In China, 59 patients are currently suffering from a respiratory disease of unknown origin. Seven of them are in serious condition. Health authorities are investigating.
A mysterious disease. In China, 59 patients with a respiratory disease of unidentified origin have been placed in quarantine, announced Sunday January 5 the municipal Commission of hygiene and health of Wuhan (center), where the epidemic is appeared. But don’t panic, it’s not about the Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a viral disease that caused hundreds of deaths in 2003 in the region, they assure to calm the concern of the international community.
Among the 59 patients, the disease declared itself between December 12 and 29. Seven of them are seriously injured and the others in stable condition. “No patient has died so far”, specify the health authorities. Their investigation identified that several patients were vendors at the Wuhan market specializing in the sale of wholesale seafood and fish.
“The reported link to a wholesale market for fish and live animals may indicate a link to exposure to animals,” says the World Health Organization (WHO). The municipality of Wuhan therefore ordered the closure of the market where disinfection operations and analyzes took place. During the investigation, which is still ongoing, health authorities have not discovered any cases of human-to-human transmission.
Mostly fever
“With regard to the pathogenic agent (…) incriminated, we have ruled out several hypotheses, in particular the fact that it is influenza, avian influenza, an adenovirus, respiratory syndrome severe acute (SARS) or Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)”, details the press release. Most patients suffer from fever. A “small number of cases” would also be accompanied by shortness of breath and a lung infection.
“The symptoms reported in patients are common to several respiratory diseases and pneumonia is common in winter,” says the WHO. While calling for “caution” due to the concentration of cases, the organization is currently against any restrictions on travel or trade in China.
In 2003, SARS killed nearly 800 people
In 2003, SARS, a highly contagious respiratory disease, killed nearly 800 people in mainland China, Hong Kong and surrounding areas. “The data indicates an incubation period of two to ten days, allowing the infectious agent to be transported from one city to another without being suspected or detected”, explained David Heymann, executive director for communicable diseases at the time. at WHO, New Obs.
Eight months after the first observed case (China had first tried to cover up the affair), by dint of research (the causative agent was a coronavirus hitherto unknown to man) and quarantines, the pandemic is under control. In total, it would have cost some 54 billion euros. A figure that includes the fall in tourist revenues (-80% in China) and a 50% loss of earnings for airlines, tourist agencies, restaurants and taxi drivers. During this period, South-East Asia experienced a decline of about 2% of its GDP.
Since this tragedy, regulations have been adopted at the international level to oblige countries to communicate on any new emerging infectious disease that could quickly spread and cross borders.
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