The new coronavirus – the opinion of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

In the last days, an increasing number of the new coronavirus COVID-19 cases has been confirmed in various countries around the world, e.g. South Korea and Iran. In the EU extraordinary measures are being taken to limit the outbreak. On 23 February, the ECDC issued a statement on the rapid increase of COVID-19 in Italy. On 24 Febuary, a joint WHO/ECDC mission arrived in Italy to support Italian authorities in managing the COVID-19 situation.

ECDC is closely monitoring the situation and assessing the overall risk for the EU/EEA. The European Science-Media Hub contacted the ECDC and asked for some insights.

What is the most urgent EU could do now? How should EU/EEA countries contain the virus?

• The first step to prevent the spread of the virus in the EU/EEA is the timely detection of imported cases, applying appropriate infection prevention and control measures around the cases and, as needed, tracing contacts.
• It is important for EU/EEA countries to focus on containment measures that prevent and/or limit secondary transmission in the community and healthcare settings, as part of their risk management capacity.
• To this end, countries should ensure early detection, laboratory confirmation, appropriate management and isolation of suspected, probable and confirmed cases under appropriate IPC conditions, along with rigorous tracing and follow-up of contacts. Once local transmission chains are established, public health resources will be better used to focus on mitigation measures.

How big is the risk of pandemia?

At the moment it is regarded as an epidemic, not a pandemic. It is the WHO’s role to declare a pandemic and we should be careful with wording (we are not in the business of speculating).

• An outbreak is the occurrence of more cases of a disease than would normally be expected in a specific place or group of people over a given period of time.
• The term epidemic essentially means the same thing but tends to connote a more serious occurrence. While an outbreak might suggest something that is geographically limited or constrained, an epidemic infers a crisis situation that can spread. It’s a subtle difference but an important one.
• By contrast, a pandemic is an epidemic that is widespread and often global, usually affecting a very large number of people. While the term is suggestive of something more serious than an epidemic, it is only so by scale and not by the severity of the disease.

How can I avoid getting infected?

When visiting areas with presumed ongoing community transmission you should:

• avoid contact with sick people, in particular those with a cough;
• avoid visiting markets and places where live or dead animals are handled;
• follow general rules governing hand hygiene and food hygiene;
• wash your hands with soap and water OR use an alcohol-based disinfectant solution before eating, after using the toilet and after any contact with animals;
• avoid contact with animals, their excretions or droppings.

Wherever you travel, apply general rules governing hand and food hygiene.

 

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