrive, reports The Sun.

The World Health Organization reported that the overuse of antibiotics to treat the coronavirus — sometimes unnecessarily — has caused the sexually transmitted infection to find a new way to thrive, reports The Sun. Also read | Coronavirus will stay with us for the next 10 years, says vaccine creator The World Health Organisation clearly states the sexually transmitted infection (STI) may become even more resistant to the recommended treatments like azithromycin, which typically is used for chest and sinus infections. Azithromycin has seen an increase in usage during the pandemic. Watch: US nurse passes out after getting Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine "Such a situation can fuel the emergence of resistance in gonorrhea including gonorrhea superbug (super gonorrhea) or gonorrhea with high-level resistance to current antibiotics recommended to treat it," a WHO spokesperson told British media outlet The Sun. Also read: Four trial volunteers who got Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine developed Bell's palsy This so-called ‘Super Gonorrhea’ does not respond to the normal first-line treatments, making it particularly dangerous and uncomfortable for those afflicted. Doctors and medical experts have long warned of the possibility that “superbugs” that are antibiotic-resistant could become more commonplace, and this is one example of such a thing happening. One reason the new strain is exploding is because most people aren’t going to the hospital unless they come down with COVID-19 symptoms. Instead they’re self-medicating, meaning, a WHO spokesperson told The Sun, that doctors aren’t catching this disease in time. And to make matters worse, “super gonorrhea” is extremely resistant to antibiotics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said cases of gonorrhea, which is caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, have increased 63 per cent since 2014. The US agency has also warned that this could "facilitate transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)." Not only this, it can also cause eye infections. In Europe, the UK has the highest gonorrhea rate and there are likely to be more than 420,000 new cases annually by 2030. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Super Gonorrhea’ on the rise due to Covid-19: WHO

World Health Organisation Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Sunday called on countries to make greater investment in their public health systems to make the world better prepared for future epidemics and pandemics.

"History tells us that this will not be the last pandemic, and epidemics are a fact of life," Ghebreyesus said in his message as the world marks the first ever International Day of Epidemic Preparedness on Sunday.

"But with investments in public health, supported by an all-of-government, all-of-society, one health approach, we can ensure that our children and their children inherit a safer, more resilient and more sustainable world," the WHO chief said.

The Covid-19 pandemic has underscored the need for investing in systems to prevent, detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks.

The first ever International Day of Epidemic Preparedness was called by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate the importance of the prevention of, preparedness for, and partnership against epidemics.

"With Covid-19 having now killed more than 1.7 million people, devastated economies, upended societies and exposed the world`s vulnerabilities in the starkest ways, the value of health emergency preparedness has hit home like never before," said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

"As we strive to control and recover from the current pandemic, we must think about the next. Unfortunately, it is easy to imagine a virus just as infectious but even more lethal."

The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness falls on the birthdate of Louis Pasteur, the French biologist responsible for ground-breaking work on vaccinations.

"Preparedness is a sound investment, costing far less than emergency expenditures. Societies need stronger health systems, including universal health coverage. People and families need more social protection," said the UN Secretary General.

"Communities on the frontlines need timely support. Countries need more effective technical cooperation. And we need to pay greater attention to the encroachment of people and livestock into animal habitats; 75 per cent of new and emerging human infectious diseases are zoonotic," he said.

World Health Organisation Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Sunday called on countries to make greater investment in their public health systems to make the world better prepared for future epidemics and pandemics.

World Health Organisation Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Sunday called on countries to make greater investment in their public health systems to make the world better prepared for future epidemics and pandemics. "History tells us that this will not be the last pandemic, and epidemics are a fact of life," Ghebreyesus said in his message as the world marks the first ever International Day of Epidemic Preparedness on Sunday. "But with investments in public health, supported by an all-of-government, all-of-society, one health approach, we can ensure that our children and their children inherit a safer, more resilient and more sustainable world," the WHO chief said. The Covid-19 pandemic has underscored the need for investing in systems to prevent, detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. The first ever International Day of Epidemic Preparedness was called by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate the importance of the prevention of, preparedness for, and partnership against epidemics. "With Covid-19 having now killed more than 1.7 million people, devastated economies, upended societies and exposed the world`s vulnerabilities in the starkest ways, the value of health emergency preparedness has hit home like never before," said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. "As we strive to control and recover from the current pandemic, we must think about the next. Unfortunately, it is easy to imagine a virus just as infectious but even more lethal." The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness falls on the birthdate of Louis Pasteur, the French biologist responsible for ground-breaking work on vaccinations. "Preparedness is a sound investment, costing far less than emergency expenditures. Societies need stronger health systems, including universal health coverage. People and families need more social protection," said the UN Secretary General. "Communities on the frontlines need timely support. Countries need more effective technical cooperation. And we need to pay greater attention to the encroachment of people and livestock into animal habitats; 75 per cent of new and emerging human infectious diseases are zoonotic," he said.

