A leading health epidemiologist says that the spread of coronavirus around the world, if unchecked, could be huge - or come in waves. More than 40,000 infections had been confirmed, but experts were certain there were at least tens of thousands more. In 2009, when Lipsitch was helping the CDC determine the severity of the H1N1 flu, he and his fellow researchers recognised that no single data source could capture all five tiers. Within eight months, scientists had a reliable model of the H1N1 virus that included everyone except those who were infected without realising it. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images More than 40,000 coronavirus infections had been confirmed, but experts were certain there were at least tens of thousands more.

Source: Stuff February 11, 2020 20:48 UTC