Hi, I am Peter Ben Embarek, a food safety scientist at the World Health Organization (WHO), currently part of the international response to the new disease COVID-19 caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV2 . AMA!

What are some of the major myths surrounding covid-19 that you would like to dispel?

Here are some of the main ones:

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters

Also see our Q&A:

https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses

I really dislike the WHO myth page. I feel like the answers are more worried about misunderstanding than pure factual truth. Yes covering yourself with bleach and or alcohol works, but it's risks outweigh doing so.

Thank you for that. Will pass it to my colleagues working on these.

How worried should we be about the Coronavirus?

Each time a new disease emerge, make people sick, some seriously, and kill some people, we should be worried. However, we cannot predict how each of these disease evolves. Some like SARS disappeared after 6 months. Others can be much more severe. But often, overreacting and panic can cause more harm than the disease itself. This one like many other respiratory diseases can best be avoided by applying basic good gesture in our daily life:

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

For more info on the disease :

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Do you think that it's worrying seeing the vastly different speculations issued by experts when discussing the eventual culmination/risks of the virus?

it is normal. Nobody can predict the future or how it will evolve. In a fast evolving event, it is not surprising to see divergent predictions and modelisation results.

What's the possibility of food being contaminated by the virus if you live in an area with known coronavirus cases?

Very low probability. This virus like other coronaviruses can persist/survive on surfaces (door handle, elevator buttons, handrails, etc.. and also on foods if an infected person transfer the virus inadvertently to these surfaces. But it will not survive long. A few min to a few days, depending on combination of temperature, humidity and light. On foods, it will not survive usual cooking temperatures.

Surviving on a surface for up to a few days sounds terrifying actually.

That is in extreme cases, mostly we are talking about minutes to hours.

So I’m probably good just leaving my fruit/ produce out for a day or so?

Your produce and fruits are most probably fine. don't worry.

Can you elaborate on those conditions, and any precautions one might make to ensure the food or packaging is safe? (for example, if you were in China)

best way to protect yourself is by following basic food hygiene recommendations :

https://www.who.int/activities/promoting-safe-food-handling

https://www.who.int/foodsafety/areas_work/food-hygiene/5keys-poster/en/

As food can be contaminated with many different disease causing bacteria or viruses, the rules to make your food safe are the same for all of them including this new one.

As you've mentioned food.

I've read a forwarded message in WhatsApp from a doctor who said any kind of cold drinks, ice cream, any kind of preserved food, milkshakes, ice etc should be avoided.

So my question is such food should we avoid? and if answer is yes, then why?

TiA

I love ice cream and shakes. Everything in moderation is always a good approach to choosing your diet. I would not know why there should be a link between these foods and the virus. It does not make much sense. inform you via trusted sources. Not forwarded messages.

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sources are always good

I just bought a pink super cheap smartwatch on aliexpress and a 1000 mini pieces anime Jigsaw puzzle because the WHO said getting packages from China is safe, is this still true?

yes. Enjoy both

What needs to be done in order to eradicate this virus?

This is what the world is trying to do now. 1) identify and treat cases, 2) identify their close contacts and follow these contacts for sign of symptoms, 3 for each contact that become sick and is confirmed to be infected, repeat 1 and 2. It is about breaking chains of transmissions. The more cases and the more chains of transmissions, the more difficult it becomes. It worked in 2003 with SARS after 6 months.

Expose the everyone to it until only people left standing are immune? That’s how humanity has dealt with past pandemics for most our history.

Not an option because too many people will become severely ill and will overwhelm hospitals. Also, too many people may die.

I'm curious about the origins of this "new" virus. Is it related to an old virus? Supposedly it "started" at a food market? What does that mean? Why/how is that relevant? Do viruses like food or something?

(assume I'm totally ignorant to this whole topic) THX!

This virus belong to a group of viruses that is found in bats. This is their ecological reservoir or niche. Once in a while , they manage to adapt to another animal species through mutations and then from there, adapt to humans. We saw this scenario with SARS in 2003 with palmed civet cats as the intermediary host. Civet cats were farmed for food, so they were sold in markets. In the current case, a number of the first case identified had a link to a wholesale market, so it is believed that as similar scenario has also happened here. but this time, the animal source has not yet been identified.

Thank you so much for the huge interest and the many questions. I will revert tomorrow with more answers. Sorry for not being able to answer all of them tonight.

How did you get into this? How did you know that this was the career for you, and what was your career path?

