02 March 2020 | Views
Dr. Navin Dang, Founder & Director - Dr. Dangs Lab & NATHEALTH Industry Leader talks about Coronavirus Combatting COVID-19
Source: getty images
2020 has begun with a major news of a cluster of pneumonia cases that have been detected in Wuhan, China. These were found to be caused by a novel Betacoronavirus, the 2019 novel Corona virus (2019-nCoV). As per figures quoted by a publication in the Lancet journal on 24th January 2020, there were 835 laboratory confirmed cases and 25 deaths due to the virus (with new numbers getting added to the statistics with every passing day). This number has increased to 65,000 confirmed cases and 1400 fatalities as reported on 14th February.
Named after the morphological appearance of that of a crown (Corona is Crown in Latin) it is similar to the virus causing SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome) epidemic in the early 2000’s. We are experiencing a similar epidemic outbreak now in 2020. This virus is known to arise from animals and initially believed to be transmitted to humans via exposure in wet farms and seafood markets.
Incubation period (time from infection to symptoms to appear) is found to be ranging from 3 to 5 days (max upto 14days). Droplet infection has been found to be the main mode of human to human transmission. The spread of the novel Coronavirus outside China is extremely worrisome since China is a global market visited frequently by people across the globe for both tourism & professional reasons, but we shouldn’t panic since stringent control measures are being taken to contain the spread of the virus globally. It is reassuring that the government has released a health advisory and is screening airports for any visitors from China. Suspected cases are being kept in isolation. We should spread awareness and undertake preventive measures.
With positive cases having been detected in several provinces of mainland china, Japan, Thailand, USA and other countries, with a few cases in India, the risk of COVID-19 spreading in the country is a fear that most of us have at this stage.
Coronavirus can be transmitted from person to person. It can spread when a person coughs or sneezes or even when someone touches a contaminated surface like a door handle.
Symptoms of nCoV include runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat, high fever, difficulty, breathing, pneumonia, bronchitis.
Prevention
Treatment
Will it affect people in India?
Although 3 cases have been reported in India at the moment, the government are on authorities are on high alert. The Health ministry in India has begun screening procedures at all international airports especially for passengers coming in from affected areas.
India Preparedness