World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday there was no need for measures that "unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade" in trying to halt the spread of novel coronavirus outbreak in China.

"We call on all countries to implement decisions that are evidence-based and consistent," he told the WHO Executive Board, reiterating his earlier message.

Ghebreyesus stressed at a press conference last week that the WHO discourages or even opposes restrictions of travel and trade, saying its emergency committee on the virus "does not recommend any travel or trade restriction based on the current information available."

The WHO recommended all countries accelerate the development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.

"Our global consecutiveness is a weakness in this outbreak but it is also our greater strength," Ghebreyesus said in his latest remarks.

He emphasized that the only way to defeat the outbreak is worldwide cooperation and called on all countries to share "data, sequences, knowledge and experiences" and "work together in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation."

The chief also underscored the importance of investing in preparedness rather than panic as well as the lessons people can learn from both the novel coronavirus and Ebola outbreaks.

"For too long, the world has operated on a cycle of panic and neglect. We throw money at an outbreak, and when it's over, we forget about it and do nothing to prevent the next one," he added.

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