According to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), the institution considers the outbreaks of the new coronavirus in South Korea, Japan, Italy, and Iran to be the most worrying.
During a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland, last Monday (2), the WHO chief expressed concern, but persisted that the outbreaks could be contained.
Tedros reported that Iran, the country that after China, has recorded the highest number of deaths due to the coronavirus. It received a WHO team to deliver medical supplies and support local authorities in fighting the outbreak.
The director-general also spoke about eight countries that are two weeks without new records of the case. Adding that these countries have been able to contain the outbreaks. Tedros said that in China, the number of new cases of infection is decreasing. For him, this fact is an indication that it is possible to contain the spread, even in areas where there are a large number of cases of the virus. “The decline has been constant,” he said.
In the last 24 hours, 129 new cases of infection were registered in the country. It was the lowest number since January 20.
The doctor also pointed out that the coronavirus cannot be treated as if it were a common flu, as it is not transmitted with the same effective form. And that the disease has severe consequences. “Globally, 3.4% of people with coronavirus have died. For comparison, seasonal flu usually kills less than 1% of those infected,” he explained, adding that only 1% of cases do not show a symptom.
coronavirus vs flu
Another difference between the flu is that the coronavirus does not yet have vaccines and remedies that have been proven against the virus. "However, clinical trials of the drug are ongoing and more than 20 vaccines are being developed." reported.
Researchers recommend that for the risk of infection to be lower, it is important for people to choose outdoor activities or activities that involve as little contact with other individuals as possible. And they suggest keeping an arm's length distance when talking to other people.
