GENEVA – Roughly one in 10 people may have been infected with Covid-19, leaving the vast majority of the global population vulnerable to the disease, said the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Mike Ryan, the United Nations agency’s top emergency expert, said this when addressing its executive board, where the US made a thinly veiled swipe at China for what it called a “failure” to provide accurate and timely information on the outbreak.
However, Zhang Yang of China’s National Health Commission said: “China has always been transparent and responsible in fulfilling our international obligations.”
Beijing maintains close contact with all levels of WHO, she added.
Ryan said outbreaks are surging in parts of Southeast Asia, and cases and deaths are on the rise in parts of Europe and the eastern Mediterranean region.
“Our current best estimates tell us that about 10% of the global population may have been infected by the virus.
“It varies depending on country, it varies from urban to rural (areas), it varies depending on groups. But what it means is, the vast majority of the world remains at risk.
“We are now heading into a difficult period. The disease continues to spread.”
WHO and other experts have said the coronavirus, believed to have emerged at a food market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, is of animal origin.
WHO has submitted a list of experts to take part in an international mission to China to investigate the virus’ origin, for consideration by Chinese authorities, said Ryan, without giving further details. – Bernama, October 6, 2020
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