By Cathy Elelman • Published: 14 May 2020 • 17:35
CORONAVIRUS may never be wiped out entirely, a World Health Organisation expert has warned.
Speaking at an online press briefing in Geneva on Wednesday, WHO Assistant Director-General for Emergencies Mike Ryan cautioned against any attempts to predict how long Covid-19 would keep circulating.
“It is important to put this on the table: this virus may become just another endemic virus in our communities, and this virus may never go away,” he said.
He added, “I think it is important we are realistic and I don’t think anyone can predict when this disease will disappear.
“I think there are no promises in this and there are no dates. This disease may settle into a long problem, or it may not be.”
The Irish epidemiologist said that even if a vaccine is found it will take a “massive effort” to overcome Covid-19.
He also pointed out that while there are vaccines for illnesses like measles the disease has not been completely eliminated.
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Cathy Elelman is the local writer for the Costa de Almeria edition of the Euro Weekly News.
Based in Mojacar for the last 21 years, Cathy is very much part of the local community and is always well and truly up on all the latest news and events going on in this region of Spain.
Her top goals are to do the best job she can informing the local English-speaking community, visitors to the area and the wider world about about the news in Almeria, to learn something new every day, and to embrace very new challenge this fast-changing world brings her way.
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