- 24 Mar
- 2020
Corona Virus Disease - 2019
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a new strain that was discovered in 2019 and has not been previously identified in humans.
Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.
Symptoms
Common signs of infection include:
- Respiratory symptoms
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Breathing difficulties
In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
Precautionary Measures
Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.
-
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if you cannot use soap and water
-
Maintain social distancing
-
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
-
Practice respiratory hygiene
If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early.
Stay informed and follows advice given by your healthcare provider
References & Helpful Links
[1] https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
[2] https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
[3] https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html
[5] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html
[6] https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51048366
[7] https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses