Countries around the world need to follow China's example when fighting and preparing for COVID-19, a top World Health Organization (WHO) expert said on Tuesday upon returning from the epicenter of the outbreak.  

Describing the response as "striking," Bruce Aylward, head of the joint WHO-China mission, said: "In 30 years of doing this business, I've not seen this before, nor was I sure it would work."  

Aylward warned that the rest of world "was not ready" to deal with the virus, although "they could get ready fast" should they replicate responses undertaken by China.