[Curiosities] Everything we know from scientific sources about the new virus in China

[Mindsphere.]

 

[EN] 

 

What is 2019-nCov?

The new virus discovered in China and reported by Chinese authorities under several joint international alert mechanisms - including the Global Influenza Information Initiative (Influenza) - is part of the coronavirus family.

This family includes viruses that are normally found in various species of animals such as camels, cattle, cats or bats.

In rare cases, a coronavirus can pass from one species to another, from an infected animal to a human, as was the case with SARS or MERS diseases.

Despite speculation, infecting a human with an animal does not necessarily mean consuming that animal's meat, or ingesting the virus. It is enough, for example, in a hypothetical situation, to caress a sick cat and put your unwashed hand to your mouth.

* SARS was a coronavirus that appeared between 2001 and 2003, with proven origin in a species of bat. The epidemic infected just over 8,000 people. 774 deaths have been reported following SARS in 17 countries.

* MERS was a coronavirus that first appeared in 2012 and had several epidemic episodes. The origin of the virus was established in a species of bat in the Middle East, and then the species that transmitted the virus to humans was the camel. Since 2012, there have been almost 2,500 cases and 858 deaths from this disease.

 

BACKGROUND: Any new virus can pose a danger to infected people and, in certain specific situations, can have epidemic or pandemic potential.

For now, neither the new coronavirus in China, nor SARS, nor MERS is approaching the 1918 flu pandemic. That virus has caused more deaths than all the victims of the First and Second World Wars combined.

Between 1918 and 1918, most of the victims were in the 20-40 age group. Now the elderly represent the majority of the victims.

How is the virus transmitted?

Initial information from China showed that a considerable number of cases of people infected with 2019-nCov were related to a live animal market, where seafood was also traded in Wuhan, China.

Subsequently, the spread of the virus in several countries and the epidemiological analysis of these new cases showed that transmission also occurs between people.

At this time, however, the scientific community has not yet reached a conclusion on how easily the virus is transmitted from person to person.

In the case of transmitting SARS or MERS between people, the most likely way was for particles caused by a cough or sneeze from an infected patient to reach another person.

This mechanism is the same as that encountered in a common flu or other respiratory infections.

What are the symptoms?

For laboratory-confirmed 2019-nCov infections, the diseases did not show any consistency of symptoms or effects.

Some people had almost no symptoms at all, while others - especially the elderly with other associated pathologies - had serious illnesses, some of which were even fatal.

So far there are no public and scientifically confirmed data showing that 2019-nCov was the direct cause of a patient's death. Most of the people who died had other associated pathologies, and the resulting complications led to their death.

Among the symptoms observed are

Fever
cough
Difficulty breathing
IMPORTANT: At this point, scientists start from the premise that symptoms, if they occur, can occur within 2 to 14 days of infecting a person. This estimate is based on previous experience with the incubation period of the MERS virus.

How can an infection be prevented?

There is currently no vaccine against 2019-nCov.

The best method of prevention is to avoid exposure to the virus.

Although, at present, the virus has not been confirmed in Romania, the country is in full flu season. Simple measures applied daily can help limit the spread of any virus of this type:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. As a simple rule to remember, sing twice in your mind "Long live many years" and it's enough time.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
Avoid close contact with sick people
Stay home - don't go to work, don't send children to kindergarten / school - if you are sick
Cough or sneeze into a disposable handkerchief, then throw it in the trash
If you do not have a handkerchief, cough inside the elbow, not in the palms
Clean / disinfect surfaces and objects you touch often: keyboards, switches, handles, taps, etc.

There is no special antiviral treatment for 2019-nCov. A general treatment with antiviral drugs and support for the relief of symptoms is recommended.