Buzz
This article has been revised.
This morning, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the fifth instance of the newly identified coronavirus in the U.S. Read on to learn what it is, where it’s located, how to protect yourself, and all the essential details regarding the illness.
What is the new coronavirus exactly?
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses named for the crown-like projections that adorn their surfaces (the word corona is Latin for crown). According to the CDC, human coronaviruses can lead to upper-respiratory issues, like the common cold, and may occasionally cause more serious lower-respiratory problems such as pneumonia or bronchitis.
As this new coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, is still being studied, health officials are working to understand its behavior and find appropriate treatments. This isn’t the first time a dangerous new coronavirus has sparked a global outbreak: SARS-CoV emerged in Asia and spread to over two dozen countries in 2003, while MERS-CoV first appeared in Saudi Arabia before becoming a worldwide issue in 2012.
Where is the outbreak of the coronavirus occurring?
China has reported over 2700 confirmed cases, many of them in Wuhan, the city in Hubei province where 2019-nCoV was first identified last month. There have been around 50 additional cases in countries like South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The CDC has confirmed five U.S. cases—in California, Arizona, Illinois, and Washington—all of which were individuals who had recently traveled to Wuhan. Currently, the CDC is screening all travelers from Wuhan, with flights from there restricted to landing at five specific U.S. airports: John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York), Los Angeles International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, or Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
Chinese authorities have halted all transportation in and out of Wuhan, and they are also temporarily closing major tourist attractions such as Beijing’s Forbidden City, Shanghai Disneyland, and sections of the Great Wall.
What are the symptoms associated with the new coronavirus?
Symptoms resemble those of a cold or flu, such as fever, dry cough, and difficulty breathing. As of Monday morning, 81 people in China had died from the virus, and The New York Times reported that older individuals with pre-existing health conditions like cirrhosis, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease are particularly vulnerable.
How does the new coronavirus spread from person to person?
Since many of the first cases of 2019-nCoV were linked to a seafood and meat market in Wuhan, health officials believe the virus initially spread from animals to humans. However, it is now being transmitted from person to person.
While researchers continue to investigate the exact process, the most widely accepted theory is that the virus spreads through tiny droplets released from the respiratory system when a person coughs or sneezes.
How can you protect yourself from the new coronavirus?
The CDC is advising everyone to avoid nonessential travel to Wuhan and to stay away from animals or sick individuals if traveling in other parts of China. If you’ve visited China in the last two weeks and develop any symptoms mentioned earlier, seek medical help immediately—and be sure to contact the doctor’s office or emergency room in advance to inform them of your visit.
In general, follow the same precautions you would normally take to stay healthy: Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, avoid close contact with sick individuals, and make sure to cook meat or eggs thoroughly before eating them.
Should you be concerned about the new coronavirus?
The global health community is taking the 2019-nCoV outbreak seriously to contain it as quickly as possible, but there is no need to panic. The CDC continues to stress that the risk in the U.S. is low, and public health officials are reinforcing this message.
Caitlin Wolfe, a former consultant epidemiologist for the World Health Organization (WHO) and a current doctoral student at the University of South Florida’s College of Public Health, told Mytour that it’s still too early to predict if the virus will spread nationwide. However, the fact that cases have been identified in the U.S. “indicates that patients and doctors are aware of the symptoms and travel history,” and that “our public health systems are functioning as they should.”
“The key messages to communicate to the American public are those based on the facts we know, avoiding sensationalism or alarmism,” Wolfe says. “Initial reports from Chinese officials suggest the R0, which measures the average number of people each infected person passes the virus to, is between 1.4 and 2.5. By comparison, someone infected with the measles typically infects between 12 and 18 people.”
While experts continue to analyze and combat the virus, stay informed with updates from the CDC and WHO, and remain committed to practicing good hygiene, which, as Wolfe notes, will also protect you from the flu or even just a common cold.
