dotlah! dotlah!
  • Cities
  • Technology
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Society
  • Science
  • About
Social Links
  • zedreviews.com
  • citi.io
  • aster.cloud
  • liwaiwai.com
  • guzz.co.uk
  • atinatin.com
0 Likes
0 Followers
0 Subscribers
dotlah!
  • Cities
  • Technology
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Society
  • Science
  • About
  • People
  • World Events

As China Suffers From Coronavirus, Some Wonder: Is It Really That Serious?

  • February 10, 2020
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

The coronavirus outbreak continues to worsen in China. The Chinese government has announced even stricter measures to stop the spread of the disease, including the rounding up of people in Wuhan, the city where the outbreak began, for mass quarantine. And the doctor who warned authorities about the disease has died. Just how bad might this outbreak become? Virologist and public health expert John A. Lednicky explains.

A women wearing a protective face mask delivers a leaflet on coronavirus, in Hong Kong, Friday, Jan 24, 2020. AP Photo.Achmad Ibrahim

1. Is this outbreak really that serious?

Epidemics are spreading more quickly and farther in the 21st century than in previous centuries due to globalization and air travel. When outbreaks occur, there is a predictable pattern that can be summarized as: (a) There is a delay in recognizing that an outbreak is occurring; (b) a significant impact on trade and travel typically occurs due to quarantine measures; (c) the public panics due to misinformation and fear of the unknown, and this can be exacerbated by media coverage.

This outbreak is serious to China, to millions of people there, to its economy and potentially to the world’s economy. China’s main concern is for its own citizens. It has experience controlling outbreaks of different types of influenza viruses, SARS coronavirus, and so on, and the resources to effectively deal with large outbreaks.

China’s government can exert stringent outbreak control measures, such as shutting down public transportation, and take unprecedented moves, such as imposing a citywide quarantine, which would not be easy to do in other countries. Because it is a wealthy country, China is also able to respond to large areas affected by an outbreak, whereas many countries would not be able to afford to do this.

Unlike country-specific responses to outbreaks, the World Health Organization provides guidance on how to control outbreaks worldwide. Its stated primary purpose is to direct international health within the United Nations’ system and to lead partners in global health responses.

The WHO does not have the financial resources to cover all the expenses of a public health response to an epidemic or pandemic. It does provide a limited supply of materials needed for the performance of diagnostic tests to qualified laboratories. The major benefit to the world community is that the WHO releases information regarding the status and severity of an outbreak, and guidance on how to control the outbreak.

The manner in which individual countries respond to outbreaks, whether epidemic or pandemic, is less predictable, especially for those that lack the resources, infrastructure and trained personnel needed for an adequate response.

If the outbreaks are effectively controlled and people remain quarantined for the near-term, the major impacts to the people of China will revolve around issues related to loss of wages, and quality of life issues, such as obtaining sufficient food. If the outbreaks are not controlled, the consequences will be severe. Businesses and school systems will be adversely impacted, and public attitudes toward the government could lead to general discontent and civil disorder.

2. Have there been previous quarantines on this scale?

Small-scale quarantine has been practiced since ancient times, exemplified by the Israelites’ confinement of lepers to specific living areas, onto the present, such as some of the quarantine measures undertaken to control Ebola outbreaks. The quarantine procedures being imposed in China in response to the new coronavirus are unprecedented in scale and complexity. They will be intensively analyzed by scientists and epidemiologists and will inform the next generation of infection control practitioners.

3. Is there an end in sight?

It is too early to predict an end in sight. Many public health specialists are optimistic that the outbreak will burn out as a consequence of stringent infection control and quarantine practices. And as that happens, the hope is that the virus will be eradicated, as was the case for SARS coronavirus. We also hope that the virus does not mutate to a form that is well-adapted to complete its life cycle in humans; that is, that it does not become a common human respiratory virus such as what is thought to have occurred with human coronavirus NL63, a virus that appears to have jumped species from bats to humans.

