A US doctor is warning Americans that the coronavirus epidemic is moving too quickly to have an accurate death and illness rate.
On Tuesday, the World Health Organisation announced the global mortality rate jumped to 3.4 percent, up from the previously reported two percent.
But Dr Jennifer Ashton, ABC News Chief Medical Correspondent, told Good Morning America that people should not be panicking over the rate increasing.
She added that researchers are collecting data 'by the hour' and that the illness and mortality rates could change on any given day,
Dr Jennifer Ashton (pictured), ABC News Chief Medical Correspondent, advised people not to panic after the World Health Organization raised the global death rate from coronavir us from 2% to 3.4%
She said the rate is subject to change constantly because researchers don't know the exact number of people who've fallen ill. Pictured: Dr Ashton (left) speaks to Amy Robach (right)
In the US, more than 200 cases have been confirmed and 12 deaths, one in California and 11 in Washington, have occurred
'I really caution people not to hang their hat on any given number,' said Dr Ashton.
'This is a dynamic and evolving situation. We're collecting data literally by the hour and that mortality rate depends on the denominator. It depends on how many people are truly infected and that number is still unknown.'
Dr Ashton echoed the words of federal health officials, who've told Congress that it's still too early to determine US death rates from coronavirus.
During a meeting of the Ho use Appropriations subcommittee on Wednesday, Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said it's too early to report the rate because it's unknown how many have been infected with the disease.
He explained that researchers are still trying to work out the exact number of people who've fallen ill, because some may be asymptomatic.
Rep Andy Harris (R-MD) asked whether fatality rates were unreliable noting: 'We don't know the denominator.'
'You said it, sir,' Dr Fauci replied.
Worldwide, more than 96,000 people have been infected and more than 3,300 people have died
'If you look at the cases that have come to the attention of the medical authorities, in China, and you just do the math - the math is about two percent. If you look at certain age groups, certain risk groups, t he fatality is much higher.'
According to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the overall fatality rate for coronavirus within the country is 2.3 percent.
But among people aged 80 or older, the fatality rate in China is 14.8 percent, 1.3 percent for people in their 50s and 0.4 percent in 40-somethings.
This likely indicates that the older patients either had other diseases at the time they were infected, weaker immune systems, or just worse overall health.
Similarly, in the US, the death rate is about 6.5 percent - 11 people have died out of the 165 cases reported.
Dr Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health said the rate in China among older people is higher than the overall rate. Pictured: A man visits a hospital in Wuhan, March 4
The overall fatality rate fo r coronavirus within Chian is 2.3 percent, but among people aged 80 or older, the fatality rate in China is 14.8 percent. Pictured: A man wearing a face mask pushing a person on wheelchair along a street in Wuhan, March 4
The higher death rate among older people likely indicates that the older patients either had other diseases at the time they were infected, weaker immune systems, or just worse overall health. Pictured: An equipment service worker sprays a disinfectant throughout a metro bus at the King County Metro Atlantic/Central operating base, March 4
Dr Fauci said the morality rate for coronavirus could be less than 1% if there are asymptomatic cases that are not being reported. Pictured: An MTA cleaning staff member disinfects the 86th Street Q train station, March 4
But, of the patients who have died, one was in his 40s, two in their 50s and everyone else age 69 or older.
In an editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine published last week, Dr Fauci wrote that the morality rate of COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus may be 'considerably less than [one percent].'
'If one assumes that the number of asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic cases is several times as high as the number of reported cases, the case fatality rate may be considerably less than one percent,' he wrote.
Worldwide, more than 96,000 have people have been infected and more than 3,300 people have died.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS?Like other coronaviruses, including those that cause the common cold and that triggered SARS, COVID-19 is a respiratory illness.
The most common symptoms are:
Although having a runny nose doesn't rule out coronavirus, it doesn't thus far appear to be a primary symptom.
Most people only become mildly ill, but the infection can turn serious and even deadly, especially for those who are older or have underlying health conditions.
In these cases, patients develop pneumonia, which can cause:
Avoid people with these symtpoms. If you develop them, call your health care provider before going to the hospital or doctor, so they and you can prepare to minimize possivle exposure if they suspect you have coronavirus.
Advertisement
No comments:
Post a Comment