WHO / TEDROS CORONAVIRUS EBOLA

03-Feb-2020 00:03:09
At the opening of the 146th session of the World Health Organization’s Executive Board at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said “both the coronavirus and Ebola outbreaks underscore once again the vital importance for all countries to invest in preparedness, not panic.” WHO
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STORY: WHO / TEDROS CORONAVIRUS EBOLA
TRT: 03:09
SOURCE: WHO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 03 FEBRUARY 2020, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
1. Wide shot, conference room
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO:
“Both the coronavirus and Ebola outbreaks underscore once again the vital importance for all countries to invest in preparedness, not panic. 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.”
3. Med shot, delegate
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO:
“As of this morning, there are 17,238 confirmed cases in China, and 361 deaths. Outside China, there are 151 confirmed cases in 23 countries, and one death, which was reported from the Philippines yesterday.”
5. Med shot, journalists
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO:
“If we invest in fighting at the epicenter, at the source, then the spread to other countries is minimal and also slow. If it’s minimal and slow, what is going outside can also be controlled easily. So, the number of cases we have now, 151, it’s actually small, and it’s coming only slow. So, it can be managed – when I say this, don’t make a mistake, it can get even worse. But if we give it our best, the outcome could be even better.”
7. Wide shot, dais
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO:
“Last July, I declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo a public health emergency of international concern. Since the outbreak began in August 2018, there have been 3,421 cases and 2,242 deaths. But thanks to the incredible efforts of thousands of frontline responders, and the solidarity of the international community, and the leadership of the government above all, the outbreak has been steadily declining. The rapid approval and prequalification of the Ebola vaccine after a trial involving 250,000 people, and the advent of experimental therapeutics, have also helped us to save lives.”
9. Med shot, delegates
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO:
“This is an incredible public health triumph. Five years ago, we had no vaccine and no therapeutics for Ebola. Now we can say Ebola is preventable and treatable. Last week there were just five new cases, the smallest number since the beginning of the response. This is a very encouraging trend. But until we get to zero, there is always the risk that the outbreak could flare up again.”
11. Wide shot, conference room
STORYLINE
At the opening of the 146th session of the World Health Organization’s Executive Board at WHO headquarters in Geneva today (3 Feb), Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said “both the coronavirus and Ebola outbreaks underscore once again the vital importance for all countries to invest in preparedness, not panic.”

Dr Tedros said, “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.”

Providing an update on the coronavirus outbreak, he said, “as of this morning, there are 17,238 confirmed cases in China, and 361 deaths. Outside China, there are 151 confirmed cases in 23 countries, and one death, which was reported from the Philippines yesterday.”

The Director-General praised the leadership of China’s President Xi Jinping and the work of China’s health authorities. He said, “if we invest in fighting at the epicenter, at the source, then the spread to other countries is minimal and also slow. If it’s minimal and slow, what is going outside can also be controlled easily. So, the number of cases we have now, 151, it’s actually small, and it’s coming only slow. So, it can be managed – when I say this, don’t make a mistake, it can get even worse. But if we give it our best, the outcome could be even better.”

Turning to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he said, “since the outbreak began in August 2018, there have been 3,421 cases and 2,242 deaths. But thanks to the incredible efforts of thousands of frontline responders, and the solidarity of the international community, and the leadership of the government above all, the outbreak has been steadily declining. The rapid approval and prequalification of the Ebola vaccine after a trial involving 250,000 people, and the advent of experimental therapeutics, have also helped us to save lives.”

Dr Tedros said, this was “an incredible public health triumph” and noted that “five years ago, we had no vaccine and no therapeutics for Ebola.”

He said, “this is a very encouraging trend. But until we get to zero, there is always the risk that the outbreak could flare up again.”

At this meeting, members will agree on the agenda and resolutions to be considered at this year’s World Health Assembly. Topics under discussion this year include WHO’s response in severe, large-scale emergencies; research and development for diseases with epidemic potential; antimicrobial resistance; poliomyelitis; principles for global consensus on the donation and management of blood, blood components and medical products of human origin; and promoting the health of migrants.
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