WHO thanks China for sharing new coronavirus gene sequence

15:13, January 12, 2020

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  China to share with WHO new-type coronavirus' genome sequence: official

  Masked medical staffs analyze semen and blood samples at the Beijing Ditan Hospital in Beijing in 2003. (File photo: AP)BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- China will share with the World Health Organization (WHO) information on the genome sequence of a new-type coronavirus detected in viral pneumonia cases reported in central Chinas Wuhan city to safeguard global health security, the National Health Commission said Saturday.

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  China shares genetic sequence of novel coronavirus from Wuhan: WHO

  GENEVA, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) - The World Health Organization (WHO) said Sunday that China had shared the genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus in the latest outbreak in the central city of Wuhan, which is of great importance for developing specific diagnostic kits.Security guards stand in front of the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in the city of Wuhan, in the Hubei Province, on January 11, 2020. (Photo: AFP)The WHO said Sunday that it had received further detailed information from Chinas National Health Commission, which suggested that the outbreak was associated with exposures in a seafood market in Wuhan, a major domestic and international transport hub.Sharing the genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus is of great importance for other countries development of specific diagnostic kits, the WHO said, adding that the quality of ongoing investigations and the response measures implemented in Wuhan are reassuring.It has also confirmed that respiratory pathogens such as influenza, avian influenza, adenovirus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) were ruled out as the cause.While investigations are still under way to assess the full extent of the outbreak, the WHO does not recommend any specific health measures for travelers, and advises against any travel or trade restrictions on China based on the information currently available on this event.The cluster of the novel coronavirus was initially reported on Dec. 31 last year. Since then, most cases have been found to be working at or handlers of and frequent visitors to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, which has been temporarily closed to carry out environmental sanitation and disinfection.Local authorities have so far confirmed 41 cases with novel coronavirus infection preliminarily diagnosed in Wuhan, of whom seven are severely ill. The only death case was a patient with other underlying health conditions.The clinical...

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  2nd novel coronavirus case outside China confirmed: WHO

  GENEVA, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) - The World Health Organization (WHO) said Thursday that Japan confirmed a case of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), the second case found outside China three days after the confirmation of the first one in Thailand.A man leaves the Wuhan Medical Treatment Centre in the city of Wuhan, Hubei province, on January 12, 2020. (Photo: Wuhan)Japans Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare informed the WHO on Thursday that the case was a man who had traveled to the central Chinese city of Wuhan.Given the global travel patterns, the WHO warned that additional cases are likely to occur in other countries.Currently much remains to be understood about the new coronavirus, which was first identified in China earlier this month, the WHO said, adding that definitive conclusions about its transmission modes, clinical features, source of infection, or spreading extent have yet to be given.While encouraging all countries to continue to prepare for disease prevention, the WHO also provided guidance on how to monitor cases, treat patients, prevent onward transmission in healthcare facilities, maintain necessary supplies and communicate with the public about 2019-nCoV.The WHO is currently developing and updating such information in consultation with networks of experts across the globe.The WHO advised against the application of any travel or trade restrictions based on available information.Earlier on Monday, Thailand confirmed the first 2019-nCoV case outside China. The person was a traveler from Wuhan to Thailand, and was identified by Thai officials on Jan. 8 and then hospitalized later in the day.According to the WHO, coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases, such as Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). 2019-nCoV is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.