New Delhi, March 4 (IANS): The increasing incidence of COVID-19 cases in southeast Asia has prompted the World Health Organisation (WHO) to focus on building agile response capacities.
With India, Indonesia and Thailand confirming new cases of COVID-19, the WHO on Wednesday asked countries in its South-East Asia Region to strengthen preparedness for all possible scenarios, and ensure early containment measures.
"Top priority of countries should be to be prepared to roll out a speedy response to the first case, first cluster, and first evidence of community transmission. Early containment measures can help countries stop transmission," said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO, South-East Asia Region.
According to the world health body, five of the 11 countries in the region have reported confirmed COVID-19 cases - Thailand 43, India 28, Indonesia 2 and Sri Lanka and Nepal one each.
"The risk of the new coronavirus is very high across the world and in the WHO South-East Asia Region. More cases can be expected. Rapidly identifying these cases, isolating them and following their contacts are important initiatives to help limit person-to-person transmission. The speed of our response is critical, which is only possible if we are prepared," she said.
Dr Singh listed the three priorities for establishing country readiness - protecting health workers, engaging with communities and empowering them with timely and accurate information to enable them to take protective measures, especially those at highest risk; and doing the best to contain epidemics in the most vulnerable countries.
The virus can cause mild, flu-like symptoms as well as more severe disease. Patients suffer a range of symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Based on current data, globally 81 per cent of cases seem to have mild disease, about 14 per cent appear to progress to severe disease, and some 5 per cent are critical.
Infection prevention and control is of critical importance in health facilities for COVID-19.
Of the 11 countries in the region, nine are equipped with facilities and capacities to test for COVID-19. For countries that do not have testing facilities of their own, WHO is assisting in shipping of their samples to one of their regional global referral laboratories - two in Thailand and one in India.