Why was SARS-CoV-1 so much easier to control than SARS-CoV-2? What differentiates the two?
In: Biology
SARS-CoV-1 was a lot deadlier than SARS-CoV-2, but spread far more slowly, so fewer people were infected. SARS-CoV-2 has a higher reproductive number than SARS-CoV-1 or influenza, meaning each infected person spreads it to more people. [Source](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30484-9/fulltext)
One of the things that makes SARS-CoV-2 so hard to contain is people can be asymptomatic carriers for up to 2 weeks. People can spread the disease to a bunch of other people before they even realize they’re sick. With SARS-CoV-1, symptoms showed up more quickly, and were generally more severe, so it was easier to identify who was sick and react appropriately.
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