What is a coronavirus?
The world is scrambling
to control the coronavirus a novel pathogen that emerged in China at the end of
last year the disease has sent shockwaves around the world with tens of
thousands of people falling ill and cases popping up in countries around the
globe there are no specific treatments or vaccines for the disease and doctors
are using existing medicines for other viruses including aids and Ebola there
are many types of coronaviruses and they are very common in animals only seven
have made the leap into humans including the new coronavirus the epicenter of
the new coronavirus was a live animal market in Wuhan central China where wild
and farm animals were kept in close quarters bugs and viruses can easily jump
from one species to another and it only takes one person in close contact with
animals to become infected and for the disease to mutate and spread to others
most of those who have had the most severe symptoms have been older people and
those with other conditions such as lung or heart problems men also seem more
likely to pick up the disease coronavirus is unlikely to spiral out of control
in the UK although cases have been confirmed here
What are the symptoms of the new coronavirus?
Anyone who is worried
should look out for cough sore throat high temperature feeling tired and
difficulty breathing these symptoms are common in other cold and flu illnesses
so if you're worried ask yourself have I traveled to a high-risk area in the
last two weeks or have I been in contact with someone who has symptoms are
thought to appear 2 to 10 days after contracting the disease the virus spreads
through droplets
How is the new coronavirus spread and how can
I protect myself?
When a person coughs or
sneezes you can catch the disease directly from an infected person or a contaminated surface you can then catch the virus if you touch your face with
your hands something we do about 15 times an hour the best line of defense is
to wash your hands frequently with soap and water also carry a hand sanitizer
tissues wash your hands before you eat and be careful in public places about
touching surfaces and then touching your face the UK has strong public health
systems and authorities are confident they can cope with a large disease
outbreak but what experts really fear is the virus taking hold in the mega
cities of Africa and Asia where health systems a weak people live close to each
other and sanitation is poor here a large epidemic would be impossible to
control