Hello friends,
Today I would be writing about a burning topic that is worrying the world. It's novel coronavirus 2019 (2019 n-CoV).
It was first reported on December 31st in Wuhan, China. From then, it has affected over 28 countries with over 34000 positive cases and 724 deaths, mostly in Hubei province of China. Wuhan being it's capital and epicenter of this outbreak has faced the major fatalities. Outside China, only two fatalities, one from Philipines and one from Hong Kong.
Having said this, we need to first know about Coronavirus and what's its relationship with human being. Coronavirus family is a group of virus presents in the wild animals and some farm animals. The main source is bats who harbor the virus in their body. From Bats, it goes to secondary reservoir including cattle, camel, cats, snake, etc.
Coronavirus infecting human mostly cause milder to moderate respiratory infections like common cold, fever,muscle pain and respiratory difficulties. But there are few outbreaks that cause severe respiratory infections including SARS and MERS.
SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome) an outbreak from China in 2003. It was spread from civet cats, who acted as secondary reservoir. It had a fatality rate of 9%.
MERS (Middle eastern respiratory syndrome) It affected the middle east including Saudi Arabia, Egypt . It was affected to people involved with camels or drinking camel milk. It had a fatality rate of 40% in Arabian peninsula. It is said that the camel got it from cave bats.
Novel coronavirus 2019 (2019 n-CoV) is too said to have transmitted from bats, snakes. As most early cases same from people who went to seafood and meat market of Wuhan. Some new evidences also say that Pangolin meat also be responsible.
From all these informations we could say that human desire for wild animals and not using enough protections like masks and gloves while dealing with farm animals or wild animals are responsible for bringing these disease to our body. We were not the natural host to coronavirus, so we should avoid their meat.
Symptoms of most coronaviruses include Cough, Fever and Respiratory difficulties. While other coronavirus have also upper respiratory symptoms like rhinorroea (running nose), Sore throat. But this 2019 n-CoV has more lower respiratory symptoms like cough, respiratory difficulties and even pneumonia.
Transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets when we cough or sneeze. It can also be spread from cloths or other materials used by sick persons.
Diagnosis is not yet present in all states and in India only NIV (National institute of Virology) Pune.
Treatment is mostly supportive as no antivirals are effective against it. If the condition of patient gets serious, they had to admitted in the hospital and their vitals need to be monitored. Although in some hospitals of China and Thailand, two anti-HIV drugs had found to be effective in certain patients.
Vaccines have not been developed yet but research in ongoing.
Coming to Wuhan novel coronavirus 2019, we need to take certain precautions;
1: Avoid travelling to China, specifically the Hubei province, atleast for few months till epidemic subsides.
2: Avoid close contact with sick persons who came from China in recent days. as there might be chance that they are harboring coronavirus.
3: If you are sick, and have any doubts, visit nearest hospital. Chances are, if you are a suspected case, your blood sample and nasopharyngeal swab will be taken for testing.
4: Always follow hand hygiene and personal hygiene. Wash your hands for atleast 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer. Wear masks while going out to high risk places.
While sneezing and coughing, try to use hand kerchief, or your elbow to cover mouth. Use disposable tissues.
5: Thoroughly cook food including meat. Avoid raw meat and surely avoid eating wild animals.
Hope, I have spread some awareness about novel coronavirus (2019 n-CoV). If we follow all precautions, we shouldn't be that worried about it. It's fatality rate is only 2% , that's mostly include patients that had highest viral exposure.
We should be aware and remain vigilant to avoid the risks.
