The World Health Organisation has declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. Making the announcement on Wednesday, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said 'pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly'.
Coronavirus, or Covid-19 as it is officially known, has infected more than 118,000 people in 114 countries, and led to 4,291 deaths.
According to the WHO, a pandemic is declared when when a new influenza virus emerges and spreads around the world, and most people do not have immunity.
Influenza pandemics are not hugely common with around three occurring every century for the last 300 years. Viruses that have caused past pandemics typically originated from animal influenza viruses.
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