COVID-19, SARS,MERS, Influenza and Other Viral Outbreaks Compared

The rapid spread of coronavirus is causing panic around the world. For others, the recent outbreak feels like déjà vu of what happened when SARS, MERS and swine flu happened years ago. For now, records tell that SARS and MERS outbreak had significantly higher death rates than COVID-19, while seasonal influenza remains the major cause of respiratory illness.

Coronavirus is a large family of viruses that caused the respiratory illnesses SARS, MERS and COVID-19, and even the common colds that we get and recover from every day. Coronaviruses are also common in animal species. In some instances, like the case of MERS, SARS, and COVID-19, the virus from an animal can be transmitted and infect humans and then rapidly spread among people. It is believed that the three aforementioned epidemics originated from bats.

The H1N1 Influenza virus is believed to have originated from pigs.

The global outbreak of SARs or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome happened in 2003. The World Health Organization reported 8,000 probable cases in 29 countries from November 2002 to July 2003. Only eight laboratory cases were confirmed in the U.S. People infected with SARS experienced symptoms 2-10 days after the exposure. The reported death rate was 10%. No SARS case has been reported since 2004.

In 2012, Saudia Arabia and 27 other countries were affected by MERS (Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome). The death rate of this epidemic is reported to be at 34%. To date, WHO declared 2,500 laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS, The US reported only 2 MERS positive patients.

Influenza or commonly called flu is an infectious respiratory illness that exhibits symptoms similar to SARS, MERS, and COVID-19. It is caused by the influenza A and influenza B viruses and is responsible for the flu season that happened every year. It is estimated that there have been 18,000-46,000 flu deaths so far this season.

The swine flu or influenza A (H1N1) virus-infected 151,000-575,000 people worldwide in 2009. The epidemic reported having an estimated 12,400 deaths in the U.S. The global death rate was at 0.02%, but still causes seasonal flu virus each year. Swine flu can, however, be prevented with a flu vaccine.

COVID-19 or the novel coronavirus has been reported in more than 50 countries and infected more than 85,000 people worldwide since it was first reported in January this year. The US reports of 70 confirmed cases, and 2 deaths. Confirmed deaths are reported to be less than 3,000. Experts estimate that the death rate is at 2% for now but may change as the outbreak season progresses.

Compared to COVID-19, SARS and MERS outbreak had significantly higher death rates. Although COVID-19 is known to spread easily, symptoms tend to be mild especially for young and healthy people. Seasonal influenza, on the other hand, remains the number one culprit of respiratory illness which leads to hospitalization and deaths. The CDC recommends that everyone older than 6 months get the flu vaccine. Dr. Rober Glatter, and emergency physician at Lennox Hill Hospital in New York City, also gave the same advise, noting that its more likely that one can get flu than the novel coronavirus.