Global Pandemic Headquarters WHO Also Faces Cluster Infection... 65 Cases Reported

Confirmed Cluster Infection of 65 People... 5 Recent Cases
About 2,400 Staff at WHO Headquarters Building... Concerns Over Additional Infections

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), it has been revealed that 65 employees at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, known as the international command center for infectious diseases, have been collectively infected with COVID-19. Among these infected individuals, 5 were recently confirmed positive, and an epidemiological investigation is currently underway to identify the infection routes.

According to the Associated Press (AP) on the 16th (local time), WHO sent an internal email to staff announcing the recent cluster of COVID-19 infections at the WHO headquarters. Raul Thomas, WHO Chief Operating Officer, stated in an email sent to employees on the 13th that a total of 65 employees have tested positive since the COVID-19 outbreak, with 32 of them infected within the Geneva headquarters.

Among these, 49 were infected within the past 8 weeks, while the infection timing of the remaining 16 is unclear. Of the 5 recently confirmed headquarters staff, 4 belong to the same team, and the other is a contact of these individuals. All have been classified as mild cases and are reportedly isolating at home.

The AP quoted a WHO official who requested anonymity, stating that among the confirmed cases is an infectious disease management expert from the leadership team of WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Maria Pankerckhuber, head of the WHO COVID-19 technical team, said, "The recently confirmed cases may have been infected outside the headquarters building, and an investigation is currently underway to trace the transmission routes." Approximately 2,400 employees usually work at the WHO headquarters building.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.