Corona Virus Notes for Airforce Phase2 Group Discussion

All you need to know about Coronavirus. Coronavirus has been in the news for a couple of weeks. It is a kind of common virus that causes an infection in your nose, sinuses, or upper throat. Most coronaviruses are not dangerous. Some types of coronaviruses are serious, though. A novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was identified as the source of illness on Jan 7, with the infection traced to a Wuhan seafood market where wildlife was also traded illegally.

All You Need to Know About Novel Coronavirus 

The outbreak of a novel coronavirus in Wuhan (China) has sparked fear and anxiety around the world despite the virus' low fatality rate. Experts say that panic over coronavirus is unproductive and unwarranted. The public should take precautions to avoid getting sick but the most effective preventive measures are everyday actions like increasing hand washing and avoiding touching your face.

So in this article, we will try to cover everything you should know about novel coronavirus.

What is Coronavirus?

Coronaviruses were first identified in the 1960s, but we still are not absolutely sure where they come from. They get their name from the Latin word corona, meaning crown or halo. Under an electron microscope, the image of the virus is reminiscent of a solar corona.

• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as SARS and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).
• These viruses were originally transmitted between animals and people. SARS, for instance, was believed to have been transmitted from civet cats to humans while MERS travelled from a type of camel to humans.
• A novel coronavirus, identified by Chinese authorities on January 7 and named 2019-nCoV, is a new strain that had not been previously identified in humans.

Where did the virus originate?

• Chinese health authorities are still trying to determine the origin of the virus, which they say came from a seafood market in Wuhan where wildlife was also traded illegally.
• The WHO also says an animal source appears most likely to be the primary source of the outbreak.
• Health experts think it may have originated in bats and then passed to humans, possibly via another animal species.

Where have cases been reported?

• Most cases have been reported in China.
• An Indian student of Wuhan University tested positive in Kerala.  
• The virus has spread to many Asian countries, as well as Australia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East. Nearly all of the dozens of cases outside China are among people who recently travelled there.

What are the symptoms?

• According to the WHO, signs of infection include fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
• According to WHO, the incubation period of the coronavirus is between 10 and 14 days.

What to Do About Coronavirus?

There is no vaccine for coronavirus. To help prevent a coronavirus infection, do the same things you do to avoid the common cold:

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Keep your hands and fingers away from your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Avoid close contact with people who are infected.

You treat a coronavirus infection the same way you treat a cold:

• Get plenty of rest.
• Drink fluids.
• Take over-the-counter medicine for a sore throat and fever.
• A humidifier or steamy shower can also help ease a sore and scratchy throat.

Even when a coronavirus causes MERS or SARS in other countries, the kind of coronavirus infection common in the U.S., it isn't a serious threat for a healthy adult. So need not to panic and please don't share the false information circulating around social media.

Share this article with your family & friends so that they can also get to know everything in detail about Novel Coronavirus.

Eat Healthy and Stay Fit!