The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Coronavirus: Facts about incubation time, risk of infection, epidemic - disease simply explained

2020-03-12T16:53:00.297Z


We are constantly confronted with the globally spreading corona virus. Many people are concerned, no corner of the world seems safe. What are we actually dealing with?


We are constantly confronted with the globally spreading corona virus. Many people are concerned, no corner of the world seems safe. What are we actually dealing with?

  • The corona virus has been spreading since early 2020. The origin probably comes from China.
  • Coronavirus is the term for a family of pathogens . We are dealing with a tribe.
  • The virus is called Sars-CoV-2 . When it comes to the wave of diseases, we are dealing with an epidemic .

Headlines about buying hamsters, breathing masks, quarantine: the new type of corona virus has burned itself into our everyday lives and you are constantly being confronted with water level reports, statistics and dramatic developments . This, combined with threatening images, scares many people. What is the virus called Sars-CoV-2 ?

Corona virus is only the generic term for the pathogen

There are now well over 100,000 infected and several thousand deaths worldwide that are attributed to the new corona virus. It is all too likely that the dark room is likely to be much higher. A common thesis is that the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China. However, there is as yet no evidence for this theory.

What is the corona virus (s)? This is a family of various pathogens , which are assigned to the generic term corona. The disease that the infected are dealing with is called Covid-19 - a lung disease that causes fever, dry cough and breathing problems. The risk is particularly high for immunodeficient people . According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the incubation period averages five to six days. A maximum of a period of up to 14 days is assumed. However, there was sometimes talk of over 20 days.

+

Many people are afraid of the new corona virus. What exactly are we dealing with?

© dpa / Christoph Soeder

In 2002 there was already a worldwide corona virus problem : the Sars pandemic was caused by a virus strain of the same genus. The current virus is called Sars-CoV-2 and it is an epidemic . The WHO is responsible for the classification.

Coronavirus Sars-CoV-2: epidemic or pandemic?

What's the difference ? A pandemic is the appearance of a new pathogen that spreads easily from person to person, across the globe. The current classification of the coronavirus dates from February 24th - and as an epidemic "only" refers to uncontrolled cases of illness that are limited in time and region. Given recent developments, however, it seems conceivable that the viral disease will become a pandemic and global health crisis.

The most important message regarding the risk of infection : the virus is usually relatively harmless for individuals. People should internalize and take appropriate precautions . Because the pathogens are transmitted when coughing, sneezing and also runny nose. Most infections are mild , the majority of those affected have hardly any symptoms or are cured after a few days.

Dealing with corona virus: do not panic children

The question of how to teach children about coronavirus is also important: answer completely silently or even evasively? If parents prefer not to do it, experts advise. Because such behavior actually only makes it worse: If adults themselves are insecure , this usually transfers to the offspring. It is clear that children then develop diffuse fears .

Read also: Could it be that private clinics do not admit Corona patients?

PF

List of rubric lists: © dpa / Christoph Soeder

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2020-03-12

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.