What is Coronavirus?
Coronavirus (CoV) is a type of large family virus that causes illness ranging from the common cold to more life-threatening and severe diseases such as MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome)-CoV and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)-CoV.
nCov i.e., novel Coronavirus a newly found strain of a virus which has not been known to the human previously. This virus is transmitted between animals and humans, hence it is a zoonotic virus.
After further investigation, it was found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats and MERS-CoV was transmitted from dromedary camels to humans. Several other types of Coronavirus are present in animals but have not infected humans yet.
MERS appeared in the Middle East first in 2012 and then to other countries like Africa, Asia, and Europe. In 2014, the first American who just had been to Saudi Arabia was diagnosed with MERS, then other cases were found from Indiana and Florida. In Korea, the MERS outbreak happened in 2015. SARS outbreak happened in 2003 and 744 people died. Now, WHO identified a new type of Coronavirus outbreak in China during late 2019 and early 2020 (2019-nCoV).
How does the Coronavirus infection occur?
Transmission of Coronavirus to humans may occur when one comes in direct contact with infected people or animals. The recent outbreak of Coronavirus in China occurred when an old man bought infected seafood. Coronavirus is also transmitted through coughing, sneezing. This infection can also easily affect people who come in direct contact with contaminated bodies.
What are the symptoms of Coronavirus?
Signs and symptoms of Coronavirus are:
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Fever
- Pneumonia
- Cardiovascular symptoms may also show up in old people, kids, and in those whose immune system is weak.
- Shortness of breath
- SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)
- MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome)
- Kidney failure
- Even death
How is Coronavirus infection detected?
If the symptoms persist longer than usual then the health care provider may ask to get the lab tests done including the cultures of nose and throat. In some cases, the infected individual won’t know that it is coronavirus because the symptoms are like common cold-causing viral infections such as rhinovirus.
What is the treatment of coronavirus infection?
There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for 2019-nCoV infection. People infected with 2019-nCoV should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms. For severe cases, treatment should include care to support vital organ functions.
People who think they may have been exposed to 2019-nCoV should contact the healthcare provider immediately.
How can Coronavirus infection be prevented?
The vaccination for Coronavirus is not there hence the prevention for this virus has to be done in the same way the things are done to avoid or prevent common cold like:
- Washing hands thoroughly with soap and warm water
- Using alcohol-based sanitizer
- Keeping your hands away from eye, mouth, and nose
- Avoid contact from the person who is infected
- Get plenty of rest
- Drink fluids
- Take over the counter medication for the symptoms if any
- Humidifier or steamy shower
- Take care that meat and eggs are cooked thoroughly
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The first instance of Coronavirus
In 1937, Coronavirus was first identified from an infectious bronchitis virus in birds which had the capacity to devastate the whole poultry stock. Human Coronavirus was identified in the 1960s from the nose of the patients suffering from cold. Two human Coronaviruses such as OC43 and 229E. In 2019, the outbreak of Coronavirus in Wuhan, China was identified by the Center of Diseases Control (CDC) and close monitoring was implicated from then.Regarding the name Corona
The Coronaviruses have crown-like projections on the surface of the virus and “Corona” means “Halo” and/or “Crown” in Latin hence the name Coronavirus came into existence.Lives affected by Coronavirus till Feb 2020:
A sudden outbreak of Coronavirus in China has claimed the lives of 100 people by January and as of 5th of Feb 565 cases have been filed dead. A total of 28,049 cases have been filed with Coronavirus in China out of which 18 cases from Hong Kong and 10 cases from Macau are reported.
I can understand your concern.
I'm sorry but at this place there is not much we can say about it due to space constraints.
There is a very good article about coronary virus in Wikipedia.
You can go through it.
It will be more than satisfy your curiosity about it.
Best regards.
Dr. Anil Kumar Jain.
Bangalore.