The coronavirus pandemic came almost exactly one year after the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of global outbreaks of influenza. Was the world ready for the COVID-19 pandemic?
To date, coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infections have affected more than 135,000 people worldwide and the death toll is approaching 5,000. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced this week that the coronavirus threat has turned into a full-blown pandemic.
The WHO defines pandemics as diseases with a global impact, and in 127 countries fighting COVID-19 infections, coronavirus meets all of these requirements.
The new coronavirus strain took the world by surprise when it first emerged in China's Hubei province last November. Scientists have known about human coronaviruses since the 1960s, but the family of pathogens has been poorly understood so far. However, WHO has experience in dealing with another serious viral threat – influenza.
In March 2019, WHO released the Global Influenza Strategy 2019–2030 to prepare for future outbreaks. While COVID-19 and influenza are not caused by the same virus, there are parallels between the two.
Both diseases target the respiratory system and can be fatal if ignored.
Different strains of viruses can also be carried by animals such as bats, dogs and chickens. Scientists have also identified only seven coronavirus viruses that infect humans, and many more are believed to exist among animals.
Likewise, seasonal flu often mutates into new strains. Here is what the WHO leadership says:
“The threat of pandemic flu is always there. We must be alert and prepared. The ongoing risk of animal-to-human transmission of a new influenza virus and a potential pandemic is very real. The question is not whether we will have another pandemic, but when. The price paid for a major new flu outbreak will far exceed the price of prevention. '
'This is a new virus and a new situation. We are all learning and we must all find new ways to prevent infections, save lives, and minimize impact. All countries have lessons to share. '
Among the countries most affected by COVID-19 was South Korea, where about 8,000 people fell ill. But the country has shown that the epidemic can be effectively contained if the right countermeasures are deployed. Almost 20,000 people in this country are tested for COVID-19 every day, and laboratories process samples around the clock.
The speed and effectiveness of testing means South Korea has reduced its death rate to about 0.7 percent, compared with a WHO average of 3.4 percent. China has also proven effective in fighting the virus after nearly 81,000 people have fallen ill since November.
