Real-time tentative assessment of the epidemiological characteristics of novel coronavirus infections in Wuhan, China, as at 22 January 2020

Euro Surveill. 2020 Jan;25(3):2000044. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.3.2000044.

Abstract

A novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) causing severe acute respiratory disease emerged recently in Wuhan, China. Information on reported cases strongly indicates human-to-human spread, and the most recent information is increasingly indicative of sustained human-to-human transmission. While the overall severity profile among cases may change as more mild cases are identified, we estimate a risk of fatality among hospitalised cases at 14% (95% confidence interval: 3.9-32%).

Keywords: Coronavirus; public health.

MeSH terms

  • China / epidemiology
  • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / epidemiology
  • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / transmission
  • Coronavirus / classification
  • Coronavirus / isolation & purification*
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / mortality
  • Coronavirus Infections / transmission*
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Hospital Mortality
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Public Health
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / transmission*
  • Risk Assessment