The coronavirus – what exactly is it?

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus belongs to the Coronaviridae household, which includes zoonotic viruses present in birds and mammals. Signs of a SARS-CoV-2 an infection embrace fever, weak spot and fatigue, shortness of breath, cough, and issue respiration.

The coronavirus – is China the supply of the epidemic?

For a number of months now, the world has been trembling with worry of the newly found coronavirus. In just some weeks, the virus has unfold from Asia to virtually all continents. The overwhelming majority of coronavirus instances are nonetheless positioned in China, within the Hubei province (and its capital of Wuhan).

The unbelievable quantity of unfaithful data unfold by the media has brought about a variety of disinformation and worry. Listed below are some info concerning the coronavirus that additionally reply the most typical questions on it.

The coronavirus – title

The official title of the Wuhan coronavirus is SARS-CoV-2. That is due to the virus’ genetic similarity to the Extreme Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which brought about an epidemic in Asia in 2003. The illness brought on by SARS-CoV-2 is named COVID-19.

The coronavirus – vaccine

Work on a possible COVID-19 vaccine is ongoing in lots of analysis facilities all over the world. The construction of the virus is being studied, particularly its floor glycoproteins, which might probably be used to create an efficient vaccine. To this point, no human trials have been began.

The coronavirus – victims

An estimate primarily based on the variety of contaminated sufferers and recorded deaths signifies a mortality price of roughly 2.3% (that’s, roughly 2.3% of all contaminated sufferers are more likely to die). SARS-CoV-2 would due to this fact be 20 occasions extra deadly than the influenza virus. Nevertheless, scientists say the calculation technique used to obtain this quantity is flawed as a result of the variety of examined contaminated sufferers won’t replicate the precise variety of infections. The overwhelming majority of contaminated expertise solely gentle signs of the illness, and a few are fully asymptomatic – these folks are typically ignored in statistics. So the virulence of the Wuhan virus may be a lot smaller – proper now it’s not possible to know for positive.

Is it true that the virus spares younger and wholesome folks?

To this point, no instances of Wuhan coronavirus have been reported in folks underneath the age of 9. Mortality of sufferers aged 10-49 ranges from 0.2% to 0.4%. Nevertheless, for sufferers over 80, the danger of dying is sort of 15%.

Sicknesses corresponding to:

cardiovascular ailments (10.5%),

diabetes (7.3%),

power respiratory ailments (6.3%),

hypertension (6%),

most cancers (5.6%)

enhance the danger of dying of sufferers contaminated with SARS-COV-2 in comparison with the inhabitants not burdened with comorbidities (the common threat equals 0.9% for all age teams mixed).

The coronavirus – unfold

SARS-CoV-2 is unfold by droplet route. A sick individual spreads the virus over a distance of about 1 meter when sneezing or coughing. Saliva droplets containing the virus choose objects. An infection can be doable via contact with contaminated secretions and rubbing them into your mucous membranes (eyes, mouth, or nostril).

Has the coronavirus reached Poland but?

On March 4, 2020, the primary case of the coronavirus was confirmed in Poland. To this point, a complete of 67,372 COVID-19 instances have been confirmed in Poland (as of 01/09/2020). 2,039 folks have died on account of an infection.

The coronavirus – learn how to forestall getting sick?

The World Well being Group (WHO) has issued a set of suggestions whose utility ought to cut back the danger of transmission and an infection with the virus.

Usually wash your palms with cleaning soap or an alcohol-based preparation.

Keep away from approaching sick folks at a distance of lower than 1 meter.

Avoiding touching your mouth, nostril, and eyes.

Cowl your mouth together with your elbow when sneezing or coughing to cut back the unfold of the virus.

Keep house in case you have any signs that may recommend being contaminated (fever, weak spot and fatigue, shortness of breath, cough, issue respiration). It’s price implementing this level within the case of all infectious ailments, e.g. influenza.

In case you develop signs after contact with somebody on the website of the epidemic, instantly contact the infectious ailments ward.