META: Coronavirus cure: Could coronavirus die out on its own?

After an initial outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan, China, which began in December 2019, the novel virus has spread to over 180 countries in the world. The USA, Spain, Italy and France are among the worst-hit nations. It is important to note, however, that coronavirus is the name for the general type of virus, rather than the disease itself. On their decision to name the virus COVID-19, the World Health Organisation said: “Having a name matters to prevent the use of other names that can be inaccurate or stigmatising. It also gives us a standard format to use for any future coronavirus outbreaks.”

Could coronavirus die out on its own?

Whether or not coronavirus could die out on its own is a hotly-debated topic among the scientific community, as arguments on both sides of the coin are valid.

Dr Matteo Bassetti, head of infectious diseases clinic at the San Martino hospital in Genoa, Italy, believed that the coronavirus has become less dangerous and is could disappear without a vaccine.

The Sunday Telegraph reported Dr Basetti said the virus has become less potent over time, possibly due to genetic mutations.

Dr Basetti said: “The clinical impression I have is that the virus is changing in severity. In March and April the patterns were completely different.

“People were coming to the emergency department with a very difficult to manage illness and they needed oxygen and ventilation, some developed pneumonia.”

However, according to Dr Basetti “the picture has completely changed in terms of patterns” within the past month.

“It was like an aggressive tight in March and April but now it’s like a wild cat”, added Dr Basetti.

“Even elderly patients, aged 80 or 90, are now sitting up in bed and they are breathing without help. The same patients would have died in two or three days before.”

However, other experts have not shared Dr Basetti’s optimism, and believe chances of the virus dying out are very slim.

Dr Bharat Pankhania, professor at the Exeter School of Medicine, said: “I don’t expect it to die out that quickly. It will if it has nobody to infect.

“If we have a successful vaccine, then we’ll be able to do what we did with smallpox. But because it’s so infectious and widespread, it won’t go away for a very long time.”

Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergency Program, Mike Ryan, said: “This virus just may become another endemic virus in our communities and this virus may never go away.

“HIV hasn’t gone away. I’m not comparing the two diseases but I think it is important that we’re realistic. I don’t think anyone can predict when or if this disease will disappear.”