Everything you need to know about coronavirus

王国平

Everything

need

know

about

coronavirus

The deadly illness alarming the world
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases, from pneumonia to Middle East respiratory syndrome, known as MERS, and severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS.
Common signs of infection include fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause high fever, kidney failure and death.
2019 –nCov first appeared Dec,17 in Wuhan, the outbreak originated at the Huanan Seafood Market, Which sells fish and meat, some of it from wildlife.
The market is suspected because coronaviruses transmit zoonotic diseases, meaning they are transferred from infected animals to humans.
Researchers theorize that someone bought contaminated meat at the market, ate it, got sick and infected others, creating a ripple effect around the world.
The WHO classified 2019-nCoV as an emergency for China but hasn't yet designated it a world-wide emergency.
Outbreaks like this have happened before, most notably with SARS in 2003 and MERS in 2015.
SARS, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, is commonly used as a reference in coronavirus coverage, since both originated in China and share characteristics.

 In all, 8,098 SARS cases were recorded, with a death toll of 774. That’s a fatality rate of 9.6%.
MERS, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, originated in Saudi Arabia and resulted in 2,499 cases and 861 deaths, giving it a higher fatality rate of 34.5%.

With current numbers, the fatality rate for 2019-nCoV is 2.4%. The WHO said most coronavirus cases reported to date “have been milder, with about 20% of those infected experiencing severe illness.”
The virus can be spread from animals to people. But it also can be spread by coughing, sneezing and through close contact with an infected person or an object carrying the virus.
Coronaviruses are named after their appearance, round with a series of spikes made of proteins, resulting in a crown-like look. They're one of many viruses that cause colds and flu.

A new, evolved version, such as 2019-nCov, can cause more serious illnesses, some of which can be deadly to older people or those with weakened immune systems.
Coronaviruses are found in a variety of animals. If passed from animal to human, the virus can change and infect other humans, who can spread the infection to others.
Is there a vaccine for the coronavirus?
There are no drugs or vaccines for coronaviruses yet, including 2019-nCov. Doctors can only treat the symptoms they cause.
However, scientists at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne, Australia, say they were able to successfully grow the Wuhan coronavirus in cell culture outside of China for the first time ever.
According to the South China Morning Post, China might already have a vaccine developed but needs more time to test it. Hong Kong University professor Yuen Kwok-yung told it will take months to test the vaccine on animals and at least another year to conduct clinical trials on humans.
Who is most at risk of getting coronavirus?
Chinese scientists have decoded the 2019-nCoV DNA and made it public. Researchers are analyzing the data in hope of finding a vaccine.
it seems like the elderly and people with comorbid conditions are more likely to have serious illness.
it's unknown if women infected with the virus can have complications while pregnant, like the Zika virus, which causes microcephaly and other fetal brain defects.
How can you prevent catching the coronavirus?
As there's no available vaccine, it is recommended taking preventative measures to decrease the likelihood of infection:

Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Avoid touching the face with unwashed hands
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Cough or sneeze into your elbow or use a tissue to cover it, and throw the tissue away
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

How do doctors treat the coronavirus?
There’s no specific treatment for illnesses caused by human coronaviruses but the CDC recommends taking pain and fever medications, drinking plenty of liquids and staying home to rest.
Till this moment, there is no vaccine, but the disease is under control and can be prevented.

Remenber washing your hands and keep away from infected.

Take a mask when you go outside to pretect youself and others. 

Next time let we talk the differency between bacteria and virus.