Expert’s view: Is Chinese coronavirus really so dangerous?

January 24, 2020  15:32

Coronavirus 2019-nCoV is now in the limelight, but is it as dangerous as it might seem? In fact, the usual seasonal flu and SARS can be much more dangerous than this virus, according to infectious disease specialist William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

More people will get the flu this winter, and more people will die because of it than because of this coronavirus, he said adding that people are not so afraid of influenza and SARS as the new coronavirus, because they, unlike the latter, seem familiar and understandable. And that can lead to problems.

Symptoms of coronavirus infection are similar to those of influenza and SARS: fever, difficulty breathing, and lung damage (pneumonia). According to experts, the incubation period lasts about two weeks, but these data are not yet accurate.

At least 25 people have already died from the virus, however, it should be noted that most of them had accompanying chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. Moreover, most of the victims were over 80 years old. According to experts, the virus poses less threat to young and healthy people than to older people with existing diseases.

The World Health Organization (WHO), following an emergency meeting, has so far decided not to declare an emergency. However, WHO experts intend to discuss the situation again in the near future.

 Source and photo: NY Times

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