PARIS: Aches and pains, sore throat, fever -- although they may feel similar to those suffering from their symptoms, the novel coronavirus is not the same as the seasonal flu, experts stressed Wednesday. While this is not the same as its mortality rate, given many people may be infected but not realise it, it is significantly higher than seasonal flu, which typically kills 0.1% of patients. Serious casesBut the true danger of coronavirus is unlikely to be the death toll. That's a contagion rate up to twice as high as seasonal flu, which typically infects 1.3 new people for each patient. Health authorities regularly complain that not enough people receive the flu vaccine to guarantee "herd immunity".

Source: Bangkok Post March 12, 2020 03:02 UTC