Pandemic now driven by 20s, 30s, 40s group, many asymptomatic - WHO

[snoop1130]

Pandemic now driven by 20s, 30s, 40s group, many asymptomatic - WHO

By Karen Lema and Neil Jerome Morales

 

FILE PHOTO: A logo is pictured on the headquarters of the World Health Orgnaization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland, June 25, 2020. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

 

MANILA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization said on Tuesday it was concerned that the novel coronavirus spread was being driven by people in their 20s, 30s and 40s, many of which were unaware they were infected, posing a danger to vulnerable groups.

 

WHO officials said this month the proportion of younger people among those infected had risen globally, putting at risk vulnerable sectors of the population worldwide, including the elderly and sick people in densely populated areas with weak health services.

 

"The epidemic is changing," WHO Western Pacific regional director, Takeshi Kasai, told a virtual briefing. "People in their 20s, 30s and 40s are increasingly driving the spread. Many are unaware they are infected."

 

"This increases the risk of spillovers to the more vulnerable," he added.

 

A surge in new cases has prompted some countries to re-impose curbs as companies race to find a vaccine for a virus that has battered economies, killed more than 770,000 people and infected nearly 22 million, according to a Reuters tally.

 

Surges were reported in countries that had appeared to have the virus under control, including Vietnam, which until recently went three months without domestic transmission due to its aggressive mitigation efforts.

 

"What we are observing is not simply a resurgence. We believe it's a signal that we have entered a new phase of pandemic in the Asia-Pacific," Kasai said.

 

He said countries were better able to reduce disruption to lives and economies by combining early detection and response to manage infections.

 

While mutations had been observed, the WHO still saw the virus as "relatively stable", Kasai said.

 

WHO also reminded drugmakers to follow all necessary research and development steps when creating a vaccine.

 

Socorro Escalante, its technical officer and medicines policy advisor, said the WHO was coordinating with Russia, which this month became the first country to grant regulatory approval for a COVID-19 vaccine.

 

"We hope to get the response in terms of the evidence of this new vaccine," Escalante said.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-08-18

 

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[Kelsall]

The WHO lost all credibility early on when they said international travel restrictions were not necessary. 

[Bluespunk]

Great to see WHO keeping up with latest developments, findings and information on COVID-19 and issuing well researched and relevant recommendations. 

Edited August 18, 2020 by Bluespunk

[blazes]

14 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

Great to see WHO keeping up with latest developments, findings and information on COVID-19 and issuing well researched and relevant recommendations. 

 

Forgive me for my being, potentially, a bit slow on the ball, but this contribution was of course ironic, right?

[Bender Rodriguez]

the who pushing for trial vaccines on poor philipinnes that don't have money to sue ?

 

big pharma loves "clinical" trials in poor countries, some officials get incredible rich to allow this

[from the home of CC]

On 8/18/2020 at 6:28 PM, Kelsall said:

The WHO lost all credibility early on when they said international travel restrictions were not necessary. 

I agree, but then the US cut their own throat by allowing 3 million European and British travelers in - being somewhat proactive could have saved thousands.. 

[from the home of CC]

says many are asymptomatic and don't know they're transmitting the virus, I believe many do know they're infectious and just don't give a f***...

[Eric Loh]

On 8/18/2020 at 6:28 PM, Kelsall said:

The WHO lost all credibility early on when they said international travel restrictions were not necessary. 

Most countries understand WHO early warning to ensure that PPE were not curtailed by travel restrictions and eventually adjusted to the new normal travel restrictions and reaped good resulted. US was bit too lackadaisical in their travel restrictions allowing many infected Europeans to come in and now suffered the dire consequences.

[rcummings]

On 8/19/2020 at 11:28 AM, Bender Rodriguez said:

the who pushing for trial vaccines on poor philipinnes that don't have money to sue ?

 

big pharma loves "clinical" trials in poor countries, some officials get incredible rich to allow this

Actually, the single most important criterion is whether or not there is a high enough level of covid cases in any particular country to do clinical studies. Sadly, most, if not all EU nations no longer qualify. But you'll be pleased to learn that the USA does qualify and that there are ongoing clinical trials of vaccines in progress there. Go USA!

[Sujo]

On 8/19/2020 at 12:28 PM, Bender Rodriguez said:

the who pushing for trial vaccines on poor philipinnes that don't have money to sue ?

 

big pharma loves "clinical" trials in poor countries, some officials get incredible rich to allow this

australia currently doing trials and expect vaccine early 2021