Debunking the myths around China’s deadly coronavirus outbreak
- Is there a cure? Does folk medicine work? Answering the questions about the epidemic that has sparked a torrent of rumour-mongering on social media
- Unverified claims and conspiracy theories are making officials’ jobs harder
China’s health authorities are racing against the clock to contain the coronavirus outbreak that has spread worldwide since breaking out in the central city of Wuhan more than a month ago. At the same time, officials are battling a torrent of rumours and unverified news about the outbreak. Here are some common questions:
1. Can the virus be transmitted among humans?
China’s top severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) expert, Zhong Nanshan, confirmed last week that human-to-human transmission of the virus can happen, after Wuhan’s health commission initially said no proof existed that it could spread from person to person.
Confirmation of human-to-human transmission has since been supported by medical studies, including one published in the medical journal The Lancet on Friday by scientists from Hong Kong University and China’s State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Experts, however, are still trying to determine how easily the virus can be spread between humans, and if airborne transmission is feasible.
National Health Commission minister Ma Xiaowei said on Sunday that, unlike Sars, the coronavirus was contagious even in an incubation stage that could last up to 14 days. Ma added that some infected with the virus may not show any symptoms and further risks from the virus’ potential mutations remain unknown.
“At present, the rate of development of the epidemic is accelerating,” Ma said. “I am afraid that it will continue for some time, and the number of cases may increase.”
