The World Health Organization (WHO) recently warned that the global coronavirus outbreak is starting to get "worrisome" as experts question whether countries are completely prepared to battle a potential outbreak in their regions.
Expert Points Out Lack of Preparedness
Research fellow at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Emily Ricotta told Business Insider that many countries around the world "don't already have a preparedness plan for outbreaks" such as that of the Wuhan coronavirus.
Ricotta used the Ebola crisis in Liberia around six years ago. She pointed out that even if the country received financial assistance to battle the health emergency, the execution of a plan for battling the problem was inadequate.
Aside from a concrete plan to battle virus outbreaks, Ricotta added that some countries do not have the equipment and medical resources necessary to contain an infection as fast-spreading as the CoVID-19 strain.
Furthermore, some experts believe specific locations will be hit harder than others, including regions that are more crowded. Director and clinical professor at The University of Hongkong's School of Public Health Keiji Fukuda said crowded places are expected to see a spike in infections.
WHO Calls for Urgent Funding to Support Some Countries
While infection cases in China have gradually slowed down, the WHO is getting more and more concerned about the global impact of the novel coronavirus, especially in countries with inadequate health regulations.
According to Aljazeera, the WHO has called for urgent funding from organizations and governments to gather funding that should help countries with weaker health systems in effectively tackling the CoVID-19 crisis.
The WHO's calls came after South Korea reported a total of 556 coronavirus cases as of Sunday and the U.S. confirmed 14 infected patients from the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Iran also recorded new cases.
The new cases outside China have raised concerns about the effectivity of containment measures being taken by other countries.
Fears Heighten Regarding Coronavirus Containment Measures
Some scientists and epidemiologists expressed fears about whether the Wuhan coronavirus can still be contained or global health groups have already missed the chance of keeping the virus from spreading.
Fears over the matter have reached the extent wherein health officials have started warning the public to keep watch of a potential global pandemic on the rise, CNBC reported.
Aside from the possibility of a pandemic, infectious disease specialist and professor at the University of Toronto Isaac Bogoch said experts are questioning how much of the infection's spreading trail is being missed by health professionals mapping the virus.
Concerns about the virus' continuous spread in other countries outside China came roughly two weeks after the WHO announced that there were no signs of community transmission outside the Chinese province of Hubei.
South Korea Clusters Discovered
In South Korea, health officials revealed that they have linked majority of the country's new cases to a Shincheonji Church of Jesus congregation in Daegu.
According to Reuters, the Korea Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (KCDC) said 55.6 percent of the country's total coronavirus cases were traced back to the said church group.
The new discovery is an indication of just how much has changed since the WHO seemed to ease public fears of a community "super-spreading" incident outside China, the CoVID-19's outbreak country.
Super-Spreading Incidents Raise Red Flag on Tracking CoVID-19
Earlier this month, health officials in the United Kingdom went on a desperate search for people who may have been in contact with a British businessman who contracted the disease and has been linked to 11 other confirmed cases.
At that time, it was reported that Steve Walsh was the businessman believed to have been infected by the CoVID-19 when he was in Singapore late January for a conference.
Health experts noted that isolating Walsh and naming him as a "super-spreader" would not help in easing the public's coronavirus fears. Other health providers noted that the case of Walsh is an indication of how difficult of a path authorities will take in tracking down the novel virus.
It remains to be seen whether the current coronavirus situation will wind down in the coming days or how authorities will handle the rising number of CoVID-19 clusters around the world.
