The coronavirus, although "less deadly" than the seasonal flu

The coronavirus discovered in Wuhan is the subject of vigilance worldwide. While the spread, mortality and mutation of this virus are scrutinized, China counted, Thursday, January 30, 170 dead and some 7,700 people infected. Cases have also been recorded around the world, especially in France where five people have been diagnosed and taken care of by the health services. What cause a great concern, even a beginning of psychosis among the population.

Should we fear a pandemic? Is coronavirus more dangerous than another virus? For Sylvie Behillil, deputy head of the National Reference Center for respiratory infection viruses at the Pasteur Institute, it is time to delay. In view of current knowledge, this new virus cannot be compared to that of the flu, responsible each year for a seasonal epidemic in France.

France 24: What do we know about the virulence of this coronavirus?

Dr. Sylvie Behillil : We still have a lot of unknowns for this new virus. It seems quite contagious. It is a virus that would be less virulent than SARS, but for the moment, it is not a virus that we compare to the flu. Currently, there are 6,000 cases worldwide of infection with this new virus, just over a hundred deaths. You should know that the flu in France kills around 10,000 people every year! Some years record 9,000 deaths, others up to 15,000 [worldwide, WHO figures give a range between 290,000 and 650,000 people who die from the flu each year, note]. Influenza is a virus for which we have a vaccine that still has some effectiveness. This new coronavirus seems to be transmissible quite easily for the moment, but its dangerousness is not yet known.

To which family does this coronarivus belong?

It is a virus that is transmitted through the respiratory system. It is genetically close to SARS and the coronaviruses which circulate in animals, in particular the bat. We can therefore compare the virus to SARS, but not to the flu. The current psychosis is not logical. I understand that people are afraid, but very active surveillance has been put in place, especially in France where all health professionals are informed. Reference hospitals are trained. All suspected cases are isolated to limit the spread of this virus. As for the five cases detected in France, even before being diagnosed, they were isolated to limit the spread of the suspected virus. In France, everything is done to limit the spread and transmission of this virus. It was investigated with whom these infected persons may have been in close contact to monitor them.

Are the modes of transmission comparable to influenza?

The mode of transmission of this coronavirus is not yet very well known. We know that the transmission takes place by respiratory route but, a priori, we do not yet know if it is transmissible by the hands. You should know that the flu can be transmitted by respiratory route, but also by the hands. In the metro, if an infected person sneezes on a metro bar, touches that same metro bar and then touches their mouth, you can get the flu. Regarding the new virus, it is not yet known whether it is transmissible in this way. In the case of SARS, transmission was only by respiratory route, the virus could survive a few hours outside, but there was no case of contamination from the outside environment.

When we say that the virus is transmissible by respiratory way, we need a really close contact. You need at least a meter of proximity. At more than a meter, it is considered that there is no possible contamination. The close entourage are the people with whom the infected person lives. It could be his neighbor on the plane, but not the person in the seat behind or in front. Close contact is required.

>> Read also: Coronavirus: a "first cousin" of SARS far from having revealed all its secrets

What to do to protect yourself?

Symptoms resemble the flu: fever, cough, difficulty breathing, chest pain. It is recommended during an influenza epidemic to adopt the usual "barrier measures", including washing your hands frequently. This is a measure that we can already recommend to people who are worried about this new coronavirus: tell them that by taking their precautions like during flu epidemics in winter, it is already a way to protect themselves! This involves washing your hands regularly, or asking someone around you to wear a mask if they are sick.

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