The Conversation

John A. Lednicky, Research Professor, Environmental and Global Health, University of Florida

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Total
0
Shares
Share
Tweet
Share
Share
Related Topics
  • 2019-nCoV
  • China
  • Coronavirus
  • Quarantine
dotlah.com

Previous Article
  • Cities

MAS Advises Financial Institutions To Adopt Recommended Measures For DORSCON Orange

  • February 9, 2020
View Post
Next Article
  • Cities

Aeroflot To Launch Inaugural Moscow-Singapore Service

  • February 10, 2020
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • People
  • Politics

Singapore PM Wong arrives in Malacañang

  • dotlah.com
  • June 4, 2025
college-of-cardinals-2025
View Post
  • Featured
  • Features
  • World Events

The Definitive Who’s Who of the 2025 Papal Conclave

  • Dean Marc
  • May 8, 2025
conclave-poster-black-smoke
View Post
  • Featured
  • Features
  • World Events

The World Is Revalidating Itself

  • Dean Marc
  • May 7, 2025
View Post
  • Featured
  • Features
  • People

Conclave: How A New Pope Is Chosen

  • Dean Marc
  • April 25, 2025
View Post
  • People

PM Wong takes Scoot flight, fellow passengers cheer

  • dotlah.com
  • October 16, 2024
dotlah-pm-lee-lawrence-wong-9656d4cd-1fa4-40ed-905d-e19e639b8476_728802dd
View Post
  • Lah!
  • People
  • Politics

End of Lee Era for Singapore as PM Steps Down

  • dotlah.com
  • May 16, 2024
View Post
  • People
  • Politics

‘A much bigger step forward’: Lawrence Wong on his journey to becoming Singapore’s fourth PM

  • dotlah.com
  • May 15, 2024
DPM Lawrence Wong will be Singapore's fourth prime minister on May 15. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
View Post
  • Lah!
  • People
  • Politics

7 things to know about Singapore’s next prime minister Lawrence Wong

  • dotlah.com
  • May 15, 2024


Trending
  • 1
    • Lah!
    Plans For A Green Connection From Orchard To Singapore River Unveiled
    • February 14, 2020
  • 2
    • Technology
    How To Bridge The Gender Gap In Cybersecurity
    • May 13, 2019
  • 3
    • Cities
    Hongkong Land Secures Its First Sustainability-linked Loan Of HK$1 Billion From DBS | 繁體
    • September 2, 2020
  • 4
    • Cities
    • People
    The 8 Pillars Of The New Age Of City Mobility
    • September 2, 2020
  • goswifties_la-defensa-arena_900 5
    • Featured
    Feel Pulse Of Paris. An Unmatched Concert Venue In La Défense.
    • May 10, 2024
  • 6
    • Technology
    NUS Innovation Boosts Wireless Connectivity 1,000 Times
    • July 22, 2019
  • 7
    • Lah!
    • Technology
    Refreshed Singpass Reflects Improved Services And Drives Digital Innovations With Private Sector
    • March 6, 2021
  • 8
    • Lah!
    The Return Of A Legend: Raffles Singapore Officially Reopens
    • August 2, 2019
  • 9
    • Technology
    National Library Board And Singapore Press Holdings Extend Free Access Of eNewspapers For Library Patrons Beyond Circuit Breaker
    • June 1, 2020
  • 10
    • Science
    • Technology
    Learning How To Learn
    • October 23, 2023
  • average-change-in-us-urban-congestion-levels-23926 11
    • Cities
    How Covid-19 Affected America’s Rush Hour In 2020
    • January 18, 2021
  • 12
    • Lah!
    Pasir Panjang Park – The First Park To Be Designed And Built Together With The Community, For The Community
    • January 23, 2020
Trending
  • 1
    A Father’s Day Gift for Every Pop and Papa
    • June 14, 2025
  • 2
    Apple services deliver powerful features and intelligent updates to users this autumn
    • June 12, 2025
  • 3
    Apple supercharges its tools and technologies for developers to foster creativity, innovation, and design
    • June 11, 2025
  • 4
    It’s time to stop debating whether AI is genuinely intelligent and focus on making it work for society
    • June 8, 2025
  • 5
    PBBM asks Singapore to invest more in PH renewable energy projects
    • June 6, 2025
  • 6
    Singapore PM Wong arrives in Malacañang
    • June 4, 2025
  • 7
    Renewable energy, carbon credits are priority areas of cooperation for Singapore, Philippines: Lawrence Wong
    • June 4, 2025
  • 8
    Singapore businesses eye more investments in PH, says PM Wong
    • June 4, 2025
  • 9
    The Summer Adventures : Hiking and Nature Walks Essentials
    • June 3, 2025
  • 10
    Trump’s global trade plans are in disarray, after a US court ruling on ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs
    • May 29, 2025
Social Links
dotlah! dotlah!
  • Cities
  • Technology
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Society
  • Science
  • About
Connecting Dots Across Asia's Tech and Urban Landscape

Input your search keywords and press Enter.