The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that the novel coronavirus is deadlier than seasonal flu strains.
According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, there is no built up immunity to the new virus yet.
The death rate for Covid-19 — the disease caused by the coronavirus now stands at around 3.4%.
The new figure for the coronavirus is higher than the 2% mortality rate previously reported.
Ghebreyesus told reporters on Tuesday that “While many people globally have built up immunity to seasonal flu strains, COVID-19 is a new virus to which no one has immunity.”
“That means more people are susceptible to infection, and some will suffer severe disease. Globally, about 3.4% of reported COVID-19 cases have died. By comparison, seasonal flu generally kills far fewer than 1% of those infected,” he added.
So far Africa has recorded 12 cases, Egypt (2), Algeria (3) and Nigeria (1) Tunisia (1) Morocco (1) and Senegal (2).
More than 90,000 cases and over 3,000 deaths have been recorded in some 60 countries worldwide. Africa has relatively reported of low outbreak rate.
The World Health Organization is hopeful countries in sub-Saharan Africa currently without testing equipment would soon have one to conduct more tests.
Victims of coronavirus often suffer from respiratory illness. The virus is a global public health emergency, according to the World Health Organisation.
The WHO has advised that people stay at home if they begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and a slight runny nose, until they recover.
Source: Africafeeds.com