WHO chief calls for more investments in public health

New strain now wreaking havoc across the world. While children have mostly been safe from the virus all this, while this new mutation is more likely to infect them, according to experts.

'Children more likely to contract the new strain of novel coronavirus', says WHO

WION Fineprint: New COVID-19 strain may infect children more easily

Several European countries such as Belgium and Germany are imposing travel bans on all the incoming flights from the UK and South Africa to make sure the new variant does not get transmitted to their countries.

'Not out of control', says WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom over new 'Covid-19 variant'

The new coronavirus variant discovered in Britain with a higher transmission rate is not yet out of control and can be contained using existing measures, the World Health Organization said on Monday.

"We have had a much higher (contamination rate) at different points in this pandemic and we've got it under control," WHO's emergencies chief Michael Ryan told a press conference.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/it-works-against-new-variant-too-eu-approves-pfizer-biontech-coronavirus-vaccine-351418">'It works against new variant too': EU approves Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine</a>

"So this situation is not in that sense out of control. But it cannot be left to its own devices."

British Health Secretary Matt Hancock had earlier claimed the new variant was "out of control", with British officials saying it was 70 percent more transmissible than the main strain.

"The measures we currently have in place are the correct measures," Ryan said.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/another-milestone-us-administers-first-moderna-covid-19-vaccines-351449" hreflang="en">Another milestone: US administers first Moderna COVID-19 vaccines</a>

"We need to do what we have been doing, we may just have to do it with a little more intensity and for a little longer to make sure we can bring this virus under control."

Roughly 30 countries shut their borders to people travelling from Britain or South Africa — where another variant has emerged — to stop any further spread.

"In some senses, it means we have to work harder," Ryan said. "Even if the virus has become a little bit more efficient in spreading, the virus can be stopped."

The new coronavirus variant discovered in Britain with a higher transmission rate is not yet out of control and can be contained using existing measures, the World Health Organization said on Monday.

The new coronavirus variant discovered in Britain with a higher transmission rate is not yet out of control and can be contained using existing measures, the World Health Organization said on Monday. "We have had a much higher (contamination rate) at different points in this pandemic and we've got it under control," WHO's emergencies chief Michael Ryan told a press conference. Also read| 'It works against new variant too': EU approves Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine "So this situation is not in that sense out of control. But it cannot be left to its own devices." British Health Secretary Matt Hancock had earlier claimed the new variant was "out of control", with British officials saying it was 70 percent more transmissible than the main strain. "The measures we currently have in place are the correct measures," Ryan said. Also read| Another milestone: US administers first Moderna COVID-19 vaccines "We need to do what we have been doing, we may just have to do it with a little more intensity and for a little longer to make sure we can bring this virus under control." Roughly 30 countries shut their borders to people travelling from Britain or South Africa — where another variant has emerged — to stop any further spread. "In some senses, it means we have to work harder," Ryan said. "Even if the virus has become a little bit more efficient in spreading, the virus can be stopped."

New coronavirus variant not out of control, says WHO

World Health Organisation has appealed its members in Europe to take strong measures against the new strain of coronavirus circulating in UK. Outside, 9 cases caused due to the new COVID-19 strain have been detected in Denmark. One case has been found in the Netherlands while another has been found in Australia.

"Across Europe, where transmission is intense and widespread, countries need to redouble their control and prevention approaches," a spokeswoman for WHO Europe said.

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Sunday that the new coronavirus was "out of control". UK has announced Tier-4 lockdown in the country.

Meanwhile, several European countries such as Belgium and Germany are imposing travel bans on all the incoming flights from the UK and South Africa to make sure the new variant does not get transmitted to their countries.

(With AFP inputs)

World Health Organisation has appealed its members in Europe to take strong measures against the new strain of coronavirus circulating in UK. Outside, 9 cases caused due to the new COVID-19 strain have been detected in Denmark.

