1. How did the new cluster erupt?
The first case was reported May 7 in the northeastern
province of Jilin, on the border with Russia and North Korea, and as of May 21
had spread to at least 46 people, all linked with each other. Officials have
yet to identify “patient zero,” but suspects include a woman who works in the
laundry at a police station in the city of Shulan, and may have been in contact
with one or more people from Russia, which is behind only the U.S. in number of
confirmed cases. One of China’s top doctors said patients in Jilin appeared to be asymptomatic for a longer
period than was usual in Wuhan, where the coronavirus emerged last year,
but didn’t elaborate on what those findings were based on. He told state
television the cases in the first two weeks seem to show damage mostly in
the lungs, with only 10% developing into critical cases.
province of Jilin, on the border with Russia and North Korea, and as of May 21
had spread to at least 46 people, all linked with each other. Officials have
yet to identify “patient zero,” but suspects include a woman who works in the
laundry at a police station in the city of Shulan, and may have been in contact
with one or more people from Russia, which is behind only the U.S. in number of
confirmed cases. One of China’s top doctors said patients in Jilin appeared to be asymptomatic for a longer
period than was usual in Wuhan, where the coronavirus emerged last year,
but didn’t elaborate on what those findings were based on. He told state
television the cases in the first two weeks seem to show damage mostly in
the lungs, with only 10% developing into critical cases.
2. What’s the response been?
The northeast cluster is tiny compared to the earlier
outbreak in central Hubei province, where Wuhan is located. (More than 68,000
people were infected there; its 11-week lockdown ended April 8.) Yet Beijing is
taking the outbreak just as seriously. Jilin city is already setting up an
emergency response that could turn two stadiums into hospitals in 24 hours. The
Chinese government is eager to show stability as its annual political meeting
is set to convene this week, with top leaders gathering to assess economic
growth in the wake of the pandemic.
outbreak in central Hubei province, where Wuhan is located. (More than 68,000
people were infected there; its 11-week lockdown ended April 8.) Yet Beijing is
taking the outbreak just as seriously. Jilin city is already setting up an
emergency response that could turn two stadiums into hospitals in 24 hours. The
Chinese government is eager to show stability as its annual political meeting
is set to convene this week, with top leaders gathering to assess economic
growth in the wake of the pandemic.
3. Why is this
outbreak such a worry?
outbreak such a worry?
The pathogen’s makeup. These coronavirus cases are showing a different gene sequence from the
outbreak in Hubei, while identical with imported cases from Russia.
Changes in the virus’s genetic sequence could make it harder for officials
to detect. It also would create hurdles for vaccine research and
development for pharmaceutical companies that are racing to stop the spread
of Covid-19. Researchers worldwide are studying whether the virus is mutating
in a significant way to become more contagious, but the likelihood of that has
been called overstated in some early research.
outbreak in Hubei, while identical with imported cases from Russia.
Changes in the virus’s genetic sequence could make it harder for officials
to detect. It also would create hurdles for vaccine research and
development for pharmaceutical companies that are racing to stop the spread
of Covid-19. Researchers worldwide are studying whether the virus is mutating
in a significant way to become more contagious, but the likelihood of that has
been called overstated in some early research.
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