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In this Feb. 2, 2020, file photo, a military officer wearing a protective suit gives instructions to evacuees from Wuhan, China, as they travel to a hospital after their arrival at a military base in Wroclaw, Poland. Arek and Jenina Rataj were starting a new life in the Chinese industrial center of Wuhan when a viral outbreak spread across the city of 11 million. While they were relatively safe sheltering at home, Arek felt compelled to go out and document the outbreak of the new type of coronavirus. Among his subjects: the construction of a new hospital built in a handful of days; biosecurity check points; and empty streets. (AP Photo/Arek Rataj, File) |
As confirmed cases of the Wuhan coronavirus continued to rise, death toll continued to rise as well – with 97 more fatalities blamed on the infection on Sunday alone. The total for the day broke the virus’ record for the number of deaths in a single day, according to NPR.
The total number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus has reached 43,106, compared to the 8,100 total SARS cases in 2002-03 after being transmitted for eight months, Bloomberg reported.
Compared to SARS’ mortality rate of 10 percent, the coronavirus is lower at 2 percent. However, the coronavirus has spread at a more rapid pace. In the 2002-03 outbreak, which also started in China, SARS was blamed for 774 deaths, meaning that deaths from the coronavirus have already surpassed the number of fatalities caused by SARS after less than two months.
A total of 3,575 people have reportedly been cured of the coronavirus so far. None of those cured were from Europe or North America.
Anthony S. Fauci, head of the U.S. National Institute of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told Bloomberg that he “can’t guarantee” that China has reported the correct number of cases. He also said U.S. officials are hoping to be able to send a team of their own into China to monitor and study the outbreak themselves.
Bloomberg further reported that Wuhan’s health services are not adequately equipped to handle such an outbreak, and the ability to care for each patient is “limited.” Mild cases may also be missed.
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In this Jan. 28, 2020, file photo, a worker wearing a face mask sprays disinfectant along a path in Wuhan in central China’s Hubei Province. Halting the spread of a new virus that has killed hundreds in China is difficult in part because important details about the illness and how it spreads are still unknown. (AP Photo/Arek Rataj, File) |
After 17,000 patients were analyzed, The World Health Organization (WHO) determined 82 percent had “mild” cases, according to Bloomberg. More than 6,400 cases are reportedly considered “severe.”
Adam Kucharski, an associate professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, told Bloomberg that the peak of the virus is expected to hit around mid-to late February. He said at its peak, the virus may affect 1 in 20 people in Wuhan, or 500,000 people within the quarantined city.
AccuWeather founder Dr. Joel N. Myers said the rapid spread of the virus may have weather-related reasons.
“Right now and over the next several months, because of the weak sun and the colder temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere, the weather may be helping to spread the virus,” Myers said last week while pointing out that health officials still don’t know if weather impacts the spread of the coronavirus.
“However, based on what we’ve seen from past flus and viruses, including the SARS virus and others, there is less viral spread when the sun is strong and the temperatures are warm from May to September. It’s possible the sunshine intensity, the longer daylight periods and the warmer weather could suppress the virus in the summer months,” he added.
“Still, this coronavirus may be very different – and we’re just learning about it. The possibility is this does not behave like all of the others and that it does not decline once the sun gets stronger and the temperatures increase throughout the spring and summer,” Myers said. “Instead, if it continues to compound through the entire spring and summer it may infect millions and become a pandemic.”
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Of the more than 40,000 coronavirus cases that have been reported, 136 of those have been on the now-quarantined Cruise Ship Diamond Princess – 66 of the cases being newly confirmed, The Guardian reported.
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Officials with protective suites prepare work around the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess in the Yokohama Port Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, Yokohama, Japan. Japan’s health ministry said Monday that about 60 more people on the quarantined cruise ship have tested positive for a new virus. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) |
Monday, Feb. 10, marks one week into the ship’s quarantine, which is expected to last 14 days. The quarantine is scheduled to end on Feb. 19, although the WHO reports that the quarantine may be extended if it is deemed necessary due to close contact with confirmed cases.
The WHO reported further that all passengers have been asked to remain in their cabins and wear masks when in communal spaces. Passengers who have tested positive for the virus were disembarked and admitted to infectious disease hospitals located on land in Yokohama, Japan.
Among 3,700 passengers aboard the ship, 600 need medications, and Japan’s health ministry reported to have delivered medications to half of those people over the weekend, according to the Guardian.
In the most recent situation report posted on Feb. 9, the WHO reported China at “very high” in its risk assessment, and regional and global levels to be “high.”
The WHO further reported that no new cases have turned up countries where cases have not been previously confirmed since Belgium confirmed one case on Feb. 5. At least 26 countries have reported cases of the virus.
From Feb. 11-12, WHO will be holding a “global research and innovation forum,” to share and discuss research, and aims to create an agenda for global research on the virus.
WHO reports the forum will “fast-track the development and evaluation of effective diagnostic tests, vaccines and medicines, while establishing mechanisms for affordable access to vulnerable populations and facilitating community engagement.”
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