01/30/2020
Coronaviruses
�What you should know.
How to protect and prevent.
What are the Coronaviruses?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO),
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of enveloped viruses which are known to cause illnesses ranging from the common cold, to the more severe illnesses such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are initially transmitted between animals and people, and these types of viruses are named for the crown-like spikes (or “coronas”) on their surface when viewed under an electron microscope. Human coronaviruses were first identified in the mid-1960s, and with the recent identification of 2019-nCoV, there are now seven known strains of human coronaviruses which can infect people.
Most coronaviruses are not life threatening, and people around the world commonly get infected every year with one of the four known human strains of coronaviruses which cause the common cold. The 2019-nCoV strain is being monitored closely as a potentially more serious strain of human coronavirus similar to the strain identified as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV), which was responsible for an outbreak which started in Saudi Arabia in 2012, and the strain identified as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV)5, which was responsible for an outbreak which started in China in 2003.
Symptoms to Look For
For the confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV infections, the symptoms have ranged from infected people with little or no symptoms to infected people becoming severely ill and dying. Symptoms can include one or more of the following:
• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of Breath
• Fatigue
At this time, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believe that symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Since this strain is still so new and in need of further research, these assumptions are based on observations of how symptoms developed with the MERS-CoV strain.
In the most serious cases, 2019-nCoV infection can lead to pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
How to Protect and Prevent
While there is currently no vaccine available for 2019-nCoV, CDC is recommending that the public practice everyday preventive actions which can help to limit the spread of respiratory viruses, including the following best practices:
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
