One reason the coronavirus is deadlier than the flu: It's still new
Ghebreyesus said one reason the coronavirus' death rate is so much higher than the flu's is that this is the first time humans are encountering it.
"While many people globally have built up immunity to seasonal flu strains, COVID-19 is a new virus to which no one has immunity," he said in the briefing. "That means more people are susceptible to infection, and some will suffer severe disease."
We have vaccines and therapeutics to help prevent and treat the seasonal flu, but there are no known cures for the coronavirus. However, scientists are racing to develop treatments and vaccines to stop the outbreak: The biotech company Gilead is testing a drug called remdesivir, and Moderna has submitted a potential vaccine for initial testing.
Stopping the flu and the coronavirus from spreading
The flu and the coronavirus spread in the same way: via viral particles that travel between people in tiny droplets or saliva and mucus. If a sick person sneezes, coughs, or eats within 3 to 5 feet of someone healthy, the particles could land on the healthy person; if the particles enter the person's eyes, nose, or mouth, the person can become infected.
The flu is extremely efficient in passing among people before an infected person shows symptoms. But the coronavirus doesn't operate in quite the same way.
"COVID-19 does not transmit as efficiently as influenza, from the data we have so far," Ghebreyesus said.
That means containment is still possible, he added.
"We don't even talk about containment for seasonal flu — it's just not possible. But it is possible for COVID-19," Ghebreyesus said. "We don't do contact tracing for seasonal flu, but countries should do it for COVID-19, because it will prevent infections and save lives."
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- The US has reported 9 coronavirus deaths among more than 120 cases. Here's what we know about the US patients.
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