Coronovirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Mar 10, 2020
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This is reported from the Center for Disease Control (CDC, March 6, 2020). Common coronaviruses, including types 229E, NL63, OC43, and HKU1, usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses, like the common cold.
This is reported from the Center for Disease Control (CDC, March 6, 2020). Common coronaviruses, including types 229E, NL63, OC43, and HKU1, usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses, like the common cold.
The most significant coronaviruses include SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), SARS-CoV, first appearing in Asia in 2003. It then spread to more than two dozen countries in North America, South America, Asia, and Europe. By 2004, it was successfully contained and there have been no new cases since then.
MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), MERS-CoV, was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and then spread to several other countries, including the United States. Most symptoms were respiratory illnesses, some dying from the disease.
A novel (new) virus, first named SARS-CoV-2, now called Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), is a new strain of coronavirus that originated in China. It is considered a mild respiratory illness that has the most significant effect on elderly patients and those with compromised health conditions.
The CDC asks everyone to take measure to help reduce the risk of spreading the disease by following some basic steps:
1. It is flu (respiratory disease) season, follow your immunization programs and safety precautions. Keep work areas clean and wiped down with disinfectant towels.
2. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, or having been in a public place.
3. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
4. To the extent possible, avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places – elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, handshaking with people, etc. Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand or finger if you must touch something.
5. Wash your hands after touching surfaces in public places.
6. Avoid touching your face, nose, eyes, etc.
7. Clean and disinfect your home to remove germs: practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (for example: tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks & cell phones)
8. Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces. Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded, closed-in settings with little air circulation if there are people in the crowd who are sick.
Simple precautions can go a long way to help keep yourself, and your family, healthy.
Reference:
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (March 6, 2020). Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html on 9 March 2020.