Everything You Need to Know About Coronavirus and How to Protect Yourself from It
January 29, 2020A new disease has recently hit China and the world is afraid of the harmful consequences of its spread. Are these fears rational? What is coronavirus and what do we know about it?
According to reports on this mysterious new disease in China has already caused the death of over 100 people. Every day the world continues to learn more about this disease and its possible prevention.
Here are all the details you need to know about the particular infection.
Coronavirus: what is it?
The definition of coronavirus is “a large group of viral infections that could potentially lead to diseases of varying degrees”. Usually this type of disease is quite common, as most people suffer from a cold and other respiratory infections at some point in their lives. However, the symptoms vary – sometimes they are mild and non-threatening, while in other situations they could cause more serious damage.
Coronavirus transmission mode
Very often animals are affected by this group of infections. There have been cases of transmission of coronaviruses from animals to humans, which can have dangerous consequences. For example, the famous coronaviruses MERS and SARS are known to cause problems if a human is affected.
Scientists assume that the new Chinese infection is derived from snakes or bats, as it appeared in Wuhan in local markets. It is not known whether the results of their research are true, as some aspects of the origins of the new disease are not yet known, and the exact causes of the coronavirus are unclear.
On December 31, 2019, the first cases of infection were reported and news of the epidemic quickly spread to the media. During the primary examination, it was pneumonia. The epidemic of this disease occurred quickly, as it spread to many other countries.
After the epidemic, the Chinese government decided to stop most trips to Wuhan and recommended that the trips be canceled unless they are absolutely necessary. Transport to and from Wuhan by different types of vehicles was also interrupted for fear of spreading the infection further.
Now, the lockdown has expanded to 17 cities, including Wuhan, where most of the cases have occurred, encompassing more than 50 million people. In some places, flights have been canceled and public transit has been suspended, paving the way for potentially severe economic consequences. Meanwhile, construction workers are rushing to build three new hospitals with 1,000 beds each in a matter of days to try to accommodate patients being treated for the virus.
Symptoms of the coronavirus
When you are affected by this disease, you are most likely to cough dryly and have difficulty breathing. In some cases, you may experience severe diarrhea and pain in your body. Most of the symptoms are characteristic of SARS.
However, the symptoms of coronavirus in humans can be much more severe than those listed above. In some critical cases, the person affected by this disease may suffer from pneumonia, as well as kidney failure. The outcome of these symptoms can sometimes be fatal. The World Health Organization (WHO) emergency committee confirmed at a press conference that most people diagnosed with coronavirus were over 40 and had long-term conditions such as diabetes. and cardiovascular disease. However, the infection can affect even those who are young and perfectly healthy.
Coronavirus treatment
To date, no official coronavirus vaccine has been approved as a treatment for this disorder. However, there are certain things that decrease the possibility of being affected by harmful diseases. The CDC advises people to do the following as precautions against coronavirus:
- Wash hands thoroughly
- Avoid contact with your face if your hands are not washed
- Limit physical contact with infected persons
If you feel that you are starting to experience cold symptoms, it is your responsibility to protect others from infection. Also, if you follow these steps, there is a better chance of recovering successfully.
- Here is what you can do to avoid spreading the infection:
- Stay at home and don’t leave the house
- Use a disinfectant on objects that you use frequently
- Avoid sneezing without covering your face
- After sneezing in a tissue, throw it away and wash your hands
- Wear a face mask in the public places
There is no specific treatment for this infection that has been discovered so far, but there are some common things you can do to relieve your condition. All of these tips are similar to the ones you follow when treating a regular infection.
- Take fever and pain medication
- Humidify your room
- Take hot showers
- Drink lots of fluids
- Rest well
We hope this article has answered all of your questions about the human coronavirus. Although this new disease is serious, it is unlikely to spread anywhere in the world and, hopefully, the epidemic will soon go away.
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