Page 11 - HOH

A28 SCIENCE
Monday 17 February 2020
Questions complicate efforts to contain new virus from China

By LAURAN NEERGAARD tists believe to be the incu-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Re- bation period — they are
ports one day suggest the checked for symptoms and
respiratory outbreak in Chi- tested if they show any.
na might be slowing, the As of Saturday, there were
next brings word of thou- 15 cases in the U.S., includ-
sands more cases. Even ing three of the evacuees.
the experts have whiplash COULD THE VIRUS BE
in trying to determine if the SPREADING SILENTLY IN
epidemic is getting worse, OTHER PLACES?
or if a backlog of the sick is In the U.S., the Centers for
finally getting counted. Disease Control and Pre-
Continuing questions about vention is starting a new ef-
the new virus are compli- fort to spot if that happens
cating health authorities' — by adding coronavirus
efforts to curtail its spread testing to the network that
around the world. And the normally tracks influenza.
United States is taking the When a patient sample
first steps to check that tests negative for flu, lab
cases masquerading as workers next will check it for
the flu won't be missed, an- the new virus.
other safeguard on top of The extra tests will start in
travel restrictions and quar- public health laboratories
antines. in five cities: Los Angeles,
Here's what you should San Francisco, Seattle, Chi-
know about the illness: cago and New York. But
WHAT IS THE NEW VIRUS? the surveillance will be ex-
It's a never-before-seen panded around the coun-
type of coronavirus, a large try in the coming weeks,
family of viruses that affect said CDC's Dr. Nancy Mes-
both animals and people. sonnier.
Some types cause the com- HOW DOES INFECTION
mon cold. But two other SPREAD?
types have caused severe Like typical respiratory vi-
disease outbreaks before: ruses, it spreads mostly
SARS, or severe acute re- through droplets from
spiratory syndrome, in late coughs and sneezes. What
2002, and MERS, or Middle about surfaces like door-
East respiratory syndrome, knobs touched by that
which first appeared in person blowing his nose?
2012. This image provided by The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). If the next person touches
The World Health Organi- Associated Press their own mouth, nose or
zation officially named the eyes, infection is possible,
new illness COVID-19, re- the week. Why? Chinese Elsewhere, fewer than 600 to prepare if the virus starts like with the flu, but special-
flecting that it's a new coro- health authorities say they cases have been reported to spread more widely. ists don't think the virus can
navirus that emerged late changed how they are outside of China — in other But how to quarantine survive on surfaces for very
last year. Common symp- counting. Instead of wait- parts of Asia, Europe, the large numbers of people long. Regular hand wash-
toms include fever, cough ing for a virus test to con- U.S. and Canada. The first is a difficult question. The ing is a good way to avoid
and shortness of breath. firm someone's diagnosis case in Africa was reported Diamond Princess cruise getting sick from any virus.
While serious cases can — there's a huge testing Friday, in Egypt. Most in- ship, which has the largest WHAT ABOUT TREATMENTS
turn into pneumonia, most backlog — they're now volved travelers from China cluster of infections outside AND VACCINES?
patients appear to have a counting patients on the and people who came into China, was quarantined The hunt is on for both.
fairly mild illness. basis of their symptoms and close contact with them. in Japan with more than Currently, people who are
HOW FAST IS THE OUTBREAK lung X-rays. IS QUARANTINE WORKING? 3,500 passengers and crew. seriously ill get standard
GROWING? The WHO isn't sure that's China has put 60 million Experts have questioned pneumonia care including
There's some confusion a good idea, and wants people in its hardest-hit if the close quarters have fluids and oxygen. In China,
about that. China's tally to make sure people with cities under lockdown, an contributed to the spread. scientists are testing some
reached more than 66,000 flu or some other respira- unprecedented response. U.S. officials said Saturday it medicines developed for
cases Saturday, a huge tory infection aren't getting Without a good count of would evacuate its citizens other viruses to see if they
increase from earlier in caught in the mix. how many people are sick, on board and bring them might tamp down this one.
and when they got sick, it's to quarantine stations on Several research groups
hard to tell if it's working. Air Force bases in California are on the trail of possible
That's different from typi- and Texas. vaccines, and one being
cal quarantine measures, In the U.S., about 600 peo- developed by the U.S. Na-
which try to target people ple evacuated from hard- tional Institutes of Health
who may be at risk — those hit Hubei province in cen- might begin first-step safety
who were in China's hot tral China are still in quar- tests in people as early as
zone or who came into antine at several military spring. But specialists stress
contact with another pa- bases, apart from other it would take far longer —
tient anywhere else in the people on the base but best case scenario a year
world. That's a way to buy with some room to roam. — to ready a vaccine for
time for health authorities For 14 days — what scien- widespread use.q