The newly discovered coronavirus has overshadowed almost one lakh of people in China. This has happened the first time in worldwide history, that a disease’s symptoms are appearing after its cause. Experts are struggling to find out its cure, but still, there is no cure.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also declared a global health emergency over this new virus. Almost, 259 people have died in China and there is a sudden outbreak in Wuhan (city of China). All the cases are reported mainly in Wuhan and nearby cities in Hubei Province.
What is Coronavirus?
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a family of viruses that cause illness in the human being ranging from cold to severe disease like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A new strain called novel coronavirus (nCOV) is also found in this research, that has never been identified earlier in human beings.
This virus has derived its name from the word Latin word ‘Corona’ which means crown. Due to the crown-like spikes on its upper section, it has been named Coronavirus.
China govt. has confirmed the 2019 Novel Corona Virus, and the 2019-nCoV Corona first time. It has been named Novel because this type of virus was never found earlier in the whole world. According to the WHO, the virus is linked with seafood and originated from a seafood market in Wuhan city of Hubei province, China.
Does Coronaviruses can be transmitted in humans and animal?
Coronaviruses are zoonotic in nature, meaning they can be transmitted between animals and people. Its human-to-human transmission has been found in China that has fuelled the fear in the whole of China and its neighboring countries. Even the animals are not left in this sudden outbreak. The virus is circulating in animals too, yet haven’t infected any human being.
“Currently, it can be said it is affirmative that there is the phenomenon of human-to-human transmission,” Zhong Nanshan China’s National Health Commission head said in an interview.
What are its symptoms?
The common signs of its spread in the human include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing problems. In severe cases, it can cause the severe acute respiratory syndrome, pneumonia, kidney failure, and even death.
It will be the first disease that remains unknown in the incubation period. Some sources declared that it could take 10-14 days.
What precautions can be followed?
Though, there is no vaccine for its prevention yet. WHO experts have given standard recommendations which are:
- Don’t consume seafood
- Pay special attention to cleanliness
- Clean hands thoroughly with soap before eating anything.
- Always keep a hand sanitizer with you.
- Don’t touch your face without cleaning your hands after traveling in a train-bus.
- Keep your nose and mouth covered.
How it spreads exactly?
So far, no information has been found about its spread. Coronavirus is a combination of two types of viruses. One of these viruses spreads fever in humans, while the other virus is found in animals. Coronavirus has been found in the city of Wuhan. Here most of Chinese citizens consume sea creatures and animals in food. In such a situation, it is being expected that the new virus has reached humans through animals.
Where have been the cases reported?
Most of the cases are reported in China and in many Asian countries including Australia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East. Though, one case is also found in our home country in the state Kerala.
Well, all the deaths are occurred in China – the highest majority in Hubei Province.
What steps are taken to stop its spread in the world?
China has put a lockdown in Wuhan and more than a dozen of its cities and affecting more than 50 million people. Though, it doesn’t put a full stop on its spread in the country.
With the increasing number of cases, countries and industries are increasingly taking serious actions.
Many airlines have halted the flights going to China from British to African carriers. There is a number of Asian and European nations are evacuating their people from Wuhan.
The recent advancements in medical technology haven’t discovered its vaccine. Even, the chances of its availability for mass distribution within a year are pretty low.
It’s very simple now that, the precautionary standards shared by WHO should be followed strictly for its prevention.
Though, these movement restrictions will not stop this epidemic spread but will slow down its progression and give experts the time to find its cure. These actions will also limit the strain on health infrastructure by decreasing its infection number at one time, said Krause.
What steps are taken in our home country India?
Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja said “The condition of the novel coronavirus affected patient is improving. There are no symptoms right now. Today, a sample of the patient has been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune. If the sample is negative, the disease can be completely cured,”
The current state of Coronavirus in Kerala are:
- Around 1053 people have been kept under observation in Kerala.
- 24 samples sent to Pune
- Got 15 negative samples
- 1 positive sample
- Seven patients admitted on Thursday
- 15 people are being treated in different hospitals
Kerala authorities have placed patients in about 15 isolation wards in different hospitals and around 1053 people are under surveillance.
Indian Government Advisory
The Central Government has today issued a travel advisory for people returning from China. According to the advisory, a person returning from China should:
- Be isolated at home for 14 days.
- Stay in a separate room for 14 days.
- Stay in touch with family only. Do not contact those who come out for 14 days.
Where did the virus originate?
Scientists are still scrambling to know the virus origin. According to the recent reports, they have stated that the virus came from a seafood market in Wuhan. It’s a city where the wildlife was traded illegally at one time. Even WHO also considered it as a primary source of its outbreak