World Health Organisation has appealed its members in Europe to take strong measures against the new strain of coronavirus circulating in UK. Outside, 9 cases caused due to the new COVID-19 strain have been detected in Denmark. One case has been found in the Netherlands while another has been found in Australia. "Across Europe, where transmission is intense and widespread, countries need to redouble their control and prevention approaches," a spokeswoman for WHO Europe said. UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Sunday that the new coronavirus was "out of control". UK has announced Tier-4 lockdown in the country. Meanwhile, several European countries such as Belgium and Germany are imposing travel bans on all the incoming flights from the UK and South Africa to make sure the new variant does not get transmitted to their countries. (With AFP inputs)

New coronavirus strain: WHO appeals for strong action for containment in Europe

World Health Organization (W.H.O) will dispatch about 2 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses to poor countries. Watch this video to know more.

W.H.O creates COVAX program for all poor countries

Officials from the World Health Organisation (WHO) have said an international team led by the UN agency will visit China in the first week of January to investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mike Ryan, WHO's top emergency expert, said international experts would go to the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where the first cases of COVID-19 were detected last December.

"We still don't have a take-off date because we are working on the logistics around visas and flights. We do expect the team to be going there in the first week of January. There will be quarantine arrangements," Ryan told a news conference.

"The team will visit Wuhan, that's the purpose of the mission. The point of the mission is to go to the original point at which human cases were detected. They'll fully expect to do that," he added.

Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO technical lead on COVID-19, said the agency was in touch with South African researchers who identified a new variant of the SARS-CoV2 virus.

Since the virus first emerged a year ago, the overall number of global coronavirus cases has topped 75.5 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 1.67 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

In its latest update on Saturday, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 75,588,781 and 1,672,826, respectively.

The US is the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 17,442,180 and 313,246, respectively, according to the CSSE.

In terms of infections, India ranks second with 10,004,599 cases, followed by Brazil with 7,162,978.

Brazil currently accounts for the second highest death toll with 185,650 fatalities, while India is in the third place with 145,136 deaths.

Officials from the World Health Organisation (WHO) have said an international team led by the UN agency will visit China in the first week of January to investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.

Officials from the World Health Organisation (WHO) have said an international team led by the UN agency will visit China in the first week of January to investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic. Mike Ryan, WHO's top emergency expert, said international experts would go to the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where the first cases of COVID-19 were detected last December. "We still don't have a take-off date because we are working on the logistics around visas and flights. We do expect the team to be going there in the first week of January. There will be quarantine arrangements," Ryan told a news conference. "The team will visit Wuhan, that's the purpose of the mission. The point of the mission is to go to the original point at which human cases were detected. They'll fully expect to do that," he added. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO technical lead on COVID-19, said the agency was in touch with South African researchers who identified a new variant of the SARS-CoV2 virus. Since the virus first emerged a year ago, the overall number of global coronavirus cases has topped 75.5 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 1.67 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University. In its latest update on Saturday, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 75,588,781 and 1,672,826, respectively. The US is the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 17,442,180 and 313,246, respectively, according to the CSSE. In terms of infections, India ranks second with 10,004,599 cases, followed by Brazil with 7,162,978. Brazil currently accounts for the second highest death toll with 185,650 fatalities, while India is in the third place with 145,136 deaths.

WHO investigators to head to China in early Jan to probe coronavirus outbreak

World Health Organisation's (WHO) team of international scientists will travel to the Chinese city of Wuhan in the month of January to investigate the origins of the Novel Coronavirus.

WHO's international team to probe Coronavirus origin

Residents in Wuhan said on Thursday (December 17) they would welcome investigators from the World Health Organization (WHO) to visit their city and look into the origins of COVID-19 after the global health body announced an international team of coronavirus investigators would travel to China in January.

Wuhan residents welcome WHO investigators to visit their city

An international mission led by the World Health Organization (WHO) is expected to go to China in the first week of January to investigate the origins of the virus that sparked the COVID-19 pandemic, a member and diplomats told Reuters on Wednesday.

The United States, which has accused China of having hidden the outbreak`s extent, has called for a "transparent" WHO-led investigation and criticised its terms, which allowed Chinese scientists to do the first phase of preliminary research.

China reported the first cases of a pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan, central China, to the WHO on Dec. 31 and closed a market where the novel coronavirus is believed to have emerged.

