TOKYO -- As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases neared 25,000 Wednesday, experts warn that this may just be the tip of the iceberg, with some drawing parallels to the fast-spreading, long-lasting swine flu outbreak of a decade ago.
Several studies suggest that the real number of cases is much higher than official reports indicate. Hiroshi Nishiura, a professor at Japan's Hokkaido University, said Tuesday that more than 100,000 people likely have been infected with the virus, and raised the possibility that nearly half caught it from carriers showing no symptoms.
