Coronavirus: What Must we Know? Reasons, Implications, and Recommendations.

Key points: Coronavirus, Coronavirus symptoms, Recommendations 

Alarming news regarding the recent outbreak of Coronavirus in China has called for the declaration of the emergency situation worldwide. But, before that, it is important to create awareness regarding some of the basics of this virus. 
Coronavirus is a family of viruses that may be found both in humans and animals. The virus can cause illnesses ranging from the simple “cold” to more serious diseases like MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).

But, the recent outbreak in Wuhan, China is related to novel coronavirus (n-CoV) that seems to be a new strain of coronaviruses that have not been identified in humans before.

According to “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” the 2019-nCoV virus belongs to the family of SARS-CoV but, it is not exactly the same virus (CDC, 2019).

Symptoms

The infection caused by 2019-nCoV can result in mild symptoms including a sore throat, running nose, fever, and cough. In some cases, it may be more serious and lead to breathing difficulties or pneumonia that may ultimately lead to death.

Who is more Vulnerable to the Virus?

Older persons and people having pre-existing medical conditions (including heart diseases and diabetes) seem to be more vulnerable to getting infected by the virus.

Who must be considered a suspect??

Any person should be considered a suspect who meets: 1^st) 3 clinical criteria, or 2^nd) 2 clinical criteria and a single epidemiological criterion. Fever, acute respiratory distress syndrome, radiographic proofs of pneumonia, low lymphocyte count, and low white blood cell count are among the clinical criteria. Whereas, epidemiological criteria include living in Wuhan city or travel history to the same city within fourteen days before the beginning of symptoms (Wu et al., 2020).

Virus Sources

Investigations regarding previous viruses revealed that SARS-CoV in China was transmitted to humans from cats in 2002. Similarly, Camels were considered the source of MERS-CoV transmission in Saudi Arabia in 2012. The investigations for the animal source of 2019-nCoV have not concluded any specific source yet. But, sources reflect that the snakes or the rabbits can be the reason behind the current outbreak. It is likely that some live animal markets in China may have caused first reported infections in humans. Once, a person is infected, the 2019-nCoV can cause respiratory disease that may be transmitted from humans to other humans probably after having close contact with the affected person (World Health Organization, 2020).

How to avoid the transmission of Virus?

One should avoid unprotected and direct contact with animals and surfaces that are in contact with live animals. One should avoid contact with the person having symptoms of respiratory illness like sneezing and coughing.

Recommendations

People living in the surrounding areas of affected regions should take extra care to be on the safer side. Hands and other exposed body parts should be washed regularly using soap and water or some alcohol-based hand rub. This will keep removing the traces of the virus from body parts if there are any. One should also cover the nose and mouth while sneezing and coughing (Wu et al., 2020).

Meat and eggs should be thoroughly cooked and the consumption of undercooked and raw animal products must be avoided. Raw milk, meat, and animal organs must be handled carefully before cooking in order to avoid any type of cross-contamination (World Health Organization, 2020).

References

CDC. (2019). About Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) | CDC. [online] Cdc.gov. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html [Accessed 7 Feb. 2020].

World Health Organization. (2020). Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). [online] Who.int. Available at: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 [Accessed 7 Feb. 2020].

Wu, J.T., Leung, K. and Leung, G.M. (2020). Nowcasting and forecasting the potential domestic and international spread of the 2019-nCoV outbreak originating in Wuhan, China: a modelling study. The Lancet.