Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

  Corona-Virus

Outline:

1. what is corona-virus?
2. How it spreads?
3. How are the symptoms?
4. How many people are affected?
5. what is happening in china now?
6. who and corona virus
7. How can we avoid and protect ourselves?

The corona-viruses family cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), according to the WHO.

It circulates in animals and can be transmitted between animals and humans. several corona-viruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans. The new Corona=virus, the seventh known to affect humans, has been named COVID-19.

Common signs of infection include fever, coughing and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, it can cause pneumonia, multiple organ failure and death. the incubation period of COVID-19 is thought to be between one and 14 days. It is contagious before symptoms appear. Infected patients can be also asymptomatic, meaning they do not display any symptoms despite having the virus in their systems. 

In mainland China, at least 3,000 people died and at least 90,400 have been infected, according to official figures. Deaths have also been confirmed in Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, France, Taiwan, Iran and South Korea.

Cases have been confirmed in Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Iran, Israel, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, the UAE, the UK, the US and Vietnam. China alerted the WHO to cases of unusual pneumonia in Wuhan on December 31. COVID-19 is thought to have originated in a seafood market where wildlife was sold illegally. On February 7, Chinese researchers said the virus could have spread from an infected animal to humans through illegally trafficked pangolins, prized in Asia for food and medicine. Scientists have pointed to either bats or snakes as the possible source.

Efforts to contain the outbreak have caused disruption in China, with some 20 cities facing travel restrictions affecting at least 60 million people. More than a dozen countries have evacuated their citizens from Wuhan, while others have banned entry to Chinese citizens. Several airlines have suspended flights to and from China.

On February 10, a team of WHO experts arrived in China to investigate the outbreak. The WHO declared the virus a global health emergency on January 30, deeming it an "extraordinary event" that constitutes a risk to other countries and requires a coordinated international response.

WHO recommends basic hygiene such as washing hands with soap and water and covering your mouth with your elbow when sneezing or coughing. Maintain "social distancing" - keeping at least one METRE (three feet) between yourself and others - particularly if they are coughing and 

sneezing, and avoid touching your face, eyes and mouth with unwashed hands. Avid unnecessary, unprotected contact with animals and be sure to thoroughly wash hands after contact. Ensure meat consumed is cooked thoroughly. We should urge the masses to follow local safety measures beside these measures.