WHO is concerned about the risk of a new variant appearing in North Korea

People watch news about the COVID-19 epidemic situation in North Korea – Photo: REUTERS

According to AFP news agency, Mike Ryan, WHO’s emergency director, said that if North Korea does not control the spread, there is a higher risk of new variants emerging.

Meanwhile, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also expressed deep concern about the further spread of the COVID-19 epidemic in North Korea.

“WHO is deeply concerned about the risk of further spread of COVID-19 in the country, especially because of the unvaccinated population and many people with underlying medical conditions that put them at risk of severe illness and death.” Mr. Tedros said.

“WHO has asked North Korea to share data and information,” the WHO chief added. Earlier, the WHO said that Pyongyang had not yet officially reported an outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.

According to Tedros, WHO has also offered to provide technical assistance and other medical supplies, including test kits, pharmaceuticals and vaccines to help Pyongyang contain the spread of COVID-19.

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on May 18, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un criticized officials in the response to the COVID-19 epidemic in the country. Accordingly, Kim said that the government’s weakness in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis had increased “complexity and difficulty” in the fight against the epidemic.

On May 18, North Korea recorded an additional 232,880 cases of fever and six deaths since the country first reported the COVID-19 outbreak last week. North Korea did not say how many people tested positive for COVID-19.

Since the first recorded COVID-19 outbreak, North Korea has reported more than 1.72 million cases of fever, including 62 deaths.

North Korea is dealing with its first COVID-19 outbreak, raising fears of a major crisis in the country due to a lack of vaccines and limited medical infrastructure.

According to KCNA, emergency epidemic prevention and control agencies across the country have focused on raising public awareness of the importance of checking and preventing the source of infection. In addition, functional forces have carried out disinfection measures at working and living areas.

Pharmaceutical factories across North Korea have ramped up production. About 11,000 staff, lecturers and students from medical institutions across the country have been mobilized to examine and treat people with fever.