wHEN Were we TOLD
- MIDNORTHONLINE
- Jan 30, 2021
- 3 min read
31 Dec 2019
WHO’s Country Office in the People’s Republic of China picked up a media statement by the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission from their website on cases of ‘viral pneumonia’ in Wuhan, People’s Republic of China.
The Country Office notified the International Health Regulations (IHR) focal point in the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office about the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission media statement of the cases and provided a translation of it.
WHO’s Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) platform also picked up a media report on ProMED (a programme of the International Society for Infectious Diseases) about the same cluster of cases of “pneumonia of unknown cause”, in Wuhan.
Note for the Records
Date :
Friday 10 January at 2pm GVA time.
Subject: Pneumonia in Wuhan, China.
Agenda:
1.
Overview of emerging data on disease epidemiology
2.
Overview of research priorities and a collaborative process to offer support
-
if requested
-
to the
national authorities in China and elsewhere.
3.
Mechanisms for coordination/collaboration in terms of international research
4.
Next steps including considerations of potential spread scenarios vis a vis research priorities
1.
Overview o
f emerging data on disease epidemiology
WHO China Country Office was informed of cases of pneumonia of unknown etiology (unknown cause)
detected in Wuhan City,
Hubei Province of China. As of 5
January 2020, a total of
59
patients with
pneumonia of unknown
etiology have been reported to WHO by the national authorities in China
from
12 to 29 December 2019
. Of the
59
cases,
7
are severely ill,
no deaths
reported
.
The causal agent has not yet been identified or confirmed.
The genetic sequence is not yet availaBLE.
WHO
DG
is
discussing with the Chinese Health Authorities to share the genetic sequence of the virus.
National authorities report that all patients are isolated and receiving treatment in Wuhan medical
institutions. The clinical signs and symptoms are
mainly fever, with a few patients having difficulty in
breathing, and chest radiographs showing invasive lesions of both lungs.
P
reliminary information from the Chinese investigation team, no evidence of significant human
-
to
-
human transmission and no
health care worker infections have been reported.
2. Overview of the research priorities.
WHO shared with the GCM members the outcomes of the discussion with the SAG.
Diagnostics
•
Diagnostic tools and standardized methodology for data collection are critic
al to
understand the
epidemi
ology of the pneumonia outbreak
and
the risks
•
In the absence of known sequence, pan
-
coronavirus assays could be developed and used, as a
health intervention or under a research protocol, for travel entry screening in neighboring
countries and/or at entry point with people likely to have history of travel from the Wuhan
province, especially in the context of the upcoming Chinese new year’s eve.
•
A surveillance strategy should include animal testing component when relevant.
Therapeutic and Vaccine candidates
•
2 clinical characterization protocols exist: SPRINT SARI and ISARIC protocols have been shared
with Chinese collaborators for standardized collection of SARI.
•
WHO will develop a pipeline of investigational therapeutics an
d vaccines against the novel
coronavirus that could be granted access to under research protocol and will make it available
to the scientific community.
•
WHO developed guidance on how to reliably evaluate MERS
-
CoV therapeutics and vaccines that
will be adap
ted to this novel coronavirus.
•
WHO will work on a evidence
-
based framework to transparently select most
promising/advanced therapeutics and vaccines candidates to move forward for clinical
evaluation.
3.
Mechanisms for coordination/collaboration in terms
of international research
SAG members were invited to suggest research priorities and submit proposal for collaboration.
4.
Next Steps
1.
WHO
R&D Blueprint
will
set up regulars
(weekly)
calls to inform GCM partners on the evolution
of the outbreak and the
research activities
2.
WHO
R&D Blueprint
will produce comprehensive mapping of
all therapeutics and vaccine
candidates and develop generic protocols for clinical evaluation to be available on WHO website
3.
GCM members
will provide updated on their R&D activiti
es
and proposals to WHO on future
collaboration
•
WHO will develop a pipeline of investigational therapeutics an
d vaccines against the novel
coronavirus that could be granted access to under research protocol and will make it available
to the scientific community.
•
WHO developed guidance on how to reliably evaluate MERS
-
CoV therapeutics and vaccines that
will be adap
ted to this novel coronavirus.
•
WHO will work on a evidence
-
based framework to transparently select most
promising/advanced therapeutics and vaccines candidates to move forward for clinical
evaluation.
3.
Mechanisms for coordination/collaboration in terms
of international research
SAG members were invited to suggest research priorities and submit proposal for collaboration.
4.
Next Steps
1.
WHO
R&D Blueprint
will
set up regulars
(weekly)
calls to inform GCM partners on the evolution
of the outbreak and the
research activities
2.
WHO
R&D Blueprint
will produce comprehensive mapping of
all therapeutics and vaccine
candidates and develop generic protocols for clinical evaluation to be available on WHO website
3.
GCM members
will provide updated on their R&D activiti
es
and proposals to WHO on future
collaboration
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