EDITORIAL: All eyes on coronavirus
WORK has already started on developing three possible vaccines to treat the coronavirus that has caused a disease outbreak in China. According to reports, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), which is funding two of the projects and co-funding the third, has plans to have at least one vaccine in clinical trials by June 2020, allowing shots of the vaccine to become possible in a year.
This comes even as the World Health Organisation (WHO) decided not to declare the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak a global emergency, despite the spread of the dangerous respiratory infection from China, to at least five other countries.
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold, to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.
On 31 December 2019, the WHO China Country Office was informed of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China. A novel coronavirus was identified as the causative virus, by Chinese authorities earlier this month.
Now according to the New York Times, “Although the disease has reached beyond China, the number of cases in other countries is still relatively small, and the disease does not seem to be spreading within those countries, agency officials said. Of 584 cases now reported, 575 of them and all the deaths have been in China, according to the WHO.”
“At this time, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission outside China,” Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO’s director general, said at a news conference in Geneva. “That doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Make no mistake. This is an emergency in China, but it has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one.”
It has meanwhile been noted that the committee weighing the decision has been divided, with some expressing their feelings that the course of the outbreak warrants an emergency declaration, whilst others have suggested that it was too soon to decide, given the limited number of cases in countries outside China, as well as China’s efforts to contain the virus.
However, the WHO may be asked to reconsider declaring an emergency, even within a matter of days, if more evidence emerges to prove that the outbreak poses a global threat.
Now here in Barbados and across the Caribbean, reports are that there’s a low risk when it comes to threats from the virus. Yet, we must not be complacent in our “just in case” preparatory efforts. The WHO recently published a range of interim guidance for all countries on how they can prepare for this virus, including how to monitor for sick people, test samples, treat patients, control infection in health centres, maintain the right supplies, and communicate with the public about this new virus.
Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.
Based on currently available information, WHO does not recommend any restriction of travel or trade. Countries are however encouraged to continue strengthening their preparedness for health emergencies, in keeping with the International Health Regulations of 2005.