Wuhan virus shows the absolute necessity, and difficulty, of controlling emerging diseases
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The coronavirus that is spreading in and from China, known as the Wuhan virus after the city in which it was first detected, demonstrates how impossible it is to constrain the outbreak of a new disease vector—and how important it is to try anyway. This viruWuhan virus shows the absolute necessity, and difficulty, of controlling emerging diseases
The coronavirus that is spreading in and from China, known as the Wuhan virus after the city in which it was first detected, demonstrates how impossible it is to constrain the outbreak of a new disease vector—and how important it is to try anyway. This virus emerged in a highly developed area, was quickly recognized as a novel disease, and was met with prompt action. Even so, cases are now in at least six countries, including the United States. As of Wednesday morning, more than 20 million people in China are under travel restrictions, part of an effort to contain the outbreak. But with confirmation that the Wuhan virus is readily communicable person-to-person, it seems likely that it will continue to spread to other locations. So far it seems to be less lethal, in its current form, than the related SARS virus, which was identified in 2003. But that isn’t particularly comforting. Read more