World must prepare for potential pandemic: WHO

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organisation (WHO) chief, warned countries to prepare for a "potential pandemic" of new coronavirus. He called the spike in cases in Iran, Italy and South Korea "deeply concerning".

A WHO joint mission to China that ended on Monday, February 4, 2020 found the virus there "peaked" between in China January 23 and February 2 "and has been declining steadily since then". "This virus can be contained," Dr Tedros said. "Indeed there are many countries that have done exactly that." He said China's measures to lock down several cities helped to prevent an even bigger spread.

Dr Michael Ryan, head of the WHO's health emergencies programme, said a team had arrived in Italy on Monday and another was expected in Iran on Tuesday.