China's lethal coronavirus may have the same death rate as Spanish flu, a specialist has warned.
At least 15 people passed away from the deadly virus with masses of cases now confirmed, growing fears of widespread contagion.
The previously unknown flu-like coronavirus strain appears to have emerged from an animal market in Wuhan - with cases now detected in various countries in Asia, including Japan and the United States.
The Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 is widely deemed as "the deadliest in history," and is assumed to have infected approximately 500 million people worldwide, killing between 20 and 50 million.
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Chinese officials have confirmed more than 400 cases of the brand new coronavirus strain - 2019-nCoV - with more than ten deaths.
This 2019-nCoV, according to Professor Neil Ferguson from Imperial College London, is said to have a 2 percent death rate, based on existing facts.
One will statistically die in every 500 individuals who get the virus. One in every 1,000 who develop the flue die, giving it a death rate of 0.1 percent.
Professor Peter Horby from the University of Oxford talked about that fatality estimations are based on "clinical information round hospital cases."
Of the ones in the hospital, "15%-to-20% are extreme instances", defined as wanting ventilation.
Coronaviruses as a category are commonplace, causing the whole lot from the not unusual cold to epidemics like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
The 2019-nCoV is believed to have originated in animals before "hopping" over to humans. Prof Ferguson said novel viruses spread much quicker because people don't any immunity.
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What is the coronavirus 2019-to?
The coronavirus outbreak originated from Wuhan's seafood marketplace. Most of the individuals who first of all fell ill were its workers and those who visited the said market.
The virus could spread person-to-person, according to China's National Health Commission. Its symptoms, like other strains of coronavirus, start with flu-like symptoms - including fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties.
According to the CDC, the pathogens trigger mild-to-moderate upper breathing tract infections - such as common colds. Coronaviruses can result in lower-respiration tract infections - such as pneumonia or bronchitis - in rarer cases.
Coronaviruses usually spread through coughing, sneezing, shaking fingers or touching a contaminated object. The virus enters the body if contaminated arms touch the eyes, nostrils, or mouth. Fecal contamination is to blame in rare cases. These tend to occur in babies, the aged or people with susceptible immune systems.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned there might be no specific treatment for coronaviruses.
The American Lung Association says doctors work to fight the complication once the contamination triggers pneumonia through an "antiviral medication" when a virulent disease luke 2019-nCoV is to blame.
However, Prof. Horby argues there is "no powerful antiviral" for pneumonia as these infections tend to respond to antibiotics.
US health officers are operating on a vaccine towards 2019-now. CNN reported the first stage of clinical trials are underway and would take more than a year before one is available to the public.
For now, the World Health Organization advises people to avoid "unprotected" contact with stay animals, thoroughly cook dinner meat and eggs, and stay far from those with flu-like symptoms.