Coronavirus: What is it and How to Prevent It

Photo by Bruna Pacheco

For those who do not know much about this disease, Coronavirus is a family of infections that contains two viruses, the SARS and MERS.

This disease causes respiratory infections, and common cold.

Spread of the virus  began as a mysterious illness in late 2019. Not long after, it was known as Wuhan Coronavirus, because the first case was registered in China, and people believe that it has come from a seafood market in Wuhan, China.

Some of the common symptoms are headache and malaise, runny nose, cough or sore throat, and muscle pain.

However, there is a possibility of all these symptoms to get worse and that is when it is time to go back to and see a doctor.

How can these symptoms get worse?

High fever (above 38°C or 100.4°F), trouble breathing, pneumonia and sepsis.

Some ways to help preventing this virus are:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick; avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands; stay home if you are sick, cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash afterwards, wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in your house.

At the moment, unfortunately, there is still no treatment for this infection. However, a coronavirus vaccine is in the works. 

It has been confirmed human-to-human transmission. People are advised to wear masks, wash hands frequently and avoid close contact with anyone who has a fever and/or cough.

There are now 42 confirmed coronavirus cases in Hong Kong.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has registered 398 people possibly having the coronavirus. All these people traveled to China sometime in the past.

For more information, check out the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention website.

https://www.cdc.gov/

Want to know more about the potential coronavirus vaccine? Read more on this vaccine at https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/25/business/moderna-coronavirus-vaccine/index.html