nCoV: Nature’s Revenge – Novel Coronavirus

(Reading Time: 20 min Approx)

We know you are terrified hearing the recent outbreak of Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in China that has also managed to affect 25 other countries within the time span of 2 months. As per the foreign websites and information provided by WHO, grasping to the critical medical terms and conditions is not quite easy for us commoners all the time.

So, The Creative Post as your friend in-need and in-deed is here to tell you everything that you need to know to protect yourself and your loved ones from this contagious outbreak resulting into high risk factor of going through a battle of Life and Death. Fear not, we are here to explain it all, in details. Let’s get started.

That first thing that we need to know is –

What is this Coronavirus? Why is it giving the entire human race a really hard time?

Coronavirus is that group of viruses which can get you into serious trouble and may go fatal. Right now, some of them might be undercover as the medical cops have managed to trace only 3 of their different notorious traces or types. These are – SARS-CoV (SARS coronavirus), MERS-CoV (MERS coronavirus), and COVID-19(Wuhan coronavirus). Don’t go by their cool code name because they are impostors and a threat to humanity.

Culprit No. 1 –

It all started with SARS-CoV, who can be undertaken as the leader that started all the menace.

Name of the Syndrome: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

First identified in 2003.

Kind: An animal virus from an as-yet-uncertain animal reservoir, perhaps bats, that spread to other animals (civet cats)

First infected humans in Guangdong province of southern China in 2002

Nature of the disease it causes: Symptoms are influenza-like and include fever, malaise, myalgia, headache, diarrhea, and shivering (rigors).

 

Culprit No. 2 –

The second one is MERS-CoV.

Name of the Syndrome: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)

First identified in 2012.

Kind: Scientific evidence suggests that people are infected through direct or indirect contact with infected dromedary camels.

First infected humans in Saudi Arabia in 2012

Nature of the disease it causes: Fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath also Pneumonia and diarrhea.

 

Culprit no. 3 –

The third one that is making our lives impossible is Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Name of the Syndrome: 2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease

First identified in 2019.

Kind: Snakes were originally suspected as a potential source for the outbreak, though other experts have deemed this unlikely and proposed bats instead.

First infected humans in Chinese city of Wuhan in 2019

Nature of the disease it causes: Runny nose, sore throat, cough, and fever. It can be more severe for some persons and can lead to pneumonia or breathing difficulties.  More rarely, the disease can be fatal. Older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as diabetes and heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus resulting into severe organ failure.

How would you know if you are affected?

Coronaviruses were given their name based on the crown-like projections on their surfaces. “Corona” in Latin means “halo” or “crown.”

Among humans, infection most often occurs during the winter months as well as early spring. It is not uncommon for a person to become ill with a cold that is caused by a coronavirus and then catch it again about four months later.

This is because coronavirus antibodies do not last for a very long time. Also, the antibodies for one strain of coronavirus may be useless against other strains.

Summary of findings:

• 2-14 days represents the estimated range at the moment for the novel coronavirus COVID-19 (formerly “2019-nCoV”).
• Period can vary greatly among patients.
• An outlier of a 24 days incubation period has been observed in a recent study.

In case one is affected, what is to be done?

If one is affected there are certain responsibilities that we all need to take in order to help the patient to get well soon. Because if treated in early stage one can be saved from this disease.

By the Patient – If you are facing the above symptoms and suspecting to get affected by the Coronavirus then the first and foremost thing is to reach out to your closest medical help and do a through check-up for conformation.

By the Family Members – First, make sure to take the patient to the hospital as soon as possible without delaying for a single second. Consult to your family doctor if the patient is reluctant to go to the hospital at first. Please do not trivialize the matter as the symptoms are just like mere cough, cold and fever.

By the Society – On situations like this we have to be more united and strong. Please be compassionate to the affected person and his/her family and make them realize that the isolation is solely because of the disease and nothing else. Mental support plays an important key role in this case for the sake of humanity. But at the same time we need to be careful in proper isolation and identification of the affected person(s). We also need to report to the government and ensure the neighborhood is aware of the situation and we definitely need to keep the society clean.

What are the precautions to avoid this disease happening at the first place?

Wash your hands frequently – Why?

Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub eliminates the virus if it is on your hands.

When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – discard tissue immediately into a closed bin and clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water – Why?

Covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing prevent the spread of germs and viruses. If you sneeze or cough into your hands, you may contaminate objects or people that you touch.

Maintain social distancing – Why?

When someone who is infected with a respiratory disease, like 2019-nCoV, coughs or sneezes they project small droplets containing the virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the virus.

Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth – Why?

Hands touch many surfaces which can be contaminated with the virus. If you touch your eyes, nose or mouth with your contaminated hands, you can transfer the virus from the surface to yourself.

If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early – Why?

Whenever you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing it’s important to seek medical attention promptly as this may be due to a respiratory infection or other serious condition. Respiratory symptoms with fever can have a range of causes, and depending on your personal travel history and circumstances, 2019-nCoV could be one of them.

