Annual epidemics of influenza worldwide cause between 3 and 5 million cases of serious illnesses, and between 290,000 and 650,000 deaths from respiratory causes.
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While the outbreak of the new coronavirus 2019-nCoV captures the attention of the international community in recent weeks, another viral epidemic affects countries around the world: the flu season. But what do they have in common and which one should we care more about?
Deaths and infected
At the moment, the number of fatalities for the 2019-nCoV is around 500, while those infected worldwide are more than 20,000.
Meanwhile, annual influenza epidemics worldwide cause between 3 and 5 million cases of serious illnesses and between 290,000 and 650,000 respiratory deaths, according to the WHO. In the US alone, the flu has already caused some 19 million patients, 180,000 hospitalizations and 10,000 deaths this season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
symptom
Both seasonal and 2019-nCoV flu are contagious viruses that cause respiratory diseases.
Seasonal influenza is characterized by a sudden onset of fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, discomfort, sore throat and runny nose. Most people recover within a week without the need for medical attention (the cough can last two weeks or more), but sometimes the flu can cause serious illness or death.
The most common symptoms of the new coronavirus are fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to a study of about 100 infected people, published on January 30 in The Lancet. Only about 5% of patients reported a sore throat and runny nose, and only between 1 and 2% had diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
Contagion rate
To determine how easily a virus spreads, scientists use the ‘basic reproduction number’, or R0, which estimates the average number of people who contract the virus from a single infected.
The flu has an R0 value of approximately 1.3. In turn, the new coronavirus would have an R0 of 2.2, according to a study published last week in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Pandemics
Seasonal flu, which causes outbreaks every year, should not be confused with pandemic flu, or a global outbreak of a new flu virus. This happened in 2009 with the swine flu pandemic, which killed between 151,000 and 575,000 people worldwide. There is currently no flu pandemic.
The 2019-nCoV outbreak has not yet been declared a pandemic, since most cases have been registered in China. However, on January 30, WHO announced that the disease represents a “public health emergency of international concern.”
Prevention
Unlike seasonal flu, for which there is a vaccine that protects against infection, currently there is no vaccine for 2019-nCoV. However, both China and scientists from other countries are already developing one. This Wednesday it has transpired that a leading British scientist has made significant progress in the race to obtain the coronavirus vaccine, so that they could reduce the time of their development from the “conventional two or three years” to only 14 days “.
To reduce the risk of infection, CDC experts advise following the following recommendations:
- Wash your hands frequently using soap and for at least 20 seconds
- Avoid contact of dirty hands with eyes, nose and mouth
- Avoid close contact with people suffering from the symptoms of the virus
- Avoid direct contact without protection with animals live and surfaces in contact with animals if you visit markets in the areas where new coronavirus cases are registered
- Avoid eating raw or undercooked animal products.
On the other hand, those who present with the symptoms of coronavirus should also take certain measures so as not to endanger the life or health of other people:
- Avoid close contact with other people
- Disinfect surfaces and objects with which it comes into contact.
Why is there so much panic for the coronavirus and not for the flu?
Scientists have studied seasonal flu for decades, but they still know very little about 2019-nCoV. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the US, explained on January 31 that, “despite the morbidity and mortality” from influenza, there is a “certainty” about seasonal flu, well it is known that, when arriving in March and April, their cases will decrease. “The problem now with [2019-nCoV] is that there are many unknowns, “he said in a press conference at the White House.
“The flu is an old friend, or should I say, enemy, “William Schaffner of the University of Vanderbilt (USA) points out in statements to The Hill.” We know her well, so she doesn’t panic us, “he added.
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