Countries must shift mindset to virus preparedness: WHO

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The World Health Organization is warning countries to do more to prepare for coronavirus, saying the disease is "literally knocking at the door".

Speaking from Geneva, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier drew a comparison to Italy's own outbreak -- the biggest in Europe -- where he said the response was "pretty strong".

Italy's effectively quarantined some towns around Milan, for example, with populations in the tens of thousands.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) SPOKESMAN, CHRISTIAN LINDMEIER, SAYING:

"Medical authorities have to be ready, medical staff have to be trained and there needs to be the protective measures for the population and the medical authorities at the same time."

Many countries have "pandemic plans" ready and some may act upon them depending on their situation, but at the moment the WHO says it's not preparing another "big announcement" such as when it declared an international emergency on Jan. 30, Lindmeier said.

Italy's death toll rose to at least 7 on Tuesday (February 25). New cases climbed above 280.

Spain has also now reported a first coronavirus case on its mainland, after a woman tested positive in Barcelona. On the Canary Island of Tennerife, a hotel remains on locked down after one of its guests, an Italian doctor vacationing there, had tested positive.

Iran meanwhile has the highest number of coronavirus deaths outside China, where the virus emerged in December and more than 2,600 have died.

That country's own Deputy Health Minister and a member of parliament have tested positive for the coronavirus as the death toll there rose to 16.

Iranians worry that authorities could be underestimating the scale of outbreak. This was the health minister on TUESDAY?

(SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN DEPUTY HEALTH MINISTER, IRAJ HARIRCHI, SAYING:

"I'm starting my treatment and my general condition is not bad. I had fever which God willing will decrease."

A World Health Organization mission to Iran, which had been announced for Tuesday, has been delayed and he had no date for its departure.