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ARCHIVED - Coronavirus, the facts – and a list of WHO myth-busters
Recommended precautions to reduce the risk of infection include frequent hand washing but not the use of facemasks
The Covid-19 coronavirus which is rapidly spreading from China, where the current outbreak began, to all parts of the world, and while the virus is not actually a new one its recent transmission to human beings for the first time means that not only are there no vaccines in place, but also the exact nature and behaviour of the virus is not yet fully understood.
However, there are certain aspects which scientists are sure about, and understanding them can be useful in order to ensure that people take sensible precautions without panicking in order to reduce the risk of them becoming infected.
Where does Covid-19 come from?
Most of the first cases reported late last year were linked to the South China Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan (China), where a lot of people come into close contact with animals harbouring viruses, and the dense urban population of the city (and many other parts of China) made it possible for the disease to spread rapidly once it had been transmitted to humans.
Exactly what animal was responsible for the first case is a matter of conjecture, but by way of comparison it has been established that in 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars), which is also caused by a coronavirus, started in bats and from there moved to the civet cat, which in turn passed it on to humans. The relevance of this is that Covid-19 is very similar in many ways to Sars, and is fact known technically as “Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2”.
In a sense, though, where the virus came from when it made the leap into the human race is of less immediate importance to most of us than aspects such as how it is transmitted and what measures we can take to minimize the risk to our own health.
How is Covid-19 transmitted?
It has been confirmed that human-to-human transmission of the virus occurs primarily via respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes within a range of about 6 feet, or 1.8 metres.
However, this does not mean that infection occurs only in the air: the respiratory droplets can alight on clothes, metal and glass surfaces, door handles and other objects which we are likely to touch frequently while hardly thinking about it. One study of the 2003 Sars virus found that the virus responsible could survive on plastered walls and formica for around 36 hours, on plastic and stainless steel for 72 hours and on glass for 96 hours: if this pattern is replicated from Covid-19 it means that mobile phone screens could be one of the most dangerous means of transmission.
At the moment there are no hard facts about how long the virus can survive, but it is likely to be within the same range, so the information circulating on social media is not scientifically verified.
But whatever the surfaces on which the virus alights, the main danger is that people might touch those surfaces and then raise their hands to their nose, mouth or eyes. This is a habit which it is almost impossible to avoid: a small university study in Australia found that college students touched their faces 23 times per hour!
This is the reason for the WHO and health authorities all over the world insisting that the best precaution to take is to wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, using disinfectant gel if available. Wearing facemasks is not considered especially effective, although of course it certainly won’t increase the risk (unless the mask has already been worn by an infected individual!), but in general it is not recommended except for people who are coughing or sneezing: in these cases, where they may be infected, they will help to prevent the virus from spreading to others.
In addition, of course, those who wear masks due to already existing medical conditions should continue to do so.
NOTE: One feature of Covid-19 which makes it hard to contain is that scientists believe it may be contagious before carriers develop symptoms. At present the WHO states that the incubation period lasts up to 14 days, although some researchers are suggesting that the period may be as long as 24 days.
Symptoms
Although over 80,000 cases have been diagnosed worldwide there is still no definitive description for the standard development of symptoms, but they seem to start with a fever and tiredness, followed by a dry cough. After a week or so these lead to shortness of breath and some patients require hospital treatment.
Muscle pain and headaches can also accompany the early symptoms, along with nasal congestion, sore throat or diarrhoea: in short, they are not at all dissimilar to those associated with flu.
These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing, this being most likely in older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes.(WHO says that 81% will develop mild symptoms, 14% severe symptoms and only 5% will become critically ill). At the moment, between 1 and 2% are dying from the disease, but at the moment this figure is difficult to corroborate.
Sensible precautions
The advice being issued to members of the public by medical authorities all over the world coincides on the following points:
- Wash hands frequently with either soap and water of a sanitiser gel
- Catch coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues – and throw the tissues away immediately after use before immediately washing your hands!
- If you don’t have a tissue, use your sleeve – and wash the item of clothing used at the next opportunity
- AVOID touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
- AVOID close contact with people who are unwell
What to do if you believe you may have contracted Covid -19
As yet (Monday 2nd March) no cases of the new coronavirus have been reported in the Region of Murcia and it is believed that the relatively warm climate will provide some measure of protection against it as the virus reportedly does not thrive in the heat (again, as yet this not scientifically verified as so little is currently known about the virus).
However, the Region of Murcia health authorities urge people who have reason to believe they may have contracted the virus to refrain from visiting the A&E units of hospitals or medical centres, in order to avoid the risk of spreading infection. Instead, worried individuals should call the 112 emergency services line, where they will be given specific and detailed information regarding how to react while medical staff travel to their homes in order to carry out the necessary diagnostic tests.
The Murcia Region has also activated a dedicated Coronavirus hotline on 900 12 12 12 for enquiries about the evolution of the virus.
In the meantime, continue to follow the precautionary advice offered above.
