The recent outbreak of COVID 19 has now become a global pandemic, taking lives all over the globe on a daily basis.
Where did it emerge:
The first case of the disease came in December 2019, from the city of Wuhan in China. Later it spread to other countries as well. Although researches are still going on, yet majority of the outcomes point out towards the local exotic animal meat markets in Wuhan from where it might have spread to humans.
What is coronavirus:
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.
The Symptoms:
COVID 19 starts like any other flu. The most common symptoms are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea.
Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell.
As a matter of fact, most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Going by the numbers, around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness.
How does the disease spread?
As of current studies, COVID 19 can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales.
These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets.
Is there any vaccine against COVID 19?
According to WHO, to date, there is no vaccine and no specific antiviral medicine to prevent or treat COVID-2019.
Prevention of Coronavirus:
The most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are to frequently clean your hands, cover your cough with the bend of elbow or tissue, and maintain a distance of at least 1 meter (3 feet) from people who are coughing or sneezing.
Image Credits – bbc.com
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