Corona Virus

 

Coronavirus: What do you know about the mysterious Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

 

            On January 7, 2020, Chinese authorities confirmed that they had identified a new virus from the coronavirus family, named SARS-CoV-2. As of now, the new coronavirus is surrounded by a lot of buzz, myths, and misconceptions.

Read the following information about it.

1.    Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shorteness of breath, and breathing difficulties. That’s why the infection is difficult to differentiate from other acute respiratory viral diseases. Most infected people seem to have mild illness; in some cases, patients appear to progress to pneumonia or respiratory distress.

 

2.    Since COVID-19 has no spesific signs and symptoms, health care experts can’t differentiate it from other viruses that cause acute respiratory illness. That’s why the only accurate way of diagnosing COVID-19 is by using a distinct diagnostic kit.

 

3.    Early data shows that older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease are more vulnerable to severe course of COVID-19.

 

4.    Currently, there isn’t a vaccine to prevent COVID-19. However, under certain outbreak conditions more resources may be invested in its development.

 

5.    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the person-to-person spread of SARS-CoV-2 presumably occurs via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how other respiratory pathogens are spread. However, investigations about the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 are still ongoing.

 

6.    Coronavirus is a family of viruses that can affect respiratory tract and cause infections. The majority of them aren,t dangerous for humans. However, certain types of coronaviruses, like the current SARS-CoV-2, can be quite serious.

 

7.    The best way to prevent infection is to avoid exposure to the virus and to follow respiratory and hygiene practices. Wash your hands frequently; try not touching your mouth, eyes, and nose with dirty or unwashed hands; keep at least 1 metre (3 feet) away from people showing symptoms like sneezing or coughing; if COVID-19 is rapidly spreading in your community, put some distance between yourself and other people to minimize contacts.

 

8.    A facemask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms, as well as people who take care of them. There’s no need to wear a mask unless a healthcare professional recommends it.

 

9.    Similar coronavirus outbreaks have happened twice before. A highly pathogenic coronavirus was identified as the causative agent of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak that occurred in 2002-2003 in the Guangdong Province of China. In 2012, another human coronavirus named Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) Coronavirus emerged in the Middle East.