Thread by @kakape

.@DrTedros uses beginning of daily presser to remind people that @WHO is also still fighting an #Ebola epidemic in DRC. "Although the world is now focussed on coronavirus, we cannot and must not forget Ebola."

@DrTedros @WHO Only 3 cases in last week. "But until we have no cases for 42 days, it is not over.” Ebola emergency committee is meeting again tomorrow to decide whether the outbreak still is a #PHEIC.

@DrTedros @WHO .@DrTedros explains that the name needed to avoid referencing a location, animal, individual or group of people. Also needed to be pronouncable. So: #COVID19

@DrTedros @WHO "Having a name matters to prevent the use of other names that can be inaccurate or stigmatizing. It also gives us a standard format to use for any future coronavirus outbreaks"

@DrTedros @WHO Confusing info on question of whether China changed case definition on #COVID19 #2019nCoV: @SCBriand says China EXPANDED the case definition to include asymptomatic cases, when they test positive. Hope someone asks again to clarify.

@DrTedros @WHO @SCBriand .@DrTedros reiterates that he worries about what happens if #2019nCoV starts spreading in a country with a weaker health system: "It will create havoc. It will”. #COVID19

@DrTedros @WHO @SCBriand .@DrTedros keeps comparing #2019nCov and #Ebola. His point is that it worked to contain Ebola in DRC and that the same strategy can still work in China: “Hammer the source. Hammer the epicentre. Slow or prevent spread of the virus to the rest of the world.” #COVID19

@DrTedros @WHO @SCBriand Glad that @DrTedros is now pointing out that #2019nCov has more potential to cause havoc than #Ebola. The comparison will only go so far...

@DrTedros @WHO @SCBriand My colleague @sciencecohen just asked about virus vs. disease name. Answer: #COVID19 is the disease name. The virus itself will still be named by virologists. So for now we have the virus #2019nCov and the disease #COVID19.

@DrTedros @WHO @SCBriand @sciencecohen Asked about results from testing of animals at Wuhan seafood market, @SCBriand says "they have done a lot of samples in various animal species, but have not found yet, which intermediate species could have” amplified the virus (assuming it comes from bats). #2019nCoV