Still much to learn about new coronavirus: WHO

The UN agency has clarified information shared earlier this week, noting that there is still much to learn about the new coronavirus.

“Since early February, we have said that asymptomatic people can transmit COVID-19, but that we need more research to establish the extent of asymptomatic transmission. That research is ongoing, and we’re seeing more and more research being done”, said WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking during his latest press briefing.

“But here’s what we do know: that finding, isolating and testing people with symptoms, and tracing and quarantining their contacts, is the most critical way to stop transmission. Many countries have succeeded in suppressing transmission and controlling the virus doing exactly this.”

'Learning as we go'

During the WHO briefing on Monday, epidemiologist Dr. Maria van Kerkhove, WHO’s technical lead for COVID-19, answered a journalist’s question about asymptomatic transmission, stating that it was “very rare”.

Dr. van Kherkove later clarified that this was based on a few preliminary studies, and that she was trying to articulate what is known now.

“By definition, a new virus means that we’re learning as we go”, said Tedros. “We have learned a lot, but there’s still a lot we don’t know.”

He said communicating complex science in real time about a new virus is not always easy, “but we believe it’s part of our duty to the world. And we can always do better.”

COVID-19 and seasonal variation

Although winter historically signals the start of flu season, health experts are not yet certain how the new coronavirus will react under the same conditions.

“Right now, we have no data to suggest that the virus will behave more aggressively, or transmit more efficiently, or not”, said Dr. Michael Ryan, head of WHO’s emergencies programme, responding to a journalist’s question about the start of winter in the southern hemisphere.

Similarly, there is no data on whether the virus will respond differently under summertime conditions.

Dr. Ryan said while warmer weather tends to draw people outdoors, air conditioning also allows them to spend more time inside.

“There may be risks that are driven by climate that aren’t specifically related to the viruses themselves, but are more specifically related to the human behaviours that are driven by temperature or driven by the season,” he said.

“But at this point, just to be clear, we have no indication as yet how the disease will behave in future.”

Latin America remains a concern

Meanwhile, WHO remains deeply concerned about what Dr. Ryan called the “persistent and progressive” increase in COVID-19 cases in Central and South America.

“We need to focus on containing and stopping and suppressing that disease. And if changes in the climate assist in that, that’s great news”, he said, underlining the value of public health measures aimed at halting further spread.

“But we cannot rely on an expectation that the season, or the temperature, will be the answer to this.”

Building on flu research

Dr. van Kerkhove explained how influenza surveillance is informing understanding of the new coronavirus through a decades-old network that unites laboratories across the globe.

“More than 90 countries right now are utilizing their influenza system to also test for COVID-19”, she said.

“This is incredibly helpful for us to build on that platform so that we understand where the virus is within the community.”

However, Dr. van Kerkhove highlighted the need to continue flu testing, which has declined in several countries.

No COVID-19 vaccine testing on African ‘guinea pigs’

The WHO chief also refuted the rumour that African countries are being used as a testing ground for COVID-19 medicines.

Tedros was responding to a reporter’s question about poorer nations being targeted as “guinea pigs” for vaccine research.

WHO is currently running a "solidarity" trial of four medicines, and Tedros reported that the nearly 40 countries taking part are all using the same protocols.

“When it comes to vaccines, WHO’s position is the same: using the same protocol in the whole world; the same protocol in all countries involved. And we don’t tolerate any targeting of a continent or a country to do a trial, or using it as a testing ground”, he said.

Tedros added that vaccines currently on the front line of research will soon move to clinical trials, adding that “we will make sure that the same protocols and the same guidelines are applied.”