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The ABC of coronavirus: what it is, how it is spread, who it affects and how it is prevented

2020-07-08T00:47:29.028Z


This is a breakdown of what the coronavirus is, what the symptoms are, how it is spread, who it affects, how it can be prevented, and what are the consequences of the outbreak.


(CNN Spanish) - In late 2019, reports emerged of a mysterious illness in China. It was identified as a new type of coronavirus, believed to come from a seafood market in Wuhan, the capital of China's central Hubei province.

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Since then, millions of global cases and thousands of deaths have been confirmed. Authorities are now trying to stop the spread of the virus, restricting the travel of millions of people and introducing strict quarantines.

Beginning Monday, March 9, CNN began using the term pandemic to describe the current coronavirus outbreak because many epidemiologists and public health experts argued that the world is already experiencing a pandemic due to the new coronavirus. On March 11, the World Health Organization declared that the new coronavirus outbreak is a pandemic.

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Symptoms | How it spreads | How to prevent it | The mutation | The contagion map | What doesn't work | Pets | Frequently asked questions | The difference between coronavirus, allergy and flu

What is a coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses that are common among animals. In rare cases, they are what scientists call zoonotic, which means they can be transmitted from animals to humans, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC. The new coronavirus was designated by the WHO as COVID-19.

Symptoms of a coronavirus

Viruses can make people sick, usually with mild to moderate disease of the upper respiratory tract, similar to a common cold. Symptoms of the coronavirus include a runny nose, cough, sore throat, possibly a headache, and perhaps fever, which can last for a couple of days.

For those with a weakened immune system, the elderly and the very young, there is a possibility that the virus may cause lower and much more serious respiratory tract disease, such as pneumonia or bronchitis.

There are a handful of human coronaviruses that are known to be deadly.

Middle East respiratory syndrome, also known as the MERS virus, was first reported in the Middle East in 2012 and also causes respiratory problems, but those symptoms are much more severe. According to the CDC, three to four out of 10 patients infected with MERS died.

Check out the latest coronavirus news here

Severe acute respiratory syndrome, also known as SARS, is the other coronavirus that can cause more severe symptoms. First identified in Guangdong province in southern China, according to the WHO, it causes respiratory problems but can also cause diarrhea, fatigue, shortness of breath, respiratory distress, and kidney failure.

Depending on the patient's age, the mortality rate with SARS varied from 0 to 50% of cases, with older people being the most vulnerable.

The new coronavirus is currently believed to be milder than SARS and MERS and take longer to develop symptoms. Patients to date have experienced a mild cough for a week followed by shortness of breath, causing them to visit the hospital, explains Peter Horby, professor of emerging infectious diseases and global health at the University of Oxford. So far, about 15% to 20% of cases have become severe and require, for example, ventilation in the hospital.

Outbreaks and pandemics that have alerted the world 3:16

READ MORE OF THE SYMPTOMS

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How it spreads

Viruses can be spread by human contact with animals. Scientists believe that MERS started on camels, according to the WHO. With SARS, scientists suspected that civet cats were to blame.

How is the new coronavirus spread? 0:25

When it comes to person-to-person transmission of the virus, it often occurs when someone comes in contact with an infected person's secretions, such as cough drops.

Depending on how virulent the virus is, a cough, sneeze, or handshake can cause exposure. The virus can also be spread by touching something an infected person has touched and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes. Caregivers can sometimes be exposed by handling a patient's waste, according to the CDC.

Should China ban wildlife trade? 1:57

Person-to-person transmission for the new coronavirus has been confirmed, but experts are now trying to understand who transmits it the most, who is most at risk, and whether transmission occurs primarily in hospitals or in the community. SARS and MERS were largely transmitted within hospitals, Horby said. Some people also consider themselves "superprocessors," a term that the WHO asks not to use.

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Possible treatments

Much has been said recently about the encouraging results of a clinical study on remdesivir, an antiviral drug that could be used to combat the symptoms of coronavirus, but which has not performed so well in other studies. The truth is that there is still no vaccine or definitive treatment against the virus that has alerted the world. While hundreds of medical teams around the world are fighting a battle against time to prevent further increases in cases and deaths from covid-19, we tell you what some possible treatments are about and what results they have had.

Remdesivir

It is an experimental drug produced by the company Gilead Sciences. The company describes it as a "nucleotide analog with broad-spectrum antiviral activity."

The key word here is experimental, because as the company clarifies, remdesivir has not been approved for any use by any country in the world.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved any medications for the treatment of coronavirus. But it plans to announce an emergency use authorization for remdesivir, according to The New York Times. The authorization could come soon, the newspaper reported, citing a senior administration official.

