CORONAVIRUS

WHAT IS CORONAVIRUS?

As per WHO (World Health Organisation); Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.  

Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans. 

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. 

Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.

WHAT IS COVID-19?

It is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that has never been encountered before. Like other coronaviruses, it has come from animals. Many of those initially infected either worked or frequently shopped in the Huanan seafood wholesale market in the center of the Chinese city.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS THIS CORONAVIRUS CAUSES?

The virus can cause pneumonia. Those who have fallen ill are reported to suffer coughs, fever and breathing difficulties. In severe cases there can be organ failure. As this is viral pneumonia, antibiotics are of no use. The antiviral drugs we have against flu will not work. Recovery depends on the strength of the immune system. Many of those who have died were already in poor health.

Corona viruses are circulating in animals and some of these coronaviruses have the capability of transmitting between animals and humans. We call that a spillover event. The coronaviruses typically cause respiratory symptoms. So we recommend basic hand hygiene, such as washing your hands with soap and water and respiratory hygiene, such as when you sneeze, sneezing into your elbow. Ways to protect yourself against a potential animal source would be to avoid unnecessary unprotected contact with live animals and to make sure that you wash your hands thoroughly after contact with animals and also to make sure your meat is cooked thoroughly before consuming.

CORONAVIRUS AND INDIA

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus has now gone up to 34 in India. Till Friday, the number was 31 which went up today after three more people tested positive on today — two are from Ladakh with travel history to Iran and one is from Tamil Nadu who had visited Oman. Earlier in the day, PM Modi reviewed the situation on coronavirus and action taken so far by various ministries. He also directed that an immediate exercise be taken up to identify sufficient locations for quarantine and also for critical care provisioning in case the disease spread. He also instructed officials to plan for early testing and evacuation of Indians from Iran.

PM Modi requested the people to consult doctors in case they have any doubts. He said that the entire world is now picking up the habit of saying ‘Namaste’, so if for any reason we Indians might have left the habit