The new Covid-19, popularly known as Coronavirus is very dangerous and has been spreading super fast. With more than 102,000 people known and recorded to have been affected to date, over 3,400 deaths have been recorded. It is deadly and can affect anyone as it recently killed two elderly people in the UK who had been diagnosed with the virus. Although the bulk of the cases have been confirmed to China, the virus is spreading internationally and is reported to have been detected in South Africa.
The Health Minister of South Africa, Dr Zweli Mkhize, announced on Thursday about the patient who is 38 years and had just returned from Italy among a group of ten people including his wife. On March 3, the patient went to a general practitioner with a fever, headache, malaise, sore throat and cough, Mkhize said. A nurse took a swab and delivered it to a laboratory. Since March 3 the patient has been self-isolated, Mkhize said. The pair have two kids. The doctor who treated the patient is also self-isolating, and the health authorities have sent a tracer team to KwaZulu-Natal province for touch tracing with epidemiologists.
What is Coronavirus and how is it transmitted?
Coronavirus is a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MER-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). The novel coronavirus is a new strain that has not been detected in humans before. Coronaviruses are transmitted between animals and people thus it is zoonotic. Investigations were done in detail about the SARS-CoV and it was discovered that it was being transmitted from cats to humans while the MERS-CoV was being transmitted from dromedary camels to humans.
The SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV are much more severe as they have killed more than 1,500 people between them since 2002. The new coronavirus being called Covid-19 officially is deadlier than the previously detected coronaviruses because it has over 3,400 deaths already after it has been detected recently. Around 20 per cent of confirmed cases were categorized as serious or critical. Roughly 15 to 20% of hospital cases have so far been identified as “serious” and the current death rate ranges from 0.7% to 3.4% depending on the location and, crucially, access to good hospital care.
The scientists in China believe that the Covid-19 has mutated into two strains. Among the two strains, one is believed to be more aggressive than the other which is making the development of a vaccine even more sophisticated.
How did the outbreak of Coronavirus start?
Covid-19 is believed to have originated from a Wuhan wet market which sold both dead and live animals. The animals sold included fish and birds. These type of markets pose a heightened risk of viruses from animals to humans because hygiene standards are very hard to maintain if live animals are kept and slaughtered on-site where they are densely packed. However, the animal source for the latest breakout has not yet been identified but the original host is thought to be bats. The bats were not sold at the Wuhan market but they may have affected the chickens and other animals being sold at the market. Bats are being suspected because they are the host to a wide range of zoonotic viruses including Ebola, HIV and rabies.
Is the outbreak most likely going to grow bigger?
The Covid-19 is most likely going to grow bigger and is likely going to spread to more countries including in Africa. Even though the number of cases is now reducing in China, it is vastly increasing in other countries.
What are the signs and symptoms of Coronavirus?
The most common signs and symptoms include:
- Respiratory symptoms
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Breathing difficulties
In more severe cases, the infection can cause the following:
- Pneumonia
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome
- Kidney failure
- Death
How many people have been killed by it now?
Since the outbreak started there are over 100,000 cases detected and recorded with the death toll exceeding 3,400. Most of these cases recorded are in China, however, the virus is spreading super fast all around the world. According to Chinese authorities data, about 80% of disease cases are mild but 20% need hospitalization. Get real-time update on the Coronavirus death toll here at the Telegraph.
What is the cure for Coronavirus?
Currently, there is no specific treatment even though doctors are trialling drugs for viruses such as Ebola and HIV. Early results appear promising, but doctors can not be sure that the medicines are successful before full clinical trials have been completed. The work to develop a vaccine is accelerating, however, this is now complicated due to the virus mutating into a second stream.
How is Coronvirus spread?
The virus is spread when a person coughs or sneezes. People are currently being advised to cough or sneeze with tissues and not just directly into air as this is dangerous for others. When people sneeze or cough in the open air, the droplets land on surfaces and are picked up by the hands of others and they spread further. The people with these hands will get the virus when they touch their mouth, nose or eyes. Therefore, the most important thing you can do to make sure you are protected is to keep your hands clean by washing your hands frequently with soap and water or hand sanitising gel.
How to protect yourself from the Coronavirus?
Compared to flu or the common cold, the virus spreads in large droplets created by coughs and sneezes. Germs can live several hours on surfaces. Public Health England describes being in close contact with a virus carrier as being within 15 minutes of the person being within two metres.
Health authorities are urging a “catch it, bin it, kill it” strategy for people who may have coronavirus. In short, this involves collecting tissue sneezes and coughs, throwing them away and then washing your hands. The most critical method for reducing the chances of infection from the virus accumulating on surfaces is regular hand washing.
Africa has reported fewer coronavirus cases than on other continents. Those most affected have recently travelled to Europe. However, Covid-19 is now in Africa and there is a need to take note of the precautions and avoid getting it because it is deadly and dangerous. Take note that there are plenty of basic precautions you can take note of to protect yourself against catching the respiratory viruses of this type.