When i decided on my studies, i wanted to work with something concrete. Food production was an obvious choice. I did not want to work with virtual issues like finance, bank, or the like (nothing wrong with it, just not me). Then while studying food science and nutrition, i opted for food safety. then i got a chance to work with international organizations and what started as an initial 3 years project abroad, ended up as a lifetime path.

What are the chances of survival of the coronavirus? How is it treated?

extremely good. Most people will only experience a relatively mild disease. But even a small proportion of severe cases can give substantial numbers when the affected population is very large.

Is it known how long the virus can survive on artificial surfaces, thinking about the goods that are shipped from China to all over the world?

Is there anything to keep in mind if receiving a parcel from China?

Edit: questionmark

A study found it can survive up to 9 days, although I'm not sure how common that could be. Take a look for yourself: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195670120300463

The review is looking at other coronaviruses, not this particular one. Studies on this new one are underway. we will soon know if it more or less persistent compared to other known coronaviruses.

First of all thanks so much for doing an AMA, I’m wondering exactly HOW worried we should be, it seems like there has been a lot of inaccurate data reported and perhaps this is far worse then the public is lead to believe?

Thank you. A new emerging disease is always something to take seriously. Follow our daily update for the most accurate info and analysis available.

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

How likely will COVID-19 evolve to be lethal to humans?

Nobody can predict how viruses evolve.

What's the latest on the suspected fatality rate of COVID-19? It's been confusing because we get numbers on "confirmed cases" but those are likely only the worst most obvious cases, when fatality's denominator is all people who catch it.

good question. Since it appears that the vast majority of cases re mild, a number of cases are probably missed.

What precautionary measures do you recommend for those in outbreak areas, as well as everyone else? Is this virus something the average person should be concerned about, beyond being informed enough to help avoid its spread and recognizing the symptoms?

follow the recommendation of your local public health authorities. they will always be the best informed about the local situation. Otherwise, you are right, being well informed (via trusted sources and mainstream media is recommended.

If it does make it out of China in large numbers, what advice do you have for primary care physicians in terms of diagnosing it and also protecting ourselves from the virus?

A lot of guidance on this @ : https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

What’s the best way to decontaminate before coming into a residential dwelling?

wash hands with water and soap or hand sanitizers

What can we do up prepare for the possibility of the virus spreading in our neighborhoods?

keep informed and follow good recommendations.

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

• 1. How bad do you think it's going to get, realistically?
• 2. What do you make of the theories going around suggesting that it's man-made, for the sake of profiting off of vaccinations? o

1) see above.

2) There is a growing consensus among experts who are analyzing the genetic sequences of the virus. The ecological reservoir of this virus is in bats and has probably jumped to human through an intermediary animal host. It belongs to a group of viruses found in bats in many parts of the world.

I know it can be a little hard to compare due to the relative to lack of early communication regarding SARS, but what is the difference in infection rates in COVID19 vs SARS. Are there "super spreaders" apparent with COVID19?

The 2 are very different indeed. See our Q&A n the topic. If i remember, it is one of the first questions answered

https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses

How can we learn more about food safety [from humanity's perspective] other than containing and stopping the diseases? [like SARS - from what I have read, the learning from the outbreaks have made the world a better place] - however, what can precautionary measures/ methods can we adopt on global scales for such outbreaks to never pop-up in the first place?

for foodborne diseases, we can do a lot as consumers :

https://www.who.int/activities/promoting-safe-food-handling

We can also push for strengthening our national food safety systems. this will indirectly, reduce the opportunities for new diseases to jump to humans via our food systems.

Do we know the definite cause of the virus?

not yes. see above

Taking necessary precautions, would you think traveling to Japan is ok? And do you think the virus will be contained outside China? Or cases would continue to grow at a more slower pace? Than you!

We do not recommend any trade or travel restrictions. It has no beneficial results. The world is working towards containment everywhere.

Do you believe the Coronavirus will become a worldwide global issue or be more contained like Ebola was?

It is already a worldwide concern with cases in all continents

Do you believe that the Chinese have built giant crematoriums to burn bodies?

No.

How much do you get asked whether people have to be scared?

a lot, which is normal.

What virus is currently the one we need to be most wary about? We see new coverage of the Coronavirus, but is this the threat we need to be watching for? Or is there something more widespread or worse that should be on our radar as well.

New emerging diseases are always worrying. But, we have the seasonal flu every year that kills hundreds of thousand of people each year. We also have now large outbreaks of measles, both largely preventable diseases with vaccination. Just to mention a few.