REAL FACTS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT CORONA VIRUS: SUNDAY MIRROR

The year 2020 started with huge fear and desperation. Mainland China suffered from a new respiratory virus, the mighty CORONA. It’s a new strain of the corona virus subgroup. It was named as Wuhan nCoV-19, after the name of Chinese territory, it was first seen. Like all other respiratory virus, it became an epidemic within months in Mainland China later it infected the nearby countries. It became a public health emergency. It’s the CORONA epidemic.

Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). Coronaviruses are transmitted between animals and people (zoonotic). SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans. But the strain nCoV-19 is a new one.

How corona infects

As it’s a respiratory virus, its transmission is done by droplets. It means water or mucous drops coming out by sneeze and cough. Next is human contact. As it’s animal born, contact with animals can transmit too. Still the infective capacity of Corona is much less than measles and mumps.

What are the symptoms

It starts with common symptoms like cold, cough, fever, breathlessness, diarrhea etc. The disease takes one two two weeks to show symptoms. In severe cases it causes pneumonia, respiratory failure, renal failure etc.

Group of people with bad outcome

Old people, cardiac patients have more chance of severe disease. In confirmed cases of China maximum death was seen in old people. For other people it’s not so severe.

Steps to prevent corona transmission

Step-1: Wash your hands adequately

Hand wash is the best prevention from most of the respiratory virus. It has several steps. It’s the chief mode of prevention of Corona transmission.

If working in asian market regularly do hand wash after touching any animal (courtesy WHO)

Step-2: Don’t go to crowds

Avoid crowd to prevent corona infection. Big crowds with humid atmosphere, help in droplet transmission. So try at your best to remain away from public gatherings.

Step-3 : Use a mask

Mask helps in isolation of ourselves from others. If someone near you has symptoms, use a mask. If someone having, coughing and sneezing, advise them to wear a good mask.

Step-4: Be cautious while traveling

Traveling to different areas, makes more exposure to infected people. So avoid close contact to outside people, sick people. Decrease shaking hands.

Step-5: Take sufficient water

Sufficient water drinking will keep you hydrated. Drinking water will take away any particles deposited in the throat to the stomach. Then it will be digested.

Step-6: Remain in home if you are sick

If you are sick don’t go outside. Remain in home. Keep yourself isolated as much as possible. Go to hospital and get treated.

Step-7: Keep good immunity

Don’t take stress. Sleep well. Take some immunity boosters. Don’t take medication without prescription. Eat proteinaceous food.

nCoV-19 is a virus which is not so much dangerous. So please don’t panic. Take precautions and remain happy. Don’t believe every news from social media. The fatality (probability of dying) in corona is less (around 4%). It’s much less than it’s brothers like SARS, MERS.

Comparison of several virus (source-WHO)

Myths and facts about corona (source WHO)

Everyday people are making news about false claims to prevent corona.Some say take arsenic, some say take basil leaves.Please don’t believe any hearsay. For that WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) has brought pictorial posters to raise the awareness.