China is stepping up efforts to tackle a new coronavirus that is thought to have originated in a Wuhan seafood market. The infection is now more widespread than the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak, which also originated in China, in terms of affected people and deaths.
What is a CoronaVirus?
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
What is a novel coronavirus?
A novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified by Chinese authorities is a new strain of coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans.
What are the symptoms of someone with coronavirus ?
Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
Can coronaviruses be transmitted from person to person?
Yes, Coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through: the air by coughing and sneezing, close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands, touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes
Is there a vaccine for a novel coronavirus?
When a disease is new, there is no vaccine until one is developed.
How deathly is it ?
Some experts say it may not be as deadly as other types of coronavirus such as SARS, which killed nearly 800 people worldwide, more than 300 in China alone - during a 2002-03 outbreak that also originated from China. MERS, which did not spread as widely, was more deadly, killing one-third of those it infected.
What can I do to protect myself?
There are currently no vaccines available to protect you against human coronavirus infection. You may be able to reduce your risk of infection by doing the following: wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands, avoid close contact with people who are sick
Sources: World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Al Jazeera, CNBC, Ministry of Culture and Tourism China, Welcome China, Digital China.
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