Wuhan CoronaVirus
The term “Wuhan CoronaVirus” was a part of the daily lexicon in Asia as first messaged by the many brave doctors, journalists and net citizens who sounded the alarm and reported about this deadly infectious disease and the subsequent outbreak from Wuhan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China as the tragic events that unfolded in Dec 2019 – Jan 2020.
We respectfully disagree with the World Health Organization (WHO) and their senior leadership on their position on changing the globally accepted name of the time from the “Wuhan CoronaVirus” also known as “Novel CoronaVirus” to COVID19.
Recognizing the origins of this CoronaVirus from Wuhan is expository, where many innocent lives were lost, the continued lack of transparency on data, the very significant lapses of Public Health Policy responses and the lack of initial containment have now contributed to a significant number of fatalities across the globe, the significant economic costs globally, notwithstanding.
Brave Chinese doctors at the Wuhan Central Hospital tried to tell the world what was happening in late December 2019 to include Dr. Li Wenliang who was initially reprimanded for alerting his colleagues in late December 2019, he later died of the Wuhan CoronaVirus on Feb 07th, 2020.
Dr. Ai Fen the Director of ER at Wuhan Central Hospital who alerted her colleagues including Dr. Li Wenliang, on the explosive nature of the ‘human to human transmission‘ is now missing. We pray for her health and safety.
We dedicate the continued reference to the term “Wuhan CoronaVirus” in memory of the numerous and unaccounted innocent Chinese citizens of Wuhan to include their many brave doctors and healthcare professionals who lost their lives in the line of duty.
From a global Public Health Policy perspective we sadly reflect on the WHO statements and their advisories as mentioned in the “WHO advice” and amongst other sections within their statements dated (small excerpts below):
January 5th, 2020 – “WHO does not recommend any specific measures for travellers.”
January 12th, 2020 – “WHO does not recommend any specific measures for travellers.”
January 14th, 2020 – “Based on the available information there is no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission. No additional cases have been detected since 3 January 2020 in China.”
January 16th, 2020 – “WHO advises against the application of any travel or trade restrictions based on the information available.”
January 17th, 2020 – “No additional cases have been reported since 3 January in China.”
January 21st, 2020 – “WHO does not recommend any specific health measures for travelers.”
March 12th, 2020 – “As you know, yesterday I said that that the global COVID-19 outbreak can now be described as a pandemic.”
WHO’s leadership and their belated declaration of this infectious disease being declared a global pandemic in this statement referring to a declaration made March 11th, 2020 was tragically too late.
Although we have great historical admiration for the multi-lateral institutions like the WHO, their rich histories and their highly dedicated professionals that have done an admirable job since its inception, the donors of the WHO need to address this crisis in governance and leadership at the WHO expeditiously.
These facts form a critical lesson for transparency, data sharing and vigilance for all global Public Health Policy discussions and the Policy responses necessary to bring positive global health and economic outcomes as soon as possible for all people and societies.
We all have Policy lessons to learn from Wuhan and stop the spread of the Wuhan CoronaVirus / COVID-19.
– First Statement Wednesday, April 8th, 2020, Last updated Wednesday, April 15th, 2020.