Thread by @WHO

Daily media briefing on #2019nCoV with @DrTedros pscp.tv/w/cQ10RTI2MTAy… pscp.tv/w/cQ7NVzI2MTAy…

@DrTedros "I am going to break with tradition & start with a brief update on the #Ebola outbreak in 🇨🇩.
Along with #2019nCoV, it is one of the many disease outbreaks that WHO is combatting around the 🌍. At this moment, our Emergencies division is dealing with 216 ongoing events"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "Since the start of February, there have been three cases of #Ebola in #DRC. It is clearly too soon to celebrate; while there are cases anywhere in 🇨🇩, the risk of spread within the country and to neighboring countries remains very high"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "However, the progress deserves recognition. Despite ongoing security challenges, responders – the majority of whom are local people – have adapted and localized the response to increase its effectiveness and acceptance"-@DrTedros #Ebola #DRC

@DrTedros "With improved therapeutics, which are substantially decreasing mortality, as well as a safe & effective vaccine that has now been licensed, the #Ebola response has dramatically strengthened over time & provides a preparedness blueprint to fight future outbreaks"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "We must use the momentum in #DRC to finish off this #Ebola outbreak and then look to the future by investing in building a strong and resilient health system that can quickly snuff out outbreaks in the future"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "On the #2019nCoV, here are the latest figures: As of earlier today, there were 34,598 confirmed cases in #China, and 723 deaths.

Outside China, there were 288 cases in 24 countries, with 1 death"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "I would also like to speak briefly about the importance of facts not fear in the #2019nCoV outbreak. People must have access to accurate information to protect themselves and others"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "While the #2019nCoV virus spreads, misinformation makes the job of our heroic #healthworkers even harder. It is diverting the attention of decision makers. And it causes confusion and spreads fear to the general public"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "At WHO, we’re not just battling the #2019nCoV virus; we’re also battling the trolls and conspiracy theorists that push misinformation and undermine the outbreak response.

However, WHO and partners are fighting back with a four-pronged approach"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "We’re leveraging our existing network called EPI-WIN – which stands for WHO Information Network for Epidemics. The WHO’s risk communications and ‘infodemic’ management team actively track misinformation, in multiple languages"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "WHO’s ‘infodemics’ team is working hand in glove with our communications department to deliver information to a broader public audience"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros "This includes addressing rumors by publishing “myth busters” and Live Q&A interviews with experts on our website and social channels and through the media"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros "We are also engaging with search, social and digital companies such as @Facebook, @Google, @TencentGlobal, Baidu, @Twitter, @tiktok_uk, Weibo, @Pinterest & others"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @Facebook @Google @TencentGlobal @Twitter @tiktok_uk @Pinterest "We are asking them to filter out false information and promote accurate information from credible sources like WHO, CDC and others. And we thank them for their efforts so far"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros @Facebook @Google @TencentGlobal @Twitter @tiktok_uk @Pinterest "We are connecting with influencers, through @instagram & @YouTube, among others, to help spread factual messages to their followers, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros @Facebook @Google @TencentGlobal @Twitter @tiktok_uk @Pinterest @instagram @YouTube "In essence, to fight the flood of misinformation, we are building a band of truth-tellers that disperse fact and debunk myths"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@DrTedros @Facebook @Google @TencentGlobal @Twitter @tiktok_uk @Pinterest @instagram @YouTube "I want to thank those donors who have made contributions in the past few days since we launched the $675 million appeal to fuel the #2019nCoV response"-@DrTedros

"It is really important to make sure that all activities of the response are adequately funded at WHO & key partners. Just to mention the donors so far & to thank them: 🇺🇸, 🇬🇧, 🇳🇱,🇨🇿 , 🇯🇵, @gatesfoundation & the @wellcometrust"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@gatesfoundation @wellcometrust @DrTedros "But the response requires more funding and we call upon all donors to please step up"-@DrTedros #2019nCoV

@gatesfoundation @wellcometrust @DrTedros The full briefing by @DrTedros to media on #2019nCoV 👇
bit.ly/2OExPqt

Here are some photos from today's media briefing on the #2019nCoV outbreak