PARIS: Aches and pains, sore throat, fever -- although they may feel similar to those suffering from their symptoms, the novel coronavirus is not the same as the seasonal flu, experts stressed Wednesday.

Mortality

Covid-19, the illness caused by coronavirus, is deadly in around 3.5% of confirmed cases.

While this is not the same as its mortality rate, given many people may be infected but not realise it, it is significantly higher than seasonal flu, which typically kills 0.1% of patients.

Serious cases

But the true danger of coronavirus is unlikely to be the death toll. Experts say health systems could easily become overwhelmed by the number of cases requiring hospitalisation -- and, often ventilation to support breathing.

An analysis of 45,000 confirmed cases in China, where the epidemic began, show that the vast majority of deaths were among the elderly (14.8% mortality among over 80s).

But another Chinese study showed that 41% of serious cases occurred among under 50s, compared with 27% among over 65s.

Contagiousness

Disease experts estimate that each Covid-19 sufferer infects between 2-3 others.

That's a contagion rate up to twice as high as seasonal flu, which typically infects 1.3 new people for each patient.

Vaccine/treatment

Humans have lived with influenza for more than 100 years. However there is the lack of a vaccine against Covid-19, or even any treatment shown to be consistently effective.

Even if a vaccine appeared, getting everyone access to it is not easy. Health authorities regularly complain that not enough people receive the flu vaccine to guarantee "herd immunity".

Similarities

But the new virus does share some characteristics with flu, notably the measures each one of us can personally take to slow the infection rate:

Avoid shaking hands, frequently wash your hands with soap and water, avoid touching your face and wear a mask if you are sick.

France's health ministry says that only 2 in 10 people regularly wash their hands after using the bathroom.

"And only 42% of people cover their mouth with an elbow or tissue when they cough or sneeze," it added.