Thread by @WHO

LIVE: Media briefing on global health issues with @DrTedros twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

"In #EquatorialGuinea, WHO is on the ground with partners, supporting the Ministry of Health to respond to the #Marburg outbreak. We have deployed teams to assist with case finding, clinical care, logistics, and community engagement"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "The number of officially reported #Marburg cases remains at 9, with 7 deaths, in three provinces. However, these three provinces are 150 kilometres apart, suggesting wider transmission of the virus"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1641068319061995521?s=20

@DrTedros "WHO is aware of additional #Marburg cases, and we have asked the government to report these cases officially to WHO"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1641068568069414914?s=20

@DrTedros "In #Tanzania, the number of confirmed #Marburg cases remains at 8, with 5 deaths. Three people are currently being treated in a health facility. Two health workers are among the confirmed cases, including one death. So far, all of the reported cases are in one region"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "WHO & partners incl. @UNICEF, the @CDCgov & @MSF have offered support to the government to bridge any gaps in the response. As we said last week, WHO is working to integrate research into the response, incl. trials of vaccines & therapeutics"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1641068840963506176?s=20

@DrTedros @UNICEF @CDCgov @MSF "A WHO committee has now reviewed the evidence for four vaccines. Trial protocols are ready, and our partners are ready to support the trials"-@DrTedros #Marburg

@DrTedros @UNICEF @CDCgov @MSF "We look forward to working with the governments of both countries [#EquatorialGuinea, #Tanzania] to begin these trials as soon as possible – to help prevent cases and deaths now and in future #Marburg outbreaks"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @UNICEF @CDCgov @MSF "The outbreaks of #Marburg virus disease are another reminder that we can only truly protect human health if we also protect the health of animals and our planet, which sustains all life. We call this a “One Health” approach"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @UNICEF @CDCgov @MSF "#OneHealth is not a new concept. For decades, WHO has been working with @FAO and @WOAH in a tripartite partnership, to address the health risks that arise from the interactions between humans, animals and the environment"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @UNICEF @CDCgov @MSF @FAO @WOAH "Since the #COVID19 pandemic began, there has been a renewed realization that we need to broaden the #OneHealth approach, and make it a reality, not just a concept.
Last year, the tripartite became a quadripartite with the addition of @UNEP"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @UNICEF @CDCgov @MSF @FAO @WOAH @UNEP "This week, the quadripartite held its Executive Annual Meeting, here at WHO in Geneva. Together, we released a call to action to translate the #OneHealth concept into concrete policy action in countries"-@DrTedros bit.ly/40qsrKC

@DrTedros @UNICEF @CDCgov @MSF @FAO @WOAH @UNEP "We are calling on countries to prioritize #OneHealth, by strengthening the policies, strategies, plans, evidence, investment and workforce needed to properly address the threats that arise from our relationship with animals and the environment"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @UNICEF @CDCgov @MSF @FAO @WOAH @UNEP "The quadripartite this week endorsed a draft guide for the implementation of the #OneHealth Joint Plan of Action.
We're also pleased to see that One Health has been included as a key principle in the “zero draft” of the #PandemicAccord that countries are negotiating"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @UNICEF @CDCgov @MSF @FAO @WOAH @UNEP "A #OneHealth approach will be essential for preventing viruses from spilling over from animals to humans. That’s how many outbreaks have started, including HIV, Marburg, Ebola, avian influenza, mpox, MERS and the SARS epidemic in 2003"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @UNICEF @CDCgov @MSF @FAO @WOAH @UNEP "One of the most instrumental people in identifying SARS as a new and deadly disease was Dr Carlo Urbani, who was the director of infectious diseases for @WHOWPRO, working in Vietnam"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/DrTedros/status/1641067911765794820?s=20

@DrTedros @UNICEF @CDCgov @MSF @FAO @WOAH @UNEP @WHOWPRO "One day, Dr Urbani received a call from a hospital in Hanoi to assist in investigating what appeared to be a severe case of flu. After examining the patient, he realised it was not flu, and something else was going on"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1641070712210202630?s=20

@DrTedros @UNICEF @CDCgov @MSF @FAO @WOAH @UNEP @WHOWPRO "Dr Urbani’s rapid actions were critical in helping to contain the epidemic by triggering a global response that was key to stopping the outbreak in Vietnam, and saving countless lives around the world"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1641070799086821377?s=20

@DrTedros @UNICEF @CDCgov @MSF @FAO @WOAH @UNEP @WHOWPRO "Recognizing that this new disease was highly contagious, Dr Urbani decided to spend several days at the hospital coordinating infection prevention and control procedures, quarantine interventions and maintaining the morale of hospital staff"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1641070902216368130?s=20

@DrTedros @UNICEF @CDCgov @MSF @FAO @WOAH @UNEP @WHOWPRO "The following month, during a flight to Bangkok, Dr Urbani developed symptoms of SARS, and died of complications related to the disease less than three weeks later. He was 46 years old, and left behind his wife and their three children"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1641070969472139265?s=20

@DrTedros @UNICEF @CDCgov @MSF @FAO @WOAH @UNEP @WHOWPRO "On Saturday, I will have the honour of participating in the opening of the Carlo Urbani Museum in his hometown of Castelplanio, Italy.

Today we are honoured to be joined by Dr Urbani’s son, Tommaso"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1641071067891466242?s=20

@DrTedros @UNICEF @CDCgov @MSF @FAO @WOAH @UNEP @WHOWPRO "As we look ahead to #WHO75 anniversary next week, Dr Urbani embodies what WHO is all about: incredible people who do incredible things, sometimes at their own risk, to protect others"-@DrTedros bit.ly/42H2sjs