Pregnant women infected with coronavirus: researchers find new way of infection

2020-02-06T15:46:10.349Z

The corona virus continues to spread, especially in the Chinese province of Hubei. However, cases have also been reported in Germany. Doctors are now warning of a new transmission path.

Researchers found a new transmission route for the coronavirus *.
A newborn had been infected with the virus by his mother.
Learn how to arm yourself against the most common transmission path here.

So far, at least 565 people have died of coronavirus infections. There were 28,300 reported cases in 2020 - the number of unreported cases is probably higher (as of February 6, 2020). So far, there are no drugs that make the virus harmless in the body. Physicians currently only have the option of keeping symptoms such as headaches, fever and breathing problems at bay. Recently, Thai doctors reported promising results with a combination therapy of HIV and flu medication *.

The causes behind the rapid spread of coronavirus infections and how exactly they are infected have not yet been conclusively clarified. A recent case from Wuhan , the metropolis of millions in the central Chinese province of Hubei, which is considered the center of the epidemic, allows conclusions to be drawn about the ways of spreading the disease.

Mother transmits coronavirus to her newborn

In early February 2020, a woman infected with coronavirus gave birth to a baby who tested positive for coronavirus 30 hours after birth. This was reported, according to the China News Service, Zeng Lingkong, the head of the newborn section of the Wuhan Children's Hospital. The state of the newborn was stable, but it had inflammation of the lungs and slightly abnormal liver function , as the doctor reported. However, it does not have to be transmitted: before this case, infected mothers had given birth to babies in which no coronavirus infection was detected.

Doctors currently believe that the coronavirus * primarily spreads through respiratory secretions . The droplet infection is characterized by a spread of the pathogens through the air, as reported by the portal infektionsschutz.de of the Federal Center for Health Education. However, the novel corona viruses were also found in stool samples from some of those affected. It is not yet clear whether people can become infected through contact with contaminated stool.

Read also : Does a mask protect against coronavirus infection? Who should wear a face mask .

This is how you prevent contagion with corona viruses

Since the path of infection of flu and corona viruses * is very similar to the current state of knowledge, the same rules apply with regard to prevention:

Be sure to wash your hands, especially after using public transport or other public spaces *.
Hygiene rules for coughing and sneezing protect others from infection: Be careful not to cough or sneeze into the palm of your hand, but into the crook of your arm. This will prevent viruses and bacteria from getting on handrails or doorbells.
Keep at least one meter away from sick people

More on the topic : Coronavirus: These are the symptoms of an infection .