@article{fdi:010083223,
  title = {{COVID}-19 : an "extraterrestrial" disease ?},
  author = {{P}aul, {E}. and {B}rown, {G}. {W}. and {D}echamps, {M}. and {K}alk, {A}. and {L}aterre, {P}. {F}. and {R}entier, {B}. and {R}idde, {V}al{\'e}ry and {Z}izi, {M}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground: {S}ince the beginning of the pandemic, {COVID}-19 has been regarded as an exceptional disease. {C}ontrol measures have exclusively focused on 'the virus', while failing to account for other biological and social factors that determine severe forms of the disease. {A}im: {W}e argue that although {COVID}-19 was initially considered a new challenge, justifying extraordinary response measures, this situation has changed - and so should our response. {M}ain arguments: {W}e now know that {COVID}-19 shares many features of common infectious respiratory diseases, and can now ascertain that {SARS}-{C}o{V}-2 has not suddenly presented new problems. {I}nstead, it has exposed and exacerbated existing problems in health systems and the underlying health of the population. {COVID}-19 is evidently not an 'extraterrestrial' disease. {I}t is a complex zoonotic disease, and it needs to be managed as such, following long-proven principles of medicine and public health. {C}onclusion: {A} complex disease cannot be solved through a simple, magic-bullet cure or vaccine. {T}he heterogeneity of population profiles susceptible to developing a severe form of {COVID}-19 suggests the need to adopt varying, targeted measures that are able to address risk profiles in an appropriate way. {T}he critical role of comorbidities in disease severity calls for short-term, virus-targeted interventions to be complemented with medium-term policies aimed at reducing the burden of comorbidities, as well as mitigating the risk of transition from infection to disease. {S}trategies required include upstream prevention, early treatment, and consolidation of the health system.},
  keywords = {{COVID}-19 ; health policy ; public health ; treatment ; health promotion ; {MONDE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{I}nternational {J}ournal of {I}nfectious {D}iseases},
  volume = {110},
  numero = {},
  pages = {155--159},
  ISSN = {1201-9712},
  year = {2021},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.ijid.2021.07.051},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010083223},
}