The novel coronavirus, first detected in humans months ago, may "never go away," according to a senior World Health Organization (WHO) official. We must learn to live with it.
SARS-CoV-2 has infected over 4.3 million people worldwide and claimed nearly 300,000 lives (official figures). Many hope it will fade, but experts caution that its high transmissibility suggests we should prepare for long-term coexistence.
Michael Ryan, WHO's Executive Director of the Health Emergencies Programme, shared this view during a virtual press briefing from Geneva. "This virus may never go away," he stated, warning it could become an endemic disease we must manage.
Ryan compared it to HIV: "HIV didn't go away, but we learned to live with it through therapies and prevention. Today, fear has diminished." Even with a potential vaccine—whose development is uncertain—controlling the virus will require massive global efforts. "Realism is key," he emphasized.
Diseases like measles persist despite vaccines, underscoring this reality.
As countries ease restrictions, vigilance remains crucial. "Its trajectory is in our hands," Ryan urged, stressing social distancing and protective measures.
A study in PNAS (published Wednesday) highlights another risk: invisible saliva microdroplets containing virus particles may linger in indoor air for over 10 minutes, beyond coughing or sneezing.
Further research is needed, but this suggests microdroplets contribute to transmission. Precautions matter now.
Source: AFP
