When did it all start?
The first cases appeared in Chinese media on December 31, after 44 people from the city of Wuhan were confirmed to be infected. Initial reports referred to a “mysterious viral pneumonia”, as the symptoms were flu-like, such as fever or shortness of breath. At the moment there are confirmed cases in Shanghai and Beijing, South Korea, Japan, Thailand and now the United States.
What is a coronavirus and what type of virus is this?
“Coronaviruses are a family of viruses whose morphological characteristic is that when looking at them through the electron microscope, they have round structures around their bodies that are proteins that are joined by a ring and draw a crown that surrounds the virus. Hence its name ”, Dr. Carmen Jodar Casanova, specialist in Family Medicine and member of Top Doctors, explains to VERY. “Within this family there are different types and, therefore, they produce different infections, some affect the respiratory system and produce from common infections such as a cold to more serious infections such as pneumonia.”
How it all started?
China believes that the virus originated in animals and was transmitted to humans through contact with animals in a live market in Wuhan, but such a suspicion has not obtained official evidence.
Should we be concerned about the Wuhan coronavirus?
“The Wuham coronavirus affects the respiratory tract and therefore is transmitted like a cold or flu, by coughing and sneezing. The affectation that is producing is an atypical pneumonia with respiratory distress in some patients. Mortality can reach 30% and, as always, the most sensitive population is multipathological patients ” .
How is it transmitted? Can it be passed from person to person?
Jodar Casanova comments that “Initially the transmission is from animal to human, but it has been seen that in China human to human transmission is already occurring. Hence the seriousness of the situation ”.
It is a devastating disease and it seems that there are still many gaps to fill. What is it that we do not know about this disease?
According to the expert, “the extent of the infection is not known how far it can go.”
Could we reach an international public health emergency?
As we have discussed, the WHO is holding a meeting on Wednesday to determine whether the outbreak constitutes a “public health emergency of international concern” and, if so, what should be done to manage it. Declaring an international health emergency would amount to a call for global vigilance, cooperation and funding to stop the virus.
In the event that the coronavirus arrives in Spain. Is our country ready?
“Our country has excellent universal health care of high quality and coverage. I am convinced that health prevention and public health professionals will soon have the measures to follow to avoid or find out about a possible outbreak if there is one. At the moment the measures are the same as those recommended in a flu box: protect your mouth from coughing and sneezing with a disposable tissue or on the sleeve of clothing that is then washed. Of course wash your hands frequently whether you are a sick person or a caregiver. It is the only valid prevention measure ”, explains the expert.
WHO advice to reduce the risk of infection
– Avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections;
– Wash hands frequently, especially after direct contact with sick people or their environment;
– Avoid unprotected contact with farm or wild animals;
– People with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should keep their distance, cover their mouths when coughing and sneezing with tissues or clothing, and wash their hands frequently;
– Within medical care facilities, maximum prevention, especially in emergency services
Due to the confirmation of the case from the United States, whose patient is isolated at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, Washington, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has begun to screen travelers from Wuhan at three airports From the US: New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO), as well as other airports.
Tests by the CDC confirmed on January 20 that he is infected with the Wuhan coronavirus.
Other nations are taking similar precautions. Russia, India and North Korea have begun screening anyone with fever on incoming flights from China. Australia and the Philippines have even quarantined some suspected cases. The celebration of the Lunar New Year in China, for which millions of people from around the world often flock to China, only increases international concern.
