Paris (AFP)

The word "pandemic" indicates an epidemic which spreads on a world scale: this stage could soon be reached by Covid-19, without being the subject of a formal declaration by the WHO (World Organization health).

"We must focus on containment (of the epidemic, note), while doing everything we can to prepare for a possible pandemic," assured Tuesday the head of the specialized agency of the United Nations, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus .

"The concept of a pandemic assumes that the entire world population is likely to be exposed to an infection and that a part of it may potentially fall ill," said Dr Michael Ryan, director of the Emergency Program, the day before. WHO.

For the time being, the WHO considers that Covid-19, a disease caused by the new coronavirus, does not meet this definition.

"What we are witnessing are epidemics in different parts of the world, which affect countries in different ways and which require tailor-made responses," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

But if this appreciation were to change, it would not be the subject of a formal and official declaration of the WHO, contrary to the classification of Covid-19 as "public health emergency of international scope" on January 30.

In fact, it was this classification that had led to the implementation of global measures to try to stop the epidemic.

If it judges that Covid-19 is indeed a pandemic, the WHO would simply start using this word, which comes from ancient Greek (pan: everything, demos: people).

The lack of a formal declaration stems from the fact that the organization responsible for public health issues worldwide has abandoned its old warning system. It included six phases, and phase 6 corresponded to a classification as a pandemic, which had for example been the case for the influenza A / H1N1 of 2009.

"Leaving aside terminology issues, our advice remains the same and we continue to work with states to limit transmission of the virus while preparing for wider spread," said a WHO spokesperson. .

"We can consider that this is a pandemic in all respects except the name, and it is just a matter of time before the WHO begins to use this term," said a British specialist, the Dr Bharat Pankhania (University of Exeter).

"Words like + pandemic + divert attention: what is needed is to understand the situation in each country," said another expert, Professor David Heymann (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine). .

"We need facts, not fears," insists Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "Using the word pandemic does not correspond to the facts at the moment, but it could certainly cause fears. Now is not the time to focus on the word we use: it will not prevent any infection or will save no life. "

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