Covid 19 not as deadly as sars mers expert

A topic of ongoing debate!

You're referring to a statement made by Dr. Jeremy Farrar, Director of the Wellcome Trust, a UK-based global health charity. In an interview with The Guardian in April 2020, Dr. Farrar said: "Covid-19 is not as deadly as Sars or Mers."

Here's a breakdown of the comparison:

SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)

• Outbreak: 2002-2004
• Global cases: 8,096
• Global deaths: 774 (9.5% mortality rate)
• Case fatality rate (CFR): 9.5%
• Incubation period: 2-7 days
• Transmission: Primarily person-to-person, with some cases linked to animal contact

MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome)

• Outbreak: 2012-present
• Global cases: 2,463 (as of March 2023)
• Global deaths: 858 (34.8% mortality rate)
• Case fatality rate (CFR): 34.8%
• Incubation period: 2-14 days
• Transmission: Primarily person-to-person, with some cases linked to camel contact

COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019)

• Outbreak: 2019-present
• Global cases: Over 300 million (as of March 2023)
• Global deaths: Over 4.5 million (1.5% mortality rate)
• Case fatality rate (CFR): 1.5%
• Incubation period: 2-14 days
• Transmission: Primarily person-to-person, with some cases linked to animal contact

While Dr. Farrar's statement is not entirely inaccurate, it's essential to consider the context and nuances of each outbreak. Here are some points to keep in mind:

1. Scale: COVID-19 has infected many more people than SARS and MERS, making it a much larger outbreak.
2. Mortality rate: While COVID-19's mortality rate is lower than SARS and MERS, it's still a significant public health concern, especially among vulnerable populations like the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.
3. Transmission: COVID-19 is more contagious than SARS and MERS, making it easier to spread and harder to contain.
4. Global response: The global response to COVID-19 has been unprecedented, with widespread lockdowns, travel restrictions, and vaccination efforts. This has likely contributed to the lower mortality rate compared to SARS and MERS.
5. Vaccines: The development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines have been a game-changer in the fight against the pandemic, reducing the number of severe cases and deaths.

In conclusion, while Dr. Farrar's statement is not entirely incorrect, it's essential to consider the complexities of each outbreak and the factors that contribute to their severity. COVID-19 is a significant public health concern, and its impact has been felt globally.