Russia has drugs to treat 'coronavirus,' but global epidemic possible by March – Moscow experts
Russia has about 30 medicines that can treat the dangerous new Chinese coronavirus, according to the country's former chief federal sanitary inspector, Dr Gennady Onishchenko.
"In order to reassure everyone: There are about 30 drugs that are available today, and are being used, [which can] work against this virus. Twelve of them are ones we [also use to] treat HIV infection," Onishchenko, who is now an MP in the national parliament (Duma), told the radio station Echo of Moscow.
However, Alexander Sergeev, head of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), offered a bleak prediction. He believes a global epidemic is on the cards by March if the coronavirus continues to spread at its current rate.
"The disease is quite dangerous and the number of cases grows exponentially. If it continues for another month, it can grow into a global epidemic," he told journalists on Monday. In his view, the World Health Organization (WHO) needs to do more.
According to Russian authorities, no cases of the new 2019-nCov virus have been found so far, but they have been reported in Chinese regions bordering the country.
In Transbaikalia, a state of high alert has been introduced, according to the regional administration's press service. The local government of the region, which is heavily reliant on cross-border trade, has asked residents not to travel to China.
https://www.rt.com/russia/479293-coronavirus-epidemic-possible-march-russia/