(ECNS) -- "Viruses know no borders and they don't care about your ethnicity, the color of your skin or how much money you have in the bank. So it's really important that we be careful in the language we use lest it leads to profiling of individuals associated with the virus," said Michael Ryan, Executive Director of WHO Health Emergencies Programme, in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's usage of the "Chinese Virus," at a news conference on Wednesday.
"We need solidarity. We need to work together," Ryan said.
There are many different origins. When the pandemic influenza in 2009 originated in North America, we didn't call it the North American flu. So it's very important we have the same approach when it comes to other viruses, Ryan added.
This is the time for solidarity. This is the time for facts. This is the time to move forward together to fight this virus, Ryan said.
