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THE WORLD HEALTH Organisation (WHO) has called for urgent action to address the emergence of a new and deadly virus, related to the SARs virus.
In a statement issued yesterday, the organisation stressed that the novel coronavirus is distinct from SARs, despite the relation. However, it called for countries to increase their levels of awareness, particularly among health workers.
The virus first emerged in humans last year, with a total of 33 confirmed cases since September, including 18 deaths. More recently, two confirmed cases of human infection were reported in Saudi Arabia, linked to an outbreak in a healthcare facility.
The Saudi government is investigating the outbreak in which 15 people were infected and seven died.
Today WHO said that there are many gaps in its knowledge of the virus, though it does know that the when people get infected, many of them develop severe pneumonia and most of the people infected so far have been older men, often with other medical conditions.
However the organisation said it did not know where the virus lives, how often people might develop mild disease or why it is seeing a pattern of infection in older men.
WHO also said it has not established how people are becoming infected – whether from animals, other people, contaminated surfaces etc. It said different clusters seen in multiple countries “increasingly support the hypothesis that when there is close contact this novel coronavirus can transmit from person-to-person”.
Concern about the spread of the virus
“The greatest global concern, however, is about the potential for this new virus to spread,” WHO said in a statement. “This is partly because the virus has already caused severe disease in multiple countries, although in small numbers, and has persisted in the region since 2012.”
All countries have been called on to increase their level of awareness, especially among staff working in health systems, and to increase their levels of surveillance about the new infection.
“When new cases are found, as is likely, it is critical for countries to report these cases and related information urgently to WHO as required by the International Health Regulations because this is the basis for effective international alertness, preparedness and response,” the organisation said.
It also recommended countries assess their level of readiness if the virus should spread and said WHO is ready to assist them in these tasks.
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Stop all physical contact between all people.
@Mary Murphy: so you’d be happy to have a stranger grab your arse?
This has given me the courage to tell my story:
one time many years ago I was in a church and mid way through the mass the priest walked over and caught my hand and just started shaking it while whispering something like piece of you, next the elderly woman next to me did the same and then the man to my right. I’ve never felt so violated!
@Mary Murphy: We are social animals, touching and contact is part of who we are. You want to stop all contact, between humans because of a few perverts and are you human Mary?
@Stephen murphy: I think she may have been speaking sarcastically
@Mary Murphy: women should now stand back and let men leave lifts first – just in case
@lavbeer: Yes and whatever you do when you are in the lift don’t ask a lady if she is going down
@Dermot Lane: id love if someone grabbed my arse, feel so left out of this touchy feelie stuff. maybe I’m hanging out in the wrong places?
I think if you asked every woman over the age of 35 if they’ve ever had somebody touch them inappropriately or make crude sexual remarks or suggestions to them I would think almost all of them would say yes. Long and short of it is that while the majority of these incidents were at best irritating and at worst upsetting they do not amount to sexual assault. Sexual assault is serious and life destroying…… Don’t trivialize it
@AP: She was lucky he was in a wheelchair…
@AP: Almost everyone will have had this happen.
Show me a person (male or female) who hasn’t had his arse pinched or crotch grabbed without consent
@Ían Ó Ceallaigh: It never happened to me…I’m….just…..so….lonely!
@Ían Ó Ceallaigh: if you read back you might notice I said have inappropriate comments or remarks made …… it is actually true …… No need to be crude to get your point across
Him and his son are creeps, not surprised.
At the same time it’s becoming a fashion statement to say you’ve been sexually assaulted like it’s trendy to be offended by absolutely everything theses days.
@name cannot be blank: HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT!!!!!!!!
@name cannot be blank: only someone whose never experienced sexually assault would make a stupid statement like that. Would you feel the same way if a close relative of yours was sexually assaulted? I hope not!
@name cannot be blank: she should receive compensation!!
@Emma Weldon:
If it was a close relative of mine I’d still be asking why now and not 4 years ago when it happened. Is that not a fair question to ask?
@Emma Weldon: I was sexually abused when I was younger, about 8-9 years old by a stranger and to be honest I feel the same as what “name cannot be blank” these people are practically equating a touch on the bum to rape,. I’ve also found that humour, sarcasm and cynicism helps me and the majority of humans deal with trauma and such so please don’t get offended on my behalf, im a big boy and understand not everyone thinks like you or I which is what makes life interesting.
@Emma Weldon:
And he grabbed her arse, he didn’t rape her(not that he be able to anyway) she’s just jumping on the bandwagon.
He’s a creep and a war criminal like his son so I’m not one bit surprised he feels entitled or grab who ever he likes but let’s keep things in perspective in relation to her claims.
She’s seen all these Harvey Weinstein allegations and a trendy #metoo on twitter and said to herself “aul lad bush rubbed my arse years ago!! I’m jumping on the bandwagon!!!”
@name cannot be blank: you’re right, it seems to be trendy to be the victim these day’s…
and trivializes victims of horrendous abuse..
the women who have suffered under Harvey weinstien having there situation highjacked by headline grabbers grinds my gears….
@Simon Carroll: totally agree with you.
i was too when I was a kid, this band wagon jumping makes me so annoyed..
I remember at school, young guys and girls alike would rub their hand along the blackboard and then leave a large white hand print on the bum of the opposite sex. Harmless fun and now probably a criminal offence.
@Simon O’Connor: we have to teach our children not to let anybody touch them inappropriately…… now we’ll have to tell them do not touch anybody anywhere anytime ever …… cos they might not like that at lunch time in the junior infants yard…… I shudder to think what society will be like in 20 years time with people going around afraid to assume gender, speak or touch without causing offence.
Maybe he should apologise for sanctioning the killing of untold innocent men women and children first.
This is getting stupid now
@Simon O’Connor: it gone stupid with a while…
@Simon O’Connor: agreed and while certainly inappropriate it’s a bit of a stretch to call it sexual assault.
@Simon O’Connor: Yes this type of carry on diminishes actual abuse cases unless there is a hidden history of this carry on
@Simon O’Connor: agreed .
@Simon O’Connor: men who have never been groped by another man say it’s ok to do it because they don’t find it offensive. So it’s ok for another man to grab your partner or daughter by the ass? This is where it starts.
@Deborah Behan: I was sexually abused when when youngerwhen I was younger Deborah and I agree with Simon, this is ridiculous, practically equating an graze of the bum to rape, he’s in a wheelchair, while that doesn’t give him a right to do it, it does as stated mean when posing for photos his arm is perfect height to be placed at waist/hip level, all it would take is a sneeze,cough,shudder and a hand could be misplaced.
Has anyone seen this weeks video from Corey Feldman – the kid from the Goonies, Stand By Me, The Lost Boys etc.
He’s lawyering up in preparation to bring down a massive paedophilia ring in Hollywood with some very high profile predators.
This could get interesting
@Simon O’Connor: I love the Goonies.
I don’t know why women don’t just turn around and slap the chops of their groper at the very moment of “the assualt”, instead of stewing on it for years and making a big deal of it in the meeja. Just deal with it at source, do yourself and the world a massive favour.
@Zx5vZulB: yeah if you can immediately get over the shock of it just start a physical fight with a stranger who has no problem grabbing / touching a stranger inappropriately and is probably physically stronger than you, what could go wrong? I guess she’d have been safe enough slapping a former president in a wheelchair, at least until his security stepped in.
Someone touched my arse once. Scarred for life, i say scarred for life
The next time a woman smiles at me and exposes part of her breasts via a purposely designed deep cut in her top I’m going to contact the cops. It’s happening far too often.
@William Grogan: Wow William …you must be some ride
Ffs get over it
Is this a joke? He has been accused of far worse than that with minors.
I have a great way of dealing with that . No screaming no scandal , I just nicely smiled at the gropper and said mr . ****** I know I am only an employee ( I did work for him some five years ) and that’s your company .
I am a great sport so if you wanna play with me that’s fine but remember I will play too , in front of your wife and the boys , how about that ? And I smiled even brighter .
He NEVER done it again
Why don’t they tie his hands down.
Send him to jail for life. Life I say!!!
Video or gfy
So putting your hand on an ass cheek is sexual assault? Surely it’s inappropriate contact not sexual assault.
Christ that’s halarious
FFS!
have your say