Home » News » Coronavirus: symptoms, forms of transmission and more data about the virus that has the world on alert | How is it transmitted? | Wuhan Coronavirus Sciences

Coronavirus: symptoms, forms of transmission and more data about the virus that has the world on alert | How is it transmitted? | Wuhan Coronavirus Sciences

There are already about 900 confirmed cases and several people killed due to coronavirus originated in the city of Wuhan, in the center of China.

Although most cases have occurred in the Asian giant’s regions, the spread of the virus to countries such as countries has also been confirmed. Thailand, South Korea, Japan Y U.S, among others.

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Also known “Wuhan pneumonia”It keeps health organizations around the world on alert because its spread and contagion capacity seems to be more intense than originally warned in China.

Now, the authorities of that country admitted that they are in a “critical stage” of prevention and control, advising people to stop traveling in and out of Wuhan.

While the World Health Organization (WHO) is considering declaring an international emergency, just as it did with the swine flu and ebola.

The Wuhan coronavirus It is a new strain that had not been seen before in humans, which means that much remains to be investigated.

But, What are the symptoms, how deadly is it, how is it transmitted and what should be done to prevent its spread? BBC World gives you the answers.

1. What are the symptoms?

Patients infected with this coronavirus experience various symptoms, including shortness of breath, fever, cough and muscle pain.

Due to its rapid spread, patients infected with the virus should be treated in isolation. (Photo: Getty)

According to a WHO report issued on January 20, an infected woman in South Korea suffered from chills, high fever, muscle pain and runny nose.

While the patient was first diagnosed with a simple cold, the doctors later detected that he was suffering from the virus.

According to the authorities, the incubation period for “Wuhan pneumonia” (that is, how long it takes for the symptoms to appear after contracting the infection) is days, rather than weeks.

Coronaviruses are a broad family of viruses, but it is known that only six (the new one would be the seventh) infect people.

2. Is it deadly?

So far, of the more than 400 cases of infection, it is known that 9 people have died from the new coronavirus since its spread began, in December 2019

This means that the vast majority of patients suffering from the virus do not end with fatal consequences.

Coronaviruses are a broad family of viruses, but it is known that only six (the new one would be the seventh) infect people. (Photo: Getty)

Coronaviruses are a broad family of viruses, but it is known that only six (the new one would be the seventh) infect people. (Photo: Getty)

Although research is still lacking in this regard, doctors have said that this coronavirus is not as serious as the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars), which in 2002 killed 774 of the 8,098 People infected in an outbreak that also started in China.

“When we see a new coronavirus, we want to know how severe the symptoms are; This is more than cold-like symptoms and is a concern, but it is not as serious as Sars, ”he told BBC Mark Woolhouse, from the University of Edinburgh.

3. How is it transmitted?

The Chinese authorities believe that the virus originated in a seafood market in Wuhan that “made illegal wild animal transactions. “

The first human cases were identified in this same Chinese city in December 2019, although it is not yet known how or when the virus became infectious for people.

Although initially it was said that the contagion only happened with the contact of animals, this Tuesday the Chinese authorities confirmed for the first time that the virus has been transmitted from person to person.

In China there is concern that the virus will spread through the hundreds of millions of people traveling for the Chinese New Year later this month. (Photo: Getty)

In China there is concern that the virus will spread through the hundreds of millions of people traveling for the Chinese New Year later this month. (Photo: Getty)

In fact, it was confirmed that some health workers became infected after attending patients with the same disease.

This worries doctors, because viruses that infect the lungs, like this one, are very effective in spreading due to Cough and sneeze. However, it is still too early to measure how many people could be affected.

Now, there is concern that the virus can spread through the hundreds of millions of people traveling to the Chinese New Year at the end of this month.

Given this, Singapore and Hong Kong They have been controlling Wuhan air passengers and US authorities announced similar measures at the airports in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York.

4. How to prevent its spread?

At the moment, there is no vaccine that can protect people against this coronavirus, but researchers are trying to develop one.

As a preventive measure, health authorities have called on people to wash their hands continuously. (Photo: Getty)

As a preventive measure, health authorities have called on people to wash their hands continuously. (Photo: Getty)

Patients who are already infected receive treatment while they are isolated from the rest of the hospital.

According to the advice of the WHO, to prevent its spread, avoid contact close with people suffering from acute respiratory infections.

In addition, people should wash their hands frequently, especially after direct contact with sick people or their surroundings, and avoid unprotected contact with farm or wild animals.

On the other hand, those with acute respiratory infections should keep their distance with the rest of the people, cover their mouths when coughing and sneeze with tissues or clothes, and wash their hands.

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