Fight against virus provides critical lessons

Experts say nations should have plans to ensure sufficient equipment, training

China's efforts to contain the novel coronavirus have made a big difference and have provided important lessons for the country and other nations experiencing the rapid spread of the epidemic, according to the country's front-line medical experts.

One of the key lessons is to mobilize more critical care experts to reduce the fatality rate in the early stages of an outbreak, said Li Haichao, vice-president of Peking University First Hospital.

"Besides respiratory experts, we should have medical experts on the teams who can handle the possible complications caused by the pneumonia," he said during a video news conference held by the State Council Information Office in Wuhan, Hubei province, epicenter of the outbreak.

Further, a mechanism to share knowledge and experience among front-line medical workers in different areas could have been established, he said on Wednesday.

Du Bin, director of the medical intensive care unit at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, said that he would act more aggressively in using invasive mechanical ventilation on patients with clinical deterioration in terms of respiratory failure or low blood oxygen.

Since many novel coronavirus patients also suffer from other diseases such as vascular problems, which has greatly complicated matters, Qiao Jie, president of Peking University Third Hospital in Beijing, noted that it takes specialists from various fields to give patients proper treatment.

Taking the decline in new cases and the rising number of recovered patients in China as positive signs, the country is also committed to strengthening cooperation against the novel coronavirus and other health challenges facing the globe, the experts said.

Du said that countries should have a plan for fever clinics, general outpatient clinics and even inpatient departments.

They also should have a plan to educate and train healthcare workers within individual hospitals and ensure supplies such as personal protection equipment for all healthcare workers involved, he added.

"It's a very tough job, but it has to be done, not only by the healthcare workers but also by the government," he said, including healthcare authorities, public security and the transportation department.

"I think that's the only way to control the epidemic, not only in China, but also in other countries," he said.

Cui Jia and Zhang Yi contributed to this story.