LOOK: The manufacturer of remdesivir says it has enough supply to treat at least 140,000 patients

In a statement to CNN, the FDA said it is in talks with Gilead Sciences, the maker of remdesivir, about making the drug available to patients.

Gilead Sciences said Wednesday that covid-19 patients who took the investigational antiviral remdesivir for 5 to 10 days saw similar results in a company-led study.

However, a small study in China showed that remdesivir did not help people recover faster from coronavirus infections.

LOOK: What is remdesivir, the medicine that could help covid-19 patients?

The study may have been too small to clearly show whether the drug helps.

Experts say it will take a lot more testing and a little longer before it becomes clear whether remdesivir can help patients recover from covid-19 infections.

Hydroxychloroquine

Hydroxychloroquine, also known by the brand name Plaquenil, and its analog, chloroquine, are derived from quinine, which French chemists isolated in 1820 from the bark of the cinchona tree, according to Medicines for Malaria Venture. In 1934, German scientists created synthetic chloroquine as part of a class of antimalarials, MMV said. Hydroxychloroquine is the least toxic version of chloroquine.

The weapons we have against the coronavirus 2:55

US President Donald Trump believes that drugs can be a powerful weapon against Covid-19, he says, "and there are signs that it works on this, some very strong signs." He also believes that taking the drug could be useful as a preventive measure for health workers, he said.

The Brazilian Federal Medical Council (CFM) authorized last week the use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in patients with a confirmed diagnosis of covid-19 in only three cases and provided there is agreement between doctor and patient.

LOOK: Covid-19: Trump adviser ignores experts and suggests use of hydroxychloroquine

However, one showed that cornavirus patients taking hydroxychloroquine had the same propensity to need mechanical ventilation and had higher death rates compared to those who did not take the drug, according to a study of hundreds of patients in the Health Administration. of United States Veterans.

Studies in Brazil and Sweden have detected side effects in patients: they developed heart problems. And a study in France found that it did not fight covid-19 and was also associated with cardiac complications.

With no cure for covid-19, this is what we are testing 2:38

Famotidine

Famotidine is used in the treatment of stomach ulcers, indigestion, heartburn and reflux, explains the Mayo Clinic.

It is the main component of medicines like Pepcid and Fluxid and is part of the group of substances known as H2 blockers. "It works by decreasing the amount of acid in the stomach," explains the Mayo Clinic.

MIRA: What is famotidine? Heartburn Drug May Fight Covid-19

So far, 187 patients have enrolled in the clinical trial, and Northwell finally expects to be around 1,200, Dr. Kevin Tracey, president of the Feinstein Institutes of Medical Research at Northwell Health, which runs 23 hospitals in the city, told CNN. New York.

Tracey and her colleagues came up with the idea to study famotidine after noting that some patients in China who took the drug fared better than patients who did not.

Patients in the hospital study are taking megadoses intravenously, about nine times more than what someone would normally take for heartburn.

Convalescent Plasma

Recovered covid-19 patients have been asked by the US Food and Drug Administration to donate blood plasma that could potentially be used to help sick patients or fight disease.

MIRA: They will look for plasma donors from recovered covid-19: Argentine scientist explains project for critical cases

The idea is that the convalescent plasma of the recovered patients - the liquid part of the blood - contains antibodies that could help strengthen the immune response of other patients who are still fighting the infection. Patients who have been fully recovered from covid-19 for at least two weeks are advised to consider donating plasma, the FDA said.

According to the FDA, more than 1,040 sites and 950 medical researchers across the country have signed up to participate in an effort led by the Mayo Clinic to expand access to plasma. The FDA also noted in its announcement that several clinical trials are underway to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma, and has also awarded several new drug applications in emergency research for a single patient.

How can you prevent it?

There is no vaccine to protect against this family of viruses, at least not yet.

What works to prevent you from coronavirus? 2:22

You may be able to reduce your risk of infection by avoiding sick people. Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Wash your hands often with soap and water and for at least 20 seconds.

Consciousness is the key. If you are sick and have reason to believe that it may be the new coronavirus due to a trip to the region or contact with someone who has been there, you should inform a healthcare provider and seek early treatment.

Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and disinfect objects and surfaces you touch.

If you're traveling to China, be aware of the symptoms and avoid live animal markets, which is where the last outbreak in Wuhan started.

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New mutant version of coronavirus: spreads faster, but doesn't make you sicker

A global study found compelling evidence that a new form of the coronavirus has spread from Europe to the U.S. The new mutation makes the virus more likely to infect people, but does not appear to make them sicker than previous variations of the virus, An international team of investigators reported Thursday.

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7 myths that fuel new coronavirus spikes: avoiding them will save lives

It's easy to fall into a false sense of security now that states in the US have reopened. And many are already paying the price.

When states reopened to try to save the economy, the fate of this pandemic shifted from government hands to individual responsibility.

