On January 23, in reaction to central authorities' decision to enforce a travel ban on Wuhan, WHO Representative Gauden Galea noted that while this was "definitely not a recommendation from WHO", it was however a "very important indication of the commitment to contain the epidemic where it is most concentrated" and he spoke of a fact "unprecedented in the history of public health ". On January 30, following confirmation of human-to-human transmission outside China and rising cases in other countries, the WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of major concern. (USPPI), the sixth USPPI since the measure was invoked during the 2009 influenza A pandemic.
Tarehe 23 Januari, kama itikio kwa uamuzi wa mamlaka ya kati kutekeleza vikwazo vya usafiri Wuhan, mwakilishi wa WHO Gauden Galea alisema kuwa ilhali ilikuwa &quot;kwa hakika si pendekezo WHO ilitoa&quot;, ilikuwa pia &quot;ishara muhimu wa kujitolea kudhibiti janga hili mahali ambapo imeenea sana&quot;. Tarehe 30 Januari, kufuatia uthibitisho wa kuambukizwa kati ya binadamu nje ya Uchina na kuongezeka katika nambari ya visa katika nchi zingine, WHO ilitangaza mkurupuko huu kuwa Dharura ya Kimataifa ya Afya ya Umma (PHEIC), PHEIC ya sita kutokea hatua ya kwanza kuwekwa wakati wa janga la mafua la nguruwe ya 2009.