World on the verge of global epidemic

A vaccinologist says it's looking unlikely the coronavirus will be contained, meaning huge numbers could contract the virus in the 12-18 months it will take before a vaccine is available. There's now been more than 77,000 cases in China - and over 2,600 deaths, while the virus is spreading elsewhere - with northern Italy seeing seven deaths about about 229 cases. In an interview with US magazine the Atlantic Harvard epidemiology professor Marc Lipsitch said he believes as many as 40 to 70% of the world could be infected by the virus in the coming year. First Up's Lydia Batham put that to Auckland University vaccinologist Helen Petousis-Harris.