A World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Tuesday that the high level of transmission of the coronavirus among non-vaccinated people such as North Korea poses a higher risk of new forms. It comes amid North Korea’s first acknowledged COVID-19 outbreak. The situation is currently fueling concerns over a major crisis due to lack of vaccines and medical infrastructure.
“It is certainly worrying that countries … are no longer using the tools available,” WHO emergencies director Mike Ryan said in response to a question about the outbreak in North Korea.
“WHO has repeatedly said that where you have uncontrolled transmission, there is always a greater risk of new forms emerging,” he said.
6 died, 269,510 people were found to be suffering from fever
North Korea on Tuesday reported another major surge in diseases believed to be COVID-19 and encouraged good health habits, as a massive outbreak spreads through its unvaccinated population and military officials were forced to use drugs. was posted to distribute.
State media said the anti-virus headquarters reported that another 269,510 people were found to be suffering from fever and six had died. North Korea’s death toll rises to 56 after more than 1.48 million people became ill with the fever since late April. North Korea lacks testing kits to confirm a large number of coronavirus infections, and the report did not specify how many cases of fever were COVID-19.
Deeply concerned: WHO chief
In the same press briefing, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also said he was “deeply concerned” about the virus spreading among a non-vaccinated population with multiple underlying conditions.
The UN health agency has previously said that Pyongyang has not yet officially reported the outbreak in clear violation of the country’s legal obligations under the WHO’s international health regulations.
Asked how the WHO would respond, Ryan said the body was ready to help but did not have the power to intervene in a sovereign country.