At the moment the Murcian regional authorities have not issued any guidelines advising against contact with other people, or any other guidelines relating to the virus, although it has been noted via social media that some organisers of events are cancelling trips to areas where there are known to be outbreaks (ie this mornng a local travel agent cancelled a trip to the Fallas in Valencia where there are several cases). The regional government has stated that it will issue advice when it becomes necessary to do so, but believes the risk to be low in this region due to the higher temperatures.
Myth busters
So much unsubstantiated “information” is being circulated online and on social network social sites that the World Health Organization has published a series of “myth-busters”, which are listed here.
Are hand dryers effective in killing the new coronavirus?
NO. Hand dryers are not effective in killing the 2019-nCoV. To protect yourself against the new coronavirus, you should frequently clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Once your hands are clean, you should dry them thoroughly using paper towels or a warm air dryer.
Can an ultraviolet disinfection lamp kill the new coronavirus?
UV lamps should not be used to sterilize hands or other areas of skin as UV radiation can cause skin irritation.
How effective are thermal scanners in detecting people infected with the new coronavirus?
Thermal scanners are effective in detecting people who have developed a fever (i.e. have a higher than normal body temperature) because of infection with the new coronavirus.
But they cannot detect people who are infected but are not yet sick with fever: it takes between 2 and 10 days before people who are infected become sick and develop a fever.
Can spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body kill the new coronavirus?
NO. Spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body will not kill viruses that have already entered your body. Spraying such substances can be harmful to clothes or mucous membranes (i.e. eyes, mouth).
Both alcohol and chlorine can be useful to disinfect surfaces, but they need to be used under appropriate recommendations.
Is it safe to receive a letter or a package from China?
Yes, it is safe. People receiving packages from China are not at risk of contracting the new coronavirus. From previous analyses it is known that coronaviruses do not survive long on objects such as letters or packages.
Can pets at home spread the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV)?
There is NO evidence that companion animals/pets such as dogs or cats can be infected with the new coronavirus. However, it is always a good idea to wash your hands with soap and water after contact with pets, as this protects you against various common bacteria such as E.coli and salmonella which can pass from pets to humans.
Do vaccines against pneumonia protect you against the new coronavirus?
NO. Vaccines against pneumonia, such as pneumococcal vaccine and Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) vaccine, do not provide protection against the new coronavirus.
The virus is so new and different that it needs its own vaccine. Researchers are trying to develop a vaccine against 2019-nCoV, and WHO is supporting their efforts.
On the other hand, although these vaccines are not effective against 2019-nCoV, vaccination against respiratory illnesses is highly recommended to protect your health.
Can regularly rinsing your nose with saline solution help prevent infection with the new coronavirus?
NO. There is no evidence that regularly rinsing the nose with saline has protected people from infection with the new coronavirus.
There is some limited evidence that regularly rinsing nose with saline can help people recover more quickly from the common cold, but rinsing the nose regularly has not been shown to prevent respiratory infections.
Can eating garlic help prevent infection with the new coronavirus?
Garlic is a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties. However, there is no evidence from the current outbreak that eating garlic has protected people from the new coronavirus.
Does putting on sesame oil block the new coronavirus from entering the body?
NO. Sesame oil does not kill the new coronavirus. There are some chemical disinfectants that can kill the 2019-nCoV on surfaces. These include bleach/chlorine-based disinfectants, either solvents, 75% ethanol, peracetic acid and chloroform.
However, they have little or no impact on the virus if you put them on the skin or under your nose. It can even be dangerous to put these chemicals on your skin.
Does the new coronavirus affect older people more, or are younger people also susceptible?
People of all ages can be infected by the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.
The WHO advises people of all ages to take steps to protect themselves from the virus, for example by following good hand hygiene and good respiratory hygiene.
Are antibiotics effective in preventing and treating the new coronavirus?
No, antibiotics do not work against viruses. They are effective only against bacteria.
The new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a virus and, therefore, antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment.
However, if you are hospitalized for the 2019-nCoV, you may receive antibiotics because bacterial co-infection is possible.
Are there any specific medicines to prevent or treat the new coronavirus?
To date, there is no specific medicine recommended to prevent or treat the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
However, those infected with the virus should receive appropriate care to relieve and treat symptoms, and those with severe illness should receive optimized supportive care. Some specific treatments are under investigation, and will be tested through clinical trials. The WHO is helping to accelerate research and development efforts with a range or partners.
At the moment the population in general throughout Spain should use common sense to make their own decisions regarding attendance at events, travel and the degree of contact they maintain with other people as NO guidelines have been issued by the Spanish authorities.
Information about the number of cases and their location within Spain will be published on www.murciatoday.com and shared via our own social media networks WITHOUT embellishment, WITHOUT scaremongering and WITHOUT influence, and should any official information be published by the health authorities, this will be translated and published, the intention being to maintain an information service for residents and visitors to enable them to make informed decisions about their behaviour and actions as this situation develops.
Follow Murcia Today on Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest news, events and information in the Murcia region: https://www.facebook.com/MurciaToday/
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