You’ve probably heard on the news that there is a global epidemic of something called “Coronavirus.” You probably also have lots of questions. Here is some of the important information that we have on this virus.
Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that can be found in many different animals like camels and bats. These viruses can spread from animals to people. The coronavirus disease that we are hearing about today has been abbreviated as “COVID-19.” COVID-19 originated from bats; many of the people who were affected in China all had a link to a seafood/live animal market, meaning that they had contracted the virus from the bats there. Since then, the virus has rapidly spread from person to person. The CDC has a page that shows the countries with the confirmed COVID-19 cases. There have been a few hundred confirmed cases in the United States so far, but according to the CDC, coronavirus is not currently spreading in the US.
Coronaviruses can cause mild to severe illness. It can spread through coughing or through droplets on surfaces and objects. Many people with coronavirus will only experience mild symptoms, so it might be hard to tell if someone has it. Because coronavirus is a virus, antibiotics and other medications will not fight it; hence, it is spreading rapidly without a cure. Currently, there is a vaccine in the works.
In terms of what you can do now, make sure you are vaccinated for the flu as it is currently the flu season. Make sure to keep washing your hands and try to limit touching your eyes, mouth, and nose. Also, cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.
Some great resources to keep up with the coronavirus are the CDC and the World Health Organization webpages!