Coronavirus: What we know and don’t

Dr Sachin Mittal

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The threat of coronavirus is real and lethal. The WHO has declared the outbreak a global public health emergency. It’s spreading at a worrying pace around the world. Even India has had at least three confirmed cases so far, all reported in Kerala. Detected as early as in the 1960s, coronavirus is known to man for a long time but we still don’t know where exactly it comes from. Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that can infect both animals and humans. The illness in humans can be mild like common cold, but in some cases it can result in a severe disease like MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) with pneumonia and severe difficulty in breathing. People with a serious underlying medical condition are at a greater risk of contracting the virus.

Timeline of the outbreak

It was on December 12, 2019 that the first case of coronavirus was reported from a seafood market in Wuhan City, China. On December 31, 2019, the WHO was alerted, followed by China reporting a total of 59 patients with pneumonia of unknown etiology in the first week of January. This was shocking, for the virus did not match with any other virus known to man so far. This was a new virus and hence a cause of great concern and anxiety. A week later, the Chinese authorities claimed to have identified a new virus, the coronavirus.

Symptoms

Symptoms are similar to upper respiratory infection:

•  Runny nose
•  Coughing
•  Sore throat
•  At times fever, too

In many cases, it is difficult to know whether you are suffering from coronavirus or just a different cold-causing virus. Getting tested can help detect it early.

What we don’t know

Scientists and medical researchers all around the world have still no clue about where this virus has come from and how it is spreading so easily across the globe. There are no concrete answers to who all are vulnerable to infection from coronavirus.

Guidelines for travellers

People travelling outside India need to be extra cautious:

• Avoid travelling if you have fever or cough. Get a complete medical examination done if you cannot postpone or cancel the travel plan.
• Avoid close contact with people suffering from fever and cough.
•  Follow good hygiene practices like washing your hands frequently with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water; avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
•  Keep your mouth and nose covered with tissue while coughing and sneezing, or cough into the flexed elbow.
•  It is advised to wear a high-quality face mask that covers your mouth and nose.
•  In case you fall sick while travelling, inform the crew and seek immediate medical attention.
• Avoid eating meat products cooked in unhygienic conditions.

— The writer is a Chandigarh-based endocrinologist

WHO’s standard recommendations

These can be useful in containing the spread of the virus. These standard practices include hand and respiratory hygiene and safe food practices:

• Clean hands frequently either with alcohol-based hand rub /sanitiser or disinfectant soap and water
•  Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and/or sneezing
•  Remember to throw out used tissues immediately and wash your hands
•  Always avoid close contact with anyone exhibiting any symptoms of fever and/or cough
• Seek suitable medical care if you have fever, cough and cold
• If you constant have difficulty in breathing, seek medical care immediately
• Direct/unprotected contact with animals is always discouraged
• Don’t touch surfaces that have been in contact with animals
• Do not consume raw and/ or undercooked animal products such as raw meat, milk or animal organs

Can masks help protect against infection?

There is a debate going on among health experts about the effectiveness of covering the face to prevent infection. Surgical grade masks will help but there is no consensus about whether flimsy mass-produced versions are of any use. The WHO does not mention masks in its advice to avoid infection. “Wearing face masks may give a false sense of security,” said Bill Keevil, professor of environmental healthcare at Southampton university, adding that good hand hygiene was most important.