Coronavirus: symptoms, risks and how this dangerous epidemic is contracted

The outbreak of the coronavirus in China has alerted global health authorities, as it is known that the virus can be transmitted from person to person, and the large flow of tourists for the Chinese New Year causes alarming concern, as it is already They detected patients in Thailand, South Korea and Japan.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronaviruses are common throughout the world and are a large family of viruses, causing various diseases ranging from the common cold to an Acute Respiratory Syndrome Severe (SARS).

The symptoms

According to local authorities, those affected experience fever, cough, shortness of breath, pneumonia and muscle pain.

How did it come about?

The pneumonia outbreak emerged last month in Wuhan, the largest city in China. Therefore, the authorities linked viral infections with a seafood and wildlife market in Wuhan, which has been closed since January 1 to prevent further spread of the disease.

But on January 8, experts identified the pathogen as a new strain of coronavirus, in the same SARS family.

While the exact source of the virus is still unclear, research suggests that it could come from wild animals sold in a seafood market, such as bamboo rats and badgers.

Meanwhile, the CDC explains that coronaviruses that infect animals can sometimes evolve and become a human coronavirus.

Is it lethal? Could it expand worldwide?

Although it has not shown mortality rates such as SARS, so far three people have died and it is believed that the figure could increase.

So far, the concern about this outbreak is at the regional level. However, this Sunday the WHO said there was evidence of a "limited transmission from person to person", which causes some fear of a broader outbreak.

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1219317208205209600

Despite the fact that the organization has not issued travel restrictions to the affected countries, China keeps another 700 people who were in contact with patients under surveillance, in addition to putting health before the Chinese New Year festivities that begins next week.

Meanwhile, US authorities announced similar measures at the airports in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York.

So you can protect yourself

Although there are no coronavirus vaccines, there are things you can do to reduce the risk of infection. The CDC advise:

1. Wash your hands well for at least 20 seconds, and do it frequently.

2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth without washing your hands.

3. Avoid in close contact with people who may be infected.

See also:

The number of victims of coronavirus in China rises to six. US health authorities on alert

Thailand imposes sanitary controls at airports after confirming two cases of the contagious virus detected in China