Coronavirus
‘rapidly becoming’ disease X we have long feared, says WHO official
is “rapidly becoming” the world’s first true pandemic challenge, fitting the
category of “disease X”, an advisor for the World
Health Organisation (WHO) has warned.
Covid-19 has killed
nearly 2,600 people in mainland China, where
the virus emerged last year, and infected more than 77,000.
nearly 2,600 people in mainland China, where
the virus emerged last year, and infected more than 77,000.
More than 1,200 cases
have been confirmed in 30 other countries, with Japan, South Korea and Italy among
those experiencing large outbreaks and increasing infection rates.
have been confirmed in 30 other countries, with Japan, South Korea and Italy among
those experiencing large outbreaks and increasing infection rates.
It has raised concerns
among officials and scientists that efforts to tackle the coronavirus by
enforcing quarantines are not working.
among officials and scientists that efforts to tackle the coronavirus by
enforcing quarantines are not working.
In the scientific
journal Cell, Marion Koopmans, a professor of
viroscience at Erasmus
University and WHO advisor, said: “Whether it will be contained or
not, this outbreak is rapidly becoming the first true pandemic challenge that
fits the disease X category, listed to the WHO’s priority list of diseases for
which we need to prepare in our current globalized society.”
journal Cell, Marion Koopmans, a professor of
viroscience at Erasmus
University and WHO advisor, said: “Whether it will be contained or
not, this outbreak is rapidly becoming the first true pandemic challenge that
fits the disease X category, listed to the WHO’s priority list of diseases for
which we need to prepare in our current globalized society.”
Disease X is a
placeholder name adopted by the WHO for any new pathogen which may cause
disease and potentially an epidemic in the future but is not yet known to
scientists.
placeholder name adopted by the WHO for any new pathogen which may cause
disease and potentially an epidemic in the future but is not yet known to
scientists.
Dr Koopmans also
accused public health experts and authorities of “wasting precious time” for
not being better prepared against diseases that hold the potential to become
pandemic.
accused public health experts and authorities of “wasting precious time” for
not being better prepared against diseases that hold the potential to become
pandemic.
However the head of the
WHO attempted to reassure the public that coronavirus could still be contained,
while acknowledging it had the “potential” to become a pandemic.
WHO attempted to reassure the public that coronavirus could still be contained,
while acknowledging it had the “potential” to become a pandemic.
“Using the word
pandemic now does not fit the facts, but it may certainly cause fear,” said
Tedros Ghebreyesus.
pandemic now does not fit the facts, but it may certainly cause fear,” said
Tedros Ghebreyesus.
“We must focus on
containment, while doing everything we can to prepare for a potential pandemic.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach.”
containment, while doing everything we can to prepare for a potential pandemic.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach.”
Dr Ghebreyesus said the
sudden increase in cases in Italy, Iran and South Korea were “deeply
concerning” but added: “For the moment, we are not witnessing the uncontained
global spread of this virus, and we are not witnessing large-scale severe
disease or death.”
sudden increase in cases in Italy, Iran and South Korea were “deeply
concerning” but added: “For the moment, we are not witnessing the uncontained
global spread of this virus, and we are not witnessing large-scale severe
disease or death.”
On Monday, health
officials announced that a seventh person had died in Italy after contracting
Covid-19. More than 220 people in the country have been infected with the virus
since Friday, according to the latest data, the vast majority of them in the
regions of Lombardy and Veneto.
officials announced that a seventh person had died in Italy after contracting
Covid-19. More than 220 people in the country have been infected with the virus
since Friday, according to the latest data, the vast majority of them in the
regions of Lombardy and Veneto.
Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman
and Iraq have also recorded their first new coronavirus cases, all people who
had been in Iran, which raised its toll from the disease to 12 dead and 61
infected.
and Iraq have also recorded their first new coronavirus cases, all people who
had been in Iran, which raised its toll from the disease to 12 dead and 61
infected.
Ian Mackay, an
associate professor of virology at the University of Queensland, has suggested
that the recent outbreaks outside China may be just the tip of the iceberg.
associate professor of virology at the University of Queensland, has suggested
that the recent outbreaks outside China may be just the tip of the iceberg.
“Those countries are
canaries in the coalmine that the virus is quite active — a sign that
containment is reaching the end of its applicability,” Mr Mackay said. “There
could be these sorts of spot fires burning everywhere with us not knowing.”
canaries in the coalmine that the virus is quite active — a sign that
containment is reaching the end of its applicability,” Mr Mackay said. “There
could be these sorts of spot fires burning everywhere with us not knowing.”
Another study,
published last week by Imperial College London, said that about two-thirds of
coronavirus cases exported from China have not been detected yet.
published last week by Imperial College London, said that about two-thirds of
coronavirus cases exported from China have not been detected yet.
Additional reporting by
agencies
agencies