Coronavirus: 8 things we still don't know about Covid-19

In Summary

•There have been hundreds of thousands of confirmed cases around the world, but this is only a fraction of the total number of infections. And the figures are further confused by an unknown number of asymptomatic cases - people who have the virus but don't feel ill.

Kenyan nurses wearing protective gear prepare a ward during a demonstration at the Mbagathi Hospital, isolation centrein Nairobi,March 6.
PROTECTION: Kenyan nurses wearing protective gear prepare a ward during a demonstration at the Mbagathi Hospital, isolation centrein Nairobi,March 6.
Image: REUTERS

It feels like an eternity ago, but the world only became aware of the coronavirus in December.

Despite incredible efforts by scientists around the world, there is still much we do not understand, and we are all now part of a planet-wide experiment trying to find answers.

Here are some of the big outstanding questions.

 
 

1. How many people have been infected

It is one of the most basic questions, but also one of the most crucial.

There have been hundreds of thousands of confirmed cases around the world, but this is only a fraction of the total number of infections. And the figures are further confused by an unknown number of asymptomatic cases - people who have the virus but don't feel ill.

Developing an antibody test will allow researchers to see whether anyone has had the virus. Only then will we understand how far or how easily the coronavirus is spreading.

2. How deadly it really is

Until we know how many cases there have been, it is impossible to be certain of the death rate. At the moment the estimate is that around 1% of people infected with the virus die. But if there are large numbers of asymptomatic patients, the death rate could be lower.

3. The full range of symptoms

 
 

The main symptoms of coronavirus are a fever and a dry cough - these are the ones you should be on the look out for.

A sore throat, headache and diarrhoea have also been reported in some cases and there is mounting speculation that a loss of sense of smell may affect some.

But the most important question is whether mild, cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose or sneezing, are present in some patients.

Studies have suggested this is a possibility and that people could potentially be infectious without knowing they are carrying the virus.

4. The role children play in spreading it

Children can definitely catch coronavirus. However, they mostly develop mild symptoms and there are relatively few deaths among children compared with other age groups.

Children are normally super-spreaders of disease, partly because they mix with lots of people (often in the playground), but with this virus, it is not clear to what extent they help spread it.

5. Where exactly it came from

The virus emerged in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019, where there was a cluster of cases at an animal market.

The coronavirus, officially called Sars-CoV-2, is closely related to viruses that infect bats, however it is thought the virus was passed from bats to a mystery animal species that then passed it on to people.

That "missing link" remains unknown, and could be a source of further infections.

6. Why some people get much more severe symptoms

Covid-19 is a mild infection for most. However around 20% go on to develop more severe disease, but why?

The state of a person's immune system seems to be part of the issue, and there may be some genetic factor too. Understanding this could lead to ways of preventing people from needing intensive care.

7. How long immunity lasts, and whether you can get it twice

There has been much speculation but little evidence on how durable any immunity to the virus is.

Patients must have built up an immune response, if they successfully fight off the virus. But as the disease has been around for only a few months there is a lack of long-term data. Rumours of patients being infected twice may be down to tests incorrectly saying they were free of the virus.

The question of immunity is vital for understanding what will happen in the long term.

8. Whether the virus will mutate

Viruses mutate all the time, but most alterations to their genetic code do not make a significant difference.

As a general rule, you expect viruses to evolve to be less deadly in the long run, but this is not guaranteed.

The concern is that if the virus mutates, then the immune system no longer recognises it and a specific vaccine no longer works (as happens with flu).

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