Geneva - WHO Press Conference: Update on the situation regarding 2019-nCoV
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WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said his organization was convening a global research and innovation forum to mobilize international action in response to the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
Speaking to reporters in Geneva today (06 Feb) Tedros said, “To put it bluntly, we're shadow boxing. We need to bring this virus out into the light so we can attack it properly. That's why on February 11 and 12 we're convening a global research and innovation forum to identify research priorities and coordinate the international research effort to find therapeutics and vaccines.”
The Director-General said people of Wuhan, and Hubei province in general, “are paying a lot.” He thanked them for their cooperation and “for believing that the actions they are taking; it protects their people and also it protects the rest of the world. And doing this for humanity is something beyond words.”
The forum is organized in collaboration with the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness.
The forum will bring together key players including leading scientists as well as public health agencies, ministries of health and research funders pursuing 2019-nCoV critical animal health and public health research and the development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, among other innovations.
Participants will discuss several areas of research, including identifying the source of the virus as well as sharing of biological samples and genetic sequences.
Experts will build on existing SARS and MERS coronavirus research and identify knowledge gaps and research priorities in order to accelerate scientific information and medical products most needed to minimize the impact of the 2019-nCoV outbreak.
The meeting is expected to produce a global research agenda for the new coronavirus, setting priorities and frameworks that can guide which projects are undertaken first.
This will also fast-track the development and evaluation of effective diagnostic tests, vaccines and medicines, while establishing mechanisms for affordable access to vulnerable populations and facilitating community engagement.
Setting clear global research priorities for the novel coronavirus should lead to more efficient investments, high-quality research and synergies among global researchers.
Maria Van Kerkhove, Technical Lead at WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme said there was a global laboratory network that is meeting multiple times per week to discuss how to improve and increase diagnostic capacity. She said, “There are referral labs that have been identified across the globe where samples can be shipped to support countries that don't currently have the capacity. Secondly, we are working to increase national capacity, and we're building upon the influenza labs that exist globally. Thirdly, we are trying to procure, and identify, tests that can be shipped, and as the Director-General said, more than 250,000 tests were shipped this week. We're also looking for other sources of tests that can be shipped so that those labs that can do diagnostic work, molecular testing, PCR testing across Africa can detect cases quickly.”