But many are not abiding by that responsibility, but have let their guard down too soon because of myths: KEEP READING

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Measures that do not work against the coronavirus (and that would be counterproductive)

In the face of the coronavirus outbreak, many are seeking effective measures to prevent the disease. However, some of these practices could even be counterproductive.

Coronavirus: this is what DOESN'T 2:55

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What are the recommendations to avoid getting the new coronavirus if you leave home?

Should you leave home but are you afraid of getting coronavirus? Around the world, some countries have already started the new normal and others are still in quarantine or have just started de-escalation. Reintegration into society comes with doubts for some and stress or anxiety for others.

Dr. Elmer Huerta refreshes knowledge of how the transmission of covid-19 occurs or what we can do to avoid contracting the disease.

Keep reading

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The map of contagion worldwide

The number of new coronavirus cases is changing rapidly. A real-time tracking map shows us how fast.

The Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering map tracks cases of coronaviruses worldwide.

The tool collects data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) and the Chinese website DXY, which aggregates data from the China National Health Commission and the CCDC. The results provide a global overview of coronavirus cases in real time.

See the map in real time here

The coronavirus case map is updated in real time as more cases are confirmed by global health agencies.

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What is a pandemic?

The deadly pandemic of the new coronavirus has highlighted the science of the disease, raising the question: what exactly is a pandemic?

An outbreak is the appearance of cases of diseases that exceed what is normally expected, according to the World Health Organization. An epidemic is more than a normal number of cases of illness, specific health-related behavior, or other health-related events in a community or region.

However, a pandemic is defined as the "global spread" of a new disease.

The previous pandemic reported in the world was the H1N1 flu pandemic in 2009, which killed hundreds of thousands worldwide.

Keep reading

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Coronavirus can float in midair, and experts say the WHO and CDC should tell people that.

Frequently asked questions

If I travel by plane, how do I stay safe? Since the cabin of an airplane continues to circulate air, will I get sick if another passenger is sick? What exactly does "older adults" mean? What is the age threshold? Should I avoid the Chinese, Koreans, or Italians? CNN readers have been asking sharp questions about the coronavirus every day. Here we give the answers.

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Is it allergy, flu or coronavirus? How do you know the difference?

Although coronavirus is something to be taken seriously, the chances of a person getting it are still low. But if you wonder if that stuffy nose could end up being the worst case scenario, CNN spoke to Dr. Greg Poland, professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the Mayo Clinic and director of the Vaccine Research Group at the Mayo Clinic, about differences between typical allergy, cold and flu symptoms and those associated with coronavirus.

→ Read more

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Coronavirus can float in midair

Coronavirus can float in air droplets and is likely to be transmitted that way, a group of experts said in an open letter to the World Health Organization (WHO) and other health agencies, asking them to be more direct in explaining how the virus can be transmitted in the air.

→ Read more

How are doctors caring for people with coronavirus?

In the midst of this panorama, where the numbers of cases continue and continue to increase, are the doctors and health professionals who must care for people with coronavirus or under evaluation for suffering it. But how are they cared for and protected? What security measures must they hail to avoid contagion? The measures that have been determined by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States are very broad.

→ Here we tell you the main measures.

Can pets spread the coronavirus?

He is your furry best friend and something fixed in your home, but could your beloved cat or dog infect you with the coronavirus? Experts agree, almost definitely not.

There were similar fears about the spread of the coronavirus to pets during the SARS outbreak in 2003, when more than 280 people died in Hong Kong. Experts believe that both SARS and Covid-19 likely originated from bats.

Dogs and cats contract some coronaviruses, but not the same as the virus associated with this current outbreak, said Jane Gray, chief veterinary surgeon at the Hong Kong SPCA. Those strains are of a completely different type and do not cause respiratory problems.

In 2003, scientists said the chance of catching SARS, which is also a type of coronavirus, from a cat was extremely remote.

Gray, who worked in Hong Kong during SARS, said the virus was found in a small number of cats, but there was no evidence that they could transmit it to humans.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the main way the disease is spreading is from person to person, either when people are together, or from respiratory drops when an infected person cough and sneeze.

Read more

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The battle for the coronavirus cure entered the realm of patent rights

Chinese researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the epicenter of the global coronavirus outbreak, applied for patent rights for an experimental drug developed by Gilead Sciences Inc., a U.S. pharmacist, which it claims applied for the global patent, including China, in 2016. Discussion with Ricardo Antequera, director of the patent and international protection department of Estudio Antequera Parilli & Rodríguez.

Is the cure for coronavirus complicated by patents? 9:11

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With information from Jen Christensen, Maggie Fox, Holly Yan, Meera Senthilingam, Kristie Lu Stout, Elmer Huerta 

Source: cnnespanol

All news articles on 2020-07-08

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