The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday announced a new name – COVID-19 – for the deadly new coronavirus disease and said the vaccine for the virus could be available in 18 months.
The development came as the UN health agency convened a two-day global research and innovation forum to mobilise international action in response to the deadly outbreak, in Geneva, which is organised in collaboration with the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness.
It is a meeting of more than 400 scientists from around the world.
"The first vaccine could be ready in 18 months. In the meantime, there's a lot we can do to prevent transmission and prepare for any further spread,” WHO director-general Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
According to the UN health agency, while investment in Research and Development is needed, also important is investment in stopping the COVID19 outbreak.
Last week, WHO issued a call for $675 million, which is what the world needs to support preparedness and response operations around the world.
What’s in a name?
The new official name represents the fact that the coronavirus disease originated in 2019.
Dr Tedros said at a news briefing in Geneva that under agreed guidelines between the WHO, the World Organization for Animal Health, and the Food and Agriculture Organization, "we had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease.”
He added: "Having a name matters to prevent the use of other names that can be inaccurate or stigmatizing. It also gives us a standard format to use for any future coronavirus outbreaks.”
The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak surged past 1,000 on Tuesday.
The WHO boss said Tuesday morning that there were 42,708 confirmed COVID19 cases reported in China and "tragically we have now surpassed 1,000 deaths – 1,017 people in China have lost their lives to this virus.”
Basic precaution measures for the public
In Kigali, the WHO office and the Ministry of Health have recommended basic precaution measures for the public such as washing hands regularly, either with alcohol-based drop or soap; keeping a distance from people who are coughing or sneezing; and covering the mouth and nose with tissue or the elbow when coughing or sneezing.
However, Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, the Director-General of Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), recently told The New Times that despite the fact that the threat of the novel coronavirus is real with the virus evolving quickly across the globe, the public should not panic.
Nsanzimana said the public needs to know the clinical symptoms of the disease – fever, cough, running nose, difficulty breathing, pneumonia and lung infiltrates which can be detected with chest x-ray.
He outlined six daily practices to help keep the virus at bay as:
– Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
– Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
– Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
– Stay home when you are sick.
– Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
– Avoid unnecessary handshaking if you present clinical signs of the flu-like syndrome.