If you have mild respiratory symptoms and no travel history to or within China:

If you have mild respiratory symptoms and no travel history to or within China, carefully practice basic respiratory and hand hygiene and stay home until you are recovered, if possible.

As a general precaution, practice general hygiene measures when visiting live animal markets, wet markets or animal product markets:

Ensure regular hand washing with soap and potable water after touching animals and animal products; avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with hands; and avoid contact with sick animals or spoiled animal products. Strictly avoid any contact with other animals in the market (e.g., stray cats and dogs, rodents, birds, bats). Avoid contact with potentially contaminated animal waste or fluids on the soil or structures of shops and market facilities.

Avoid consumption of raw or under-cooked animal products:

Handle raw meat, milk or animal organs with care, to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods, as per good food safety practices.

If any of you thinking of travelling internationally here is the chart to keep you cautious before you book your flight for the following countries:

SL. No.	Affected Countries (Tested Positive)	Suspected Countries (Medically suspected)	Safe Countries (Tested Negative)
1.	Vietnam	Iran	Ecuador
2.	China	Brazil	Botswana
3.	USA	Pakistan	Czech Republic
4.	Republic of Korea	Equatorial Guinea	Namibia
5.	Malaysia	Poland	Peru
6.	Singapore	Sudan	Maldives
7.	UAE	Indonesia	Myanmar
8.	UK		Angola
9.	Japan		Ivory Coast
10.	Taiwan		Ethiopia
11.	Spain		Kenya
12.	Germany		Austria
13.	France		Mexico
14.	Thailand		New Zealand
15.	Canada		Cyprus
16.	Australia		Croatia
17.	Italy		Switzerland
18.	Philippines		Greece
19.	Belgium		Denmark
20.	India		Ireland
21.	Russia		Romania
22.	Sweden
23.	Finland
24.	Sri Lanka
25.	Cambodia
26.	Nepal

Q/A: (Myths explained)

Here are the following questions that has been asked to WHO regarding various kind of false information spreading about Coronavirus – so here is some questions you might have in your mind that has been answered.

Are hand dryers effective in killing the new coronavirus?

No. Hand dryers are not effective in killing the 2019-nCoV. To protect yourself against the new coronavirus, you should frequently clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Once your hands are cleaned, you should dry them thoroughly by using paper towels or a warm air dryer.

Can an ultraviolet disinfection lamp kill the new coronavirus?

UV lamps should not be used to sterilize hands or other areas of skin as UV radiation can cause skin irritation.

Can spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body kill the new coronavirus?

No. Spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body will not kill viruses that have already entered your body. Spraying such substances can be harmful to clothes or mucous membranes (i.e. eyes, mouth). Be aware that both alcohol and chlorine can be useful to disinfect surfaces, but they need to be used under appropriate recommendations.

Is it safe to receive a letter or a package from China?

Yes, it is safe. People receiving packages from China are not at risk of contracting the new coronavirus. From previous analysis, we know coronaviruses do not survive long on objects, such as letters or packages.

Can pets at home spread the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV)?

At present, there is no evidence that companion animals/pets such as dogs or cats can be infected with the new coronavirus. However, it is always a good idea to wash your hands with soap and water after contact with pets. This protects you against various common bacteria such as E.coli and Salmonella that can pass between pets and humans.

Do vaccines against pneumonia protect you against the new coronavirus?

No. Vaccines against pneumonia, such as pneumococcal vaccine and Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) vaccine, do not provide protection against the new coronavirus.

The virus is so new and different that it needs its own vaccine. Researchers are trying to develop a vaccine against 2019-nCoV, and WHO is supporting their efforts.

Can eating garlic help prevent infection with the new coronavirus?

Garlic is a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties. However, there is no evidence from the current outbreak that eating garlic has protected people from the new coronavirus.

Are antibiotics effective in preventing and treating the new coronavirus?

No, antibiotics do not work against viruses, only bacteria.

The new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a virus and, therefore, antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment.

Are there any specific medicines to prevent or treat the new coronavirus?

To date, there is no specific medicine recommended to prevent or treat the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

However, those infected with the virus should receive appropriate care to relieve and treat symptoms, and those with severe illness should receive optimized supportive care. Some specific treatments are under investigation and will be tested through clinical trials. WHO is helping to accelerate research and development efforts with a range or partners.

Current Status:

Till now 40,554 number of people has been affected of Coronavirus globally. Among which 3085 patients have been hospitalized in within 1 week.

In China –

40 235 confirmed (3073 new)

6484 severe (296 new)

909 deaths (97 new)

 Outside of China –

319 confirmed (12 new)

24 countries

1 death

Risk assessment as per World Health Organisation –

China: Very High

Regional Level: High

Global Level: High

Remember with good practices of maintaining healthy lifestyle and by keeping your environment clean not only prevents you from getting affected by any contagious disease but also gifts you a clean, pure, disease free world for future.

It’s the high time to stand up for the future of your and your next generations well-being.