BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Chinese researchers have been actively sharing the latest scientific research results and participating in international cooperation on diagnosis and effective treatments, making an important contribution to the global epidemic control.
At the early stage of the prevention and control work, Chinese researchers were racing against time to formulate a detailed profile of the virus and screen treatments.
China promptly reported the outbreak information to the WHO and relevant countries and regions, and released the whole genome sequencing of COVID-19 to help scientists and health authorities worldwide develop diagnostic kits and study the viral pathogenicity.
The WHO chief appreciated China's immediate detecting and sharing of the sequencing of the virus, so that other countries can be better prepared.
By analyzing genome samples of wild animals, Chinese researchers revealed that COVID-19 may originate in bats, and pangolins are the most likely intermediate host of the virus, which will support the prevention and control of the epidemic, as well as offer scientific reference for policies on wild animals.
Except for conventional routes of transmission like SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV including respiratory droplets and direct contact, which have been proved to be the major routes of coronavirus infection, other routes of COVID-19 have been revealed by Chinese researchers.
They had isolated a novel coronavirus strain from a swab sample of an infected patient's feces, indicating that the virus may spread through drainage systems, renowned Chinese respiratory specialist Zhong Nanshan noted.
The virus can also be transmitted when someone is exposed to high concentrations of aerosol in a relatively closed environment for a long time, while the probability of aerosol transmission in a normal working and living environment is extremely low, said Zhou Qi, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Chinese pathologists have concluded autopsies on 11 patients who died of COVID-19 to answer a series of questions on the new infectious disease. In the latest version of the national diagnosis and treatment plan for COVID-19, the results of autopsies were released, showing various degrees of pulmonary mutations as a result of the epidemic, as the patients' spleens significantly shrank, while their myocardial cells also suffered degeneration and necrosis.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine elaborated on the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 infection based on the data of 1,099 laboratory-confirmed patients from 552 hospitals in 30 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities across China.
COVID-19 patients may have no fever or CT abnormality, said the article with Zhong as the corresponding author.
Public health security is a common challenge faced by humanity, and all countries should join hands to overcome it, said Chinese President Xi Jinping, calling on countries to share research data and jointly devise response strategies.
China has been joining hands with the international community to fight COVID-19 by sharing information and donating medical supplies, among other steps.
Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said China has provided some countries with detection kits and donated anti-epidemic supplies through the Red Cross and other channels.
China will continue to properly handle its domestic epidemic prevention and control and carry out various forms of cooperation with other countries and provide support within its capabilities, he said.
Experts from Wuhan Tongji Hospital have shared with doctors from the Nicuarda Hospital in Milan, Italy, their experience with treating novel coronavirus pneumonia patients via video conference.
In the one-hour exchange, Wuhan experts shared in detail the key points of prevention and control, the protective measures for medics and the Tongji treatment plans.
China will share information and experience in a timely manner, as well as coordinate policies and resources with other countries and the WHO to help win the global war against the epidemic, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian.
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