The World Health Organization has warned that the coronavirus may become endemic within communities just like HIV/AIDS and other ailments.
Its officials have now said that the virus may live with mankind and may never go away, which requires collective efforts at defeating it.
WHO emergencies expert Dr. Mike Ryan told an online briefing on Wednesday from Geneva that “It is important to put this on the table: this virus may become just another endemic virus in our communities, and this virus may never go away.”
He adds that “I think it is important we are realistic and I don’t think anyone can predict when this disease will disappear.”
“I think there are no promises in this and there are no dates. This disease may settle into a long problem, or it may not be,” Ryan also noted.
Reducing risks of Covid-19
D. Ryan said there is however the need to reduce the risks Covid-19 poses and that would require “massive efforts” since the risks still remain high currently.
The WHO is also warning against anticipations that once vaccines become available then the virus would be eradicated.
Over 100 potential vaccines are being worked on across the world while several drugs are also being subjected to clinical trials to help treat the virus.
But Dr. Ryan said that may not be the solution since several ailments including measles have not been eliminated despite the availability of vaccines.
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also noted at the press briefing that “The trajectory is in our hands, and it’s everybody’s business, and we should all contribute to stop this pandemic.”
Media briefing on #COVID19 with @DrTedros https://t.co/euggX435FQ
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 13, 2020
The WHO has also warned governments reopening their countries to be cautious and not throw away the gains that may have been made over the months.
The coronavirus has already infected 4.35 million people globally and killed 297,000 people with 1.55 million people recovering as at May 14, 2020.
Source: Africafeeds.com
