Interview
The former chair of the Global Health Council talks about the mentality that left the world vulnerable to the Covid-19 epidemic and what can be done to minimise its effects
Sun 1 Mar 2020 09.30 GMT
Epidemics expert Jonathan Quick: ‘The worst-case scenario for coronavirus is likely’
Laura SpinneyThe former chair of the Global Health Council talks about the mentality that left the world vulnerable to the Covid-19 epidemic and what can be done to minimise its effects
Sun 1 Mar 2020 09.30 GMT
In 2018 global health expert Jonathan D Quick, of Duke University in North Carolina, published a book titled The End of Epidemics: The Looming Threat to Humanity and How to Stop It. In it he prescribed measures by which the world could protect itself against devastating disease outbreaks of the likes of the 1918 flu, which killed millions and set humanity back decades. He is the former chair of the Global Health Council and a long-term collaborator of the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Covid-19 epidemic looks like it’s edging towards becoming a pandemic – that is, as the WHO defines it, “the worldwide spread of a new disease” – but the WHO hasn’t declared a pandemic yet. What are the best-case and worst-case scenarios?
The best case is that the Chinese conflagration is brought under control, the smaller “flames” we’ve seen flare up in other countries are extinguished, there’s little or no spread to new countries or continents, and the epidemic dies out. The worst case is that the outbreak goes global and the disease eventually becomes endemic, meaning it circulates permanently in the human population.
The best case is that the Chinese conflagration is brought under control, the smaller “flames” we’ve seen flare up in other countries are extinguished, there’s little or no spread to new countries or continents, and the epidemic dies out. The worst case is that the outbreak goes global and the disease eventually becomes endemic, meaning it circulates permanently in the human population.
The Coronavirus in Europe
'We're Not Prepared at All'
More people in Germany have been infected with the new coronavirus. A widespread outbreak could push the country's public health infrastructure to its limits, as doctors, agencies and hospitals are overwhelmed. But experts insist there's still no cause for panic.
By DER SPIEGEL Staff
Carnival in Gangelt-Langroich is a big deal. Bernd B. has been preparing for the celebration in his hometown on the Lower Rhine since last summer. The 47-year-old, who has managed a real estate company with his brother and six employees in a neighboring town since 1999, dances in the carnival association’s male ballet.
On Feb. 15, a Saturday, he attended a traditional carnival event called the Kappensitzung, in Langbroich’s community hall. The approximately 300 attendees partied until late in the evening. Bernd B. was likely already carrying the highly infectious Sars-Cov-2 coronavirus at that point.
Guinea’s opposition wants referendum scrapped, calls to keep up anti-govt protests
Guinea's opposition on Saturday called for the cancellation of a referendum on changing the constitution, as fresh protests against President Alpha Conde's government broke out in the capital Conakry.
Conde on Friday announced the referendum, originally planned for Sunday, would be postponed -- possibly for two weeks -- following growing domestic and international criticism over the ballot.
The referendum will decide whether to adopt a new constitution, which includes bans on female circumcision and underage marriage in the West African country.
The referendum will decide whether to adopt a new constitution, which includes bans on female circumcision and underage marriage in the West African country.
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