Beijing, April 15 (Xinhua) -- In response to the recent emergence of the new crown in European and American political circles and society, some authoritative health experts in the United States recently pointed out that it is too early to make such an "optimistic" judgment on the new crown epidemic, because the medical community still lacks enough understanding of the new crown virus to classify it as a "local epidemic".
"Not applicable"
According to CNN reported on the 13th, during the "2022 Epidemic Prevention Summit" held in Atlanta last week, Michael Fraser, executive director of the Association of State and Regional Health Officials, spoke at a panel discussion mainly attended by health officials, believing that the new crown is considered a "local epidemic" is not a small drawback.
Pedestrians walk on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on March 29. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Liu Jie
"Frankly, I think we're doing a big favor with the term 'endemic epidemics.'" People don't understand the term very well, it's not accurate," Fraser said, "there are endemic epidemics that kill 400,000 people a year, like malaria... There are also endemic epidemics like herpes virus infection, which are widespread in half the population but may only develop a cold sore rash at the time of onset. ”
As defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a "endemic epidemic" is a persistent or recurrent epidemic of a disease or pathogen in a population within a geographic area. According to American experts, the current use of this word to summarize the new crown is too simplistic.
Lori Tremel Freeman, chief executive of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, told CNN that the term was "not quite appropriate" to use in the new crown because "we haven't pieced together the full picture of the coronavirus."
Healthcare workers take samples at a COVID-19 testing site in Times Square, New York, on March 29. Photo by Xinhua news agency reporter Wang Ying
How?
Since the new crown cannot be regarded as a "local epidemic", how to formulate epidemic prevention strategies at this stage?
At the meeting, Fraser suggested that public health departments should focus on researching ways to "sustainably manage" COVID-19, such as "regular vaccinations every year" and "where, when and how to continuously monitor the spread of the virus."
U.S. epidemiologist Janet Hamilton said at the symposium: "We tend to think of endemic epidemics as a predictable disease that is circulating. COVID-19 will indeed become like that in the future, but its 'predictability' is a big problem at this stage. ”
Pedestrians walk on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on March 29. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Liu Jie
In March 2020, the World Health Organization identified the COVID-19 pandemic as having a "pandemic" character, a judgment that has not changed. A "pandemic" is a global epidemic that occurs frequently over a large area and in large populations, across borders and even across continents.
The WHO has criticized some Western countries for "brutally" ending most of the anti-epidemic restrictions at the beginning of this year.
The United States had originally planned to ease measures requiring passengers to wear masks on public transit systems starting next week, but according to the CDC's latest guidance, the mask order will be extended by 15 days to May 3. (Shen Min)