A senior WHO official clarified statements that she said infection from people with Covid-19 who did not show symptoms of the disease was "very rare", speaking of a "misunderstanding" of her words.
The head of the WHO's Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases Unit, Maria Van Kerkhof, said that several studies conducted in different countries showed that transmission of the virus from people without symptoms of Covid-19 is "very rare".
Her comments, which have been widely reported by social media users, have generated many reactions in the scientific community.
Liam Smith, professor of clinical epidemiology at the University of London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said he was "very surprised" by the WHO official.
"There is still scientific fog, but the infection without symptoms may include 30% to 50% of cases. And the best scientific studies lead to the belief that up to half of the infected people have passed on to the infection from people who have no symptoms or have symptoms in its stages Preliminary. "
The controversy prompted Maria Van Kerkhove to write a new Tweet on Twitter to explain her position.
"Carrying out comprehensive studies of infected people who do not show symptoms of the disease is a difficult task, but the evidence available by tracking contact with these people by the Member States (of the organization) leads to the belief that the possibility of transmitting the virus from infected people who do not show any symptoms is much lower," she said. Compared to those who have symptoms. "
During a photo discussion on Tuesday via the World Health Organization account on Twitter on Tuesday, Van Kerkhof explained that what she mentioned was "based on a few studies that do not exceed two or three."
"I was not talking about a policy approved by the World Health Organization," she said.
"I used the phrase" very rare "and I suspect that saying that transmission of infections from people who do not show symptoms is very rare in general is a misunderstanding. What I was referring to is the result of studies."
"World Health" clarifies "misunderstanding" about the statements of the transmission of "Corona" infection
2020-06-10T19:15:14.290Z
A high-ranking official in the World Health Organization clarified statements that she said that infection from people with Covid-19 who do not show symptoms of the disease is "very rare", speaking of "misunderstanding" of her words.
Source: emara