Related Articles The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 COVID 19 An emerging global health threat J Infect Public Health 2020 Mar 18 Authors Arshad Ali S Baloch M Ahmed N Arshad Ali A Iqbal A Abstract The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 COVID 19 causing novel coronavirus infected pneumonia NCIP has affected the lives of 71 429 people globally Originating in China the disease has a rapid progression to other countries Research suggests remarkable genomic resemblance of 2019 nCoV with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome SARS which has a history of a pandemic in 2002 With evidence of nosocomial spread a number of diligent measures are being employed to constrain its propagation Hence the Public Health Emergency of International Concern PHEIC has been established by the World Health Organization WHO with strategic objectives for public health to curtail its impact on global health and economy PMID 32199792 PubMed as supplied by publisher