How COVID-19 got wing? A critical review

Abstract

Introduction

Globalization had unified the entire world to a global village. To ensure global health security, following SARS outbreak in 2002, ‘World Health Organization’ advocated ‘International Health Regulations’, to improve international surveillance and public health reporting mechanisms for events that are global health risks. Despite, an inadequacy in the existing system, is noticed which had to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Here in, a critical analysis is carried out on the timeline of the actions carried by WHO and China in the surveillance of COVID-19 from its initial outbreak before it is declared as fifth Public Health Emergencies of International Concern.

Method

Relevant articles on International Health Regulations and press note releases on the timeline of actions taken against COVID-19 by the World Health Organization and China, the country of origin was selected and critically reviewed.

Results

It is ever evident that travel and outbreak are strongly correlated. International Health Regulations had issued guidelines on travel to ensure uninterrupted International commute and trade at times of an epidemic or pandemic. Despite all these checks and balances, there was a failure in the surveillance of travelers at times of CoVID-19, that had led to the pandemic.

Conclusion

An overview on the timeline of actions taken by the WHO and China during the COVID-19 is drawn and compared to the actions that has been taken during SARS, AH1N1 pandemic