Sir — It was disheartening to see Serena Williams lose in the third round of the Australian Open. In her earliest exit in 14 years, Williams lost the match to Wang Qiang. However, it must be remembered that Williams has suffered a series of injuries, notably to her knee, that led to her playing fewer matches last year. The tennis icon, already playing far beyond the average retirement age, won her 73rd career title earlier this month — her first win in three years. She has already set several benchmarks for the sport and a lull does not diminish her achievements. One hopes that she will make a strong comeback soon.

Antara Dutta,

Darjeeling

High alert

Sir — With 56 confirmed deaths and a sharp increase in the number of people infected by the barely-understood coronavirus, the People’s Republic of China has taken the much-needed precaution of locking down several cities (“China alarmed as virus toll reaches 56”, Jan 27). The country has locked down 14 cities, restricting the movement of 56 million people. The authorities in Wuhan are rapidly building a 1,000-bed hospital to cater to the rising numbers. The Chinese finance ministry, acknowledging the shortage of resources in the wake of the outbreak, has allocated one billion yuan towards efforts to deal with the disease. Unlike its cover-up of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome epidemic in 2002-03 that led to the death of nearly 800 people in at least 17 countries, this time the Chinese government has been far more transparent.

The epicentre of the virus outbreak is believed to be an illegal wildlife trading market in Wuhan. Preliminary research suggests that the coronavirus might have been transmitted to humans from snakes, but badgers and rats could also be possible sources. Such zoonotic transmissions have been blamed for several recent viral outbreaks such as SARS, Ebola and Nipah. According to virologists, consuming the meat of certain animals can lead to such diseases. Moreover, the practice of injecting livestock with antibiotics and steroids is rendering industrial livestock farming unsustainable.

A few cases of coronavirus have been found outside China, in countries such as Thailand, the United States of America, Japan and Singapore. While the World Health Organization has acknowledged that the respiratory disease is an emergency in China, it is yet to consider the outbreak a global emergency. Many countries, including India, have set up screening facilities at airports to prevent the infection from spreading.

Chinese officials face the daunting task of containing the spread of the disease while finding a countermeasure for it. The officials in India must also gear up to prevent the spread of the virus and take crucial lessons from the way Kerala handled the Nipah virus in 2018. However, prevention should remain the priority. The distribution of masks and issuance of health advisories are some of the important steps that must be taken. With the number of infected persons rising everyday, it is of utmost importance that the disease is contained and treated at the earliest.

Khokan Das,

Calcutta

Sir — The outbreak of the coronavirus, originating from Wuhan, is quite serious. Several cities in China have been put on lockdown and efforts to restrict the spread of this deadly disease are underway. Given that the virus is transmitted from human-to-human, as confirmed by the Chinese health ministry, the Indian government should take the necessary precautionary measures through standard as well as emergency health protocols. The government should also issue cautionary notes for mass awareness.

Arun Kumar Baksi,

Calcutta

Sir — The death toll from the mysterious flu-like coronavirus is rising at an alarming rate, with 56 casualties and hundreds more infected. The WHO considers the outbreak to be a medical emergency in China. The symptoms of the disease include fever, coughing and problems in breathing, sometimes leading to pneumonia.

There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine against the coronavirus, which is placing a heavy burden on the health infrastructure of several countries. It is important to put in place greater surveillance and awareness measures to prevent the spread of the outbreak. The public should also be informed about the risks and symptoms of coronavirus. Taking protective measures and avoiding direct or close contact with infected persons might help in arresting the spread to a great extent. Had the authorities succeeded in controlling the initial outbreak, it could have prevented the disease from reaching so many countries in the first place.

Kiran Agarwal,

Calcutta

Sir — Although the outbreak of coronavirus is yet to be considered an international emergency, the rising death toll and numbers infected indicate otherwise. Unless its spread is arrested at the earliest, it might just become a global epidemic. The screenings at airports around the world are welcome but it is also important to provide substantiated information to the public. Premature claims, such as those pertaining to where the virus originated from, can lead to mass panic. It is of utmost importance to maintain public order at moments of crisis.

Anamika Ray,

Calcutta