According to the latest WHO report, 1320 cases of corona virus have been identified worldwide. According to data from 25 January 2020 Corona virus in China 41 deaths have been reported to date (39 deaths in Hubei province, one death in Hebei province and one in Heilongjiang province). 

Key points of the report are as follows

WHO Daily situation report No.5 for Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) : 26^th January 2020

Data as reported by: 25 January 2020

SUMMARY

Situation update:

• A total of 1,320 confirmed cases have been reported for novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) globally;
• Of the 1,320 cases reported, 1,297 cases were reported from China, including Hong Kong SAR (5 confirmed cases), Macau SAR (2 confirmed cases) and Taipei (3 confirmed cases).
• A total of 1,965 suspected cases have been reported from 20 Chinese provinces, regions and cities (excluding Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taipei).
• Twenty-three confirmed cases have been reported outside of China in nine countries (see table1).
• Of these 23 confirmed cases, 21 had travel history to Wuhan City, China; one case in Australia had direct contact with a confirmed case from Wuhan while in China; and one confirmed case in Viet Nam had no travel history to any part of China as mentioned in situation report published on 24 January. According to preliminary investigations, this constitutes an instance of human to human transmission within a family.
• Of the 1,287 confirmed cases (excluding Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taipei), 237 cases have been reported as severely ill2 .
• Forty-one deaths have been reported to date (39 deaths in Hubei province, one death in Hebei province and one in Heilongjiang province).
• On 25 January 2020, the number of reported confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV has increased by 474 cases since the last situation report published on 24 January 2020.

WHO’s assessment of the risk of this event has not changed since the last update (22 Jan): very high in China, high at the regional level and moderate at the global level.

1. SURVEILLANCE

Reported incidence of confirmed 2019-nCoV cases

Confirmed Cases

WHO WPRO Region

China* Total 1297*

Japan  3

Republic of Korea  2

Viet Nam  2

Republic of Singapore  3

Australia  3

WHO SEARO Region

Thailand  4

Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal 1

WHO PAHO Region United States of America  2

WHO EURO Region French Republic  3

Total Confirmed cases

Total  1320

*Confirmed cases in China include cases confirmed in Hong Kong SAR (5 confirmed cases), Macau SAR (2 confirmed cases) and Taipei (3 confirmed cases).

1. PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE:

WHO:

• WHO has published an updated advice for international traffic in relation to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV.
• WHO has been in regular and direct contact with Member States where cases have been reported. WHO is also informing other countries about the situation and providing support as requested.
• On 2 January, the incident management system was activated across the three levels of WHO (country office, regional office and headquarters).
• Developed the surveillance case definitions and reporting forms for human infection with 2019-nCoV and is updating it as the new information becomes available.
• Developed interim guidance for laboratory diagnosis, clinical management, infection prevention and control in health care settings, home care for patients with suspected novel coronavirus , risk communication and community engagement.
• Prepared disease commodity package for supplies necessary in identification and management of confirmed patients.
• Provided recommendations to reduce risk of transmission from animals to humans.
• Utilizing global expert networks and partnerships for laboratory, infection prevention and control, clinical management and mathematical modelling.
• Activation of R&D blueprint to accelerate diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics.
• WHO is working with our networks of researchers and other experts to coordinate global work on surveillance, epidemiology, modelling, diagnostics, clinical care and treatment, and other ways to identify, manage the disease and limit onward transmission. WHO has issued interim guidance for countries, updated to take into account the current situation.

The strategic objectives of the response are to interrupt the transmission of the virus from one person to another in China, to prevent exportation of cases from China to other countries and territories, and to prevent further transmission from exported case if they were to happen. This can be achieved through a combination of public health measures, such as rapid identification, diagnosis and management of the cases, identification and follow up of the contacts, infection prevention and control in healthcare settings, implementation of health measures for travellers, awareness raising in the population, risk communication.

During previous outbreaks due to other coronavirus (Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)), human to human transmission occurred through droplets, contact and fomites, suggesting that the transmission mode of the 2019-nCoV can be similar.  The basic principles to reduce the general risk of transmission of acute respiratory infections:

• Avoiding close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections.
• Frequent hand-washing, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment.
• Avoiding unprotected contact with farm or wild animals.
• People with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette (maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, and wash hands).
• Within healthcare facilities, enhance standard infection prevention and control practices in hospitals, especially in emergency departments.
• WHO does not recommend any specific health measures for travelers. In case of symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness either during or after travel, the travelers are encouraged to seek medical attention and share their travel history with their health care provider. Travel guidance has been updated.