Health ministers called on the WHO in May to identify the source of the virus and how it crossed the species barrier.

Now a team of 12-15 international experts is finally preparing to go to Wuhan to examine evidence, including human and animal samples collected by Chinese researchers, and to build on their initial studies.

Thea Fischer, a Danish member, said that the team would leave "just after New Year`s" for a six-week mission, including two weeks of quarantine on arrival.

"Phase 1 was supposed to be completed by now, according to the terms of reference, and we should have some results. If that`s what we get when we come to China...that would be fantastic. Then we are already in phase 2," she told Reuters.

Keith Hamilton, an expert at the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) who will take part, told reporters on Tuesday: "I anticipate the mission will take place quite soon."

WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said in an emailed reply to Reuters inquiry that the international team was working on logistical arrangements to travel to China as soon as possible. "We hope the team will be able to travel in January," he said.

A Western diplomat said that the team was expected to leave in early January, ahead of WHO`s executive board opening on Jan. 18, adding: "There is strong pressure on China and on WHO."

NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK

Hamilton said a similar but not identical virus was identified in a horseshoe bat, indicating that it was transmitted first to an animal, or intermediate host, before infecting humans.

"When we are doing animal surveillance, it`s difficult, it`s rather like looking for a needle in a haystack," he said. 
Peter Ben Embarek, the WHO`s top expert in animal diseases, said last month the mission would like to interview market workers about how they were infected with the virus.

"There is nothing to indicate that it would be man-made," he added.

Chinese state media have suggested the virus existed abroad before it was discovered in Wuhan, citing its presence on imported frozen food packaging and scientific papers claiming it had been circulating in Europe last year.

Some Western countries have voiced concern at the delay in sending international experts.

One senior Western diplomat complained of a lack of transparency while experts were not on the ground talking to clinicians and researchers or inspecting lab samples.

But another Western diplomat said that the mission was on a "good footing" and that the WHO had to accept China`s terms to secure access.

An international mission led by the World Health Organization (WHO) is expected to go to China in the first week of January to investigate the origins of the virus that sparked the COVID-19 pandemic, a member and diplomats told Reuters on Wednesday.

An international mission led by the World Health Organization (WHO) is expected to go to China in the first week of January to investigate the origins of the virus that sparked the COVID-19 pandemic, a member and diplomats told Reuters on Wednesday. The United States, which has accused China of having hidden the outbreak`s extent, has called for a "transparent" WHO-led investigation and criticised its terms, which allowed Chinese scientists to do the first phase of preliminary research. China reported the first cases of a pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan, central China, to the WHO on Dec. 31 and closed a market where the novel coronavirus is believed to have emerged. Health ministers called on the WHO in May to identify the source of the virus and how it crossed the species barrier. Now a team of 12-15 international experts is finally preparing to go to Wuhan to examine evidence, including human and animal samples collected by Chinese researchers, and to build on their initial studies. Thea Fischer, a Danish member, said that the team would leave "just after New Year`s" for a six-week mission, including two weeks of quarantine on arrival. "Phase 1 was supposed to be completed by now, according to the terms of reference, and we should have some results. If that`s what we get when we come to China...that would be fantastic. Then we are already in phase 2," she told Reuters. Keith Hamilton, an expert at the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) who will take part, told reporters on Tuesday: "I anticipate the mission will take place quite soon." WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said in an emailed reply to Reuters inquiry that the international team was working on logistical arrangements to travel to China as soon as possible. "We hope the team will be able to travel in January," he said. A Western diplomat said that the team was expected to leave in early January, ahead of WHO`s executive board opening on Jan. 18, adding: "There is strong pressure on China and on WHO." NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK Hamilton said a similar but not identical virus was identified in a horseshoe bat, indicating that it was transmitted first to an animal, or intermediate host, before infecting humans. "When we are doing animal surveillance, it`s difficult, it`s rather like looking for a needle in a haystack," he said. Peter Ben Embarek, the WHO`s top expert in animal diseases, said last month the mission would like to interview market workers about how they were infected with the virus. "There is nothing to indicate that it would be man-made," he added. Chinese state media have suggested the virus existed abroad before it was discovered in Wuhan, citing its presence on imported frozen food packaging and scientific papers claiming it had been circulating in Europe last year. Some Western countries have voiced concern at the delay in sending international experts. One senior Western diplomat complained of a lack of transparency while experts were not on the ground talking to clinicians and researchers or inspecting lab samples. But another Western diplomat said that the mission was on a "good footing" and that the WHO had to accept China`s terms to secure access.

WHO-led team expected in China in January to probe COVID-19 origins

The World Health Organization (WHO) regional office for the Western Pacific on Thursday called for greater vigilance amid the roll-out of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, saying the vaccine is not a "silver bullet" that will end the nearly year-long pandemic which has already killed over 1.6 million.

"Whoever you are, wherever you live, as long as the virus is circulating somewhere, we all remain at risk, and we must keep preparing for the worst-case scenario," WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific Takeshi Kasai said in a virtual media briefing.

Kasai appealed to the younger and socially active people aged under 40 to "do everything you can to avoid infection for yourself and everybody around you" despite the anxiety and uncertainties brought about by the pandemic. "By following the advice of health authorities you can directly contribute to protecting the lives of people in your community and in doing so to reviving your society's economies in 2021," Kasai said.

"I urge you to think about those who may be at high risk of severe COVID. If you catch the virus, you could unknowingly pass it on to your parents or grandparents, your neighbour or friend with an underlying condition," Kasai said.

Moreover, he urged the young to "think of health workers who have been working day and night for almost a year. They are exhausted". Kasai also appealed to the governments across the region "to use an additional layer of surveillance that picks up an early sign of infection among those groups that are difficult to catch with the existing system."

Kasai said the COVID-19 vaccines "are not a silver bullet that will end the pandemic in the near future". "The development of a safe and effective vaccine is one thing but producing them in adequate quantities and reaching everyone that needs them is another. They will initially only be available in limited quantities and high-risk groups should be prioritized first," he said.

"This means that we are tired of this pandemic, we must stick to the actions and behaviour which protect not only ourselves but also those around us. Hand washing, mask-wearing, physical distancing and avoiding places that have a high risk of transmission. For now, we must keep making the choices that will reduce transmission of the virus and protect our families and our communities. By doing so we can go into 2021 with hope," he added.

Babatunde Olowokure, WHO regional emergency director, echoed Kasai, saying that the "COVID-19 vaccine itself is not a silver bullet to end the COVID-19". "There is no room for complacency. So we must continue to remain vigilant, continue to comply with our public health interventions," he said.

He further urged governments to "look at strategies" which could help the younger population cope with public health interventions and to manage those appropriately. There are now 985,539 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Western Pacific Region, including 18,641 deaths.

The World Health Organization (WHO) regional office for the Western Pacific on Thursday called for greater vigilance amid the roll-out of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, saying the vaccine is not a "silver bullet" that will end the nearly year-long pandemic which has already killed over 1.

The World Health Organization (WHO) regional office for the Western Pacific on Thursday called for greater vigilance amid the roll-out of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, saying the vaccine is not a "silver bullet" that will end the nearly year-long pandemic which has already killed over 1.6 million. "Whoever you are, wherever you live, as long as the virus is circulating somewhere, we all remain at risk, and we must keep preparing for the worst-case scenario," WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific Takeshi Kasai said in a virtual media briefing. Kasai appealed to the younger and socially active people aged under 40 to "do everything you can to avoid infection for yourself and everybody around you" despite the anxiety and uncertainties brought about by the pandemic. "By following the advice of health authorities you can directly contribute to protecting the lives of people in your community and in doing so to reviving your society's economies in 2021," Kasai said. "I urge you to think about those who may be at high risk of severe COVID. If you catch the virus, you could unknowingly pass it on to your parents or grandparents, your neighbour or friend with an underlying condition," Kasai said. Moreover, he urged the young to "think of health workers who have been working day and night for almost a year. They are exhausted". Kasai also appealed to the governments across the region "to use an additional layer of surveillance that picks up an early sign of infection among those groups that are difficult to catch with the existing system." Kasai said the COVID-19 vaccines "are not a silver bullet that will end the pandemic in the near future". "The development of a safe and effective vaccine is one thing but producing them in adequate quantities and reaching everyone that needs them is another. They will initially only be available in limited quantities and high-risk groups should be prioritized first," he said. "This means that we are tired of this pandemic, we must stick to the actions and behaviour which protect not only ourselves but also those around us. Hand washing, mask-wearing, physical distancing and avoiding places that have a high risk of transmission. For now, we must keep making the choices that will reduce transmission of the virus and protect our families and our communities. By doing so we can go into 2021 with hope," he added. Babatunde Olowokure, WHO regional emergency director, echoed Kasai, saying that the "COVID-19 vaccine itself is not a silver bullet to end the COVID-19". "There is no room for complacency. So we must continue to remain vigilant, continue to comply with our public health interventions," he said. He further urged governments to "look at strategies" which could help the younger population cope with public health interventions and to manage those appropriately. There are now 985,539 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Western Pacific Region, including 18,641 deaths.

'Not a silver bullet': WHO calls for greater vigilance of COVID-19 vaccine

As the worldwide death toll due to coronavirus continues to rise, the World Health Organization(WHO) its team of international experts will travel to China in January to investigate the animal origins of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-records-highest-covid-19-death-toll-on-first-day-of-partial-lockdown-350210">coronavirus</a>.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/curtain-falls-on-londons-theatres-again-due-to-covid-19-350228/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Amid the rising number of cases, the WHO said that, "There is a high risk of further resurgence in the first weeks and months of 2021, and we will need to work together if we are to succeed in preventing it, adding,"COVID-19 transmission across the European region remains widespread and intense."

The WHO had said earlier that it in discussion with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-expands-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-rollout-reassure-its-safety-350100">Pfizer-BioNTech</a> and Moderna to ensure the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/possibility-of-adverse-event-after-covid-19-vaccination-cant-be-ruled-out-government-350031">vaccine</a> reaches poor nations. The UK has already begun vaccination with the US FDA has given the green signal to US Pfizer-BioNTech. The FDA is expected to give the go-ahead to Moderna within days.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had earlier warned that Christmas festivities could turn into "sadness" if the right precautions aren't taken.

"As you prepare to celebrate over the coming weeks, please, please consider your plans carefully. If you live in an area with high transmission, please take every precaution to keep yourselves and others safe," the WHO chief said, adding,"that could be the best gift you could give - the gift of health."

With vaccines imminent, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said that EU countries aim to start coronavirus <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-debates-does-burying-coronavirus-victims-contaminate-ground-water-350010">vaccine </a>on the same day as a sign of unity.

"Finally, within a week, the first vaccine will be authorised so that vaccinations can start immediately, and more will follow in the new year," the European Commission chief said.

The global <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/malaysia-invokes-emergency-to-stop-by-elections-as-covid-19-cases-rise-350158">COVID-19 </a>death toll has reached over 1.6 million with over 73 million infected cases as governments across the world prepare for a mass vaccine rollout.&nbsp;

The United States is the worst-hit country with the virus with over 16 million infection cases and over 303,8600 deaths.

As the worldwide death toll due to coronavirus continues to rise, the World Health Organization(WHO) its team of international experts will travel to China in January to investigate the animal origins of coronavirus.

As the worldwide death toll due to coronavirus continues to rise, the World Health Organization(WHO) its team of international experts will travel to China in January to investigate the animal origins of coronavirus. Watch: Amid the rising number of cases, the WHO said that, "There is a high risk of further resurgence in the first weeks and months of 2021, and we will need to work together if we are to succeed in preventing it, adding,"COVID-19 transmission across the European region remains widespread and intense." The WHO had said earlier that it in discussion with Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna to ensure the vaccine reaches poor nations. The UK has already begun vaccination with the US FDA has given the green signal to US Pfizer-BioNTech. The FDA is expected to give the go-ahead to Moderna within days. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had earlier warned that Christmas festivities could turn into "sadness" if the right precautions aren't taken. "As you prepare to celebrate over the coming weeks, please, please consider your plans carefully. If you live in an area with high transmission, please take every precaution to keep yourselves and others safe," the WHO chief said, adding,"that could be the best gift you could give - the gift of health." With vaccines imminent, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said that EU countries aim to start coronavirus vaccine on the same day as a sign of unity. "Finally, within a week, the first vaccine will be authorised so that vaccinations can start immediately, and more will follow in the new year," the European Commission chief said. The global COVID-19 death toll has reached over 1.6 million with over 73 million infected cases as governments across the world prepare for a mass vaccine rollout. The United States is the worst-hit country with the virus with over 16 million infection cases and over 303,8600 deaths.

World Health Organization experts to visit China next month to investigate animal origins of coronavirus

As the World Health Organization(WHO) investigates the origin of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/face-shields-and-visors-can-spread-coronavirus-study-349974">coronavirus</a> in China, the South China Morning Post(SCMP) published the leaked "floor plan"&nbsp; of the Huanan market in Wuhan where the COVID-19 pandemic allegedly began.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-exponential-rise-on-covid-19-cases-new-variant-of-covid-19-identified-349910/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The report showed "colour-coded plan" of data collected by &nbsp;Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in January where the first infection is reported to have taken place including the "653 stalls" where the virus first took place.

China had reported the first case of the virus to the WHO on December 31, 2019 with the Huanan seafood wholesale market becoming the prime target of investigation by&nbsp;authorities. The market was famous for selling everything from seafood and vegetables to wild animals in hundreds of stalls numbering well over 1,000.

The SCMP said experts cited "lack of transparency" about what other information was gathered by scientists and investigators in China. The report said Chinese officials had later "ruled out" the market as the place where the virus first infected humans, citing medical investigations of the facilities.

The report said Chinese scientists sent a document to the WHO in which "none of the frozen carcasses tested positive, while 69 of 842 environmental samples did." &nbsp;

"Beyond these numbers, little information is available about which animals were sampled and the extent of follow-up studies on humans and animals linked to the market."

"China has not disclosed if live animals were among those sampled," the report added.

SCMP highlighted that The Lancet medical journal report had found that Wuhan’s market was linked to about "two-thirds of the first 41 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/modernas-covid-19-vaccine-shows-no-specific-safety-concerns-says-us-fda-349983">COVID-19 </a>cases identified in the city" with live animals such as bamboo rats, badgers and deer being sold at the market and that "it seemed a likely place for a pathogen to leap species", however it said that "three of the first four COVID-19 patients had no evident ties to the market."

The WHO health investigators need to find out how the virus was transmitted including understand the drainage and sewage systems at the Wuhan market to know&nbsp;the "transmission pathway".

The report said very little is still known about the investigations into&nbsp;the COVID-19 outbreak in the market due to lack of "analytical epidemiological study among vendors and shoppers".

 
&nbsp;

As the World Health Organization(WHO) investigates the origin of the coronavirus in China, the South China Morning Post(SCMP) published the leaked "floor plan" of the Huanan market in Wuhan where the COVID-19 pandemic allegedly began.

As the World Health Organization(WHO) investigates the origin of the coronavirus in China, the South China Morning Post(SCMP) published the leaked "floor plan" of the Huanan market in Wuhan where the COVID-19 pandemic allegedly began. Watch: The report showed "colour-coded plan" of data collected by Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in January where the first infection is reported to have taken place including the "653 stalls" where the virus first took place. China had reported the first case of the virus to the WHO on December 31, 2019 with the Huanan seafood wholesale market becoming the prime target of investigation by authorities. The market was famous for selling everything from seafood and vegetables to wild animals in hundreds of stalls numbering well over 1,000. The SCMP said experts cited "lack of transparency" about what other information was gathered by scientists and investigators in China. The report said Chinese officials had later "ruled out" the market as the place where the virus first infected humans, citing medical investigations of the facilities. The report said Chinese scientists sent a document to the WHO in which "none of the frozen carcasses tested positive, while 69 of 842 environmental samples did." "Beyond these numbers, little information is available about which animals were sampled and the extent of follow-up studies on humans and animals linked to the market." "China has not disclosed if live animals were among those sampled," the report added. SCMP highlighted that The Lancet medical journal report had found that Wuhan’s market was linked to about "two-thirds of the first 41 COVID-19 cases identified in the city" with live animals such as bamboo rats, badgers and deer being sold at the market and that "it seemed a likely place for a pathogen to leap species", however it said that "three of the first four COVID-19 patients had no evident ties to the market." The WHO health investigators need to find out how the virus was transmitted including understand the drainage and sewage systems at the Wuhan market to know the "transmission pathway". The report said very little is still known about the investigations into the COVID-19 outbreak in the market due to lack of "analytical epidemiological study among vendors and shoppers".

After accessing leaked 'map' of Wuhan market, report discloses China's 'lack of transparency' in COVID-19 investigation

The W.H.O has been accused of conspiring with Italian Health Ministry to remove a report on COVID-19. The report reveled Italy's mismanagement during the Pandemic.

W.H.O accused of conspiring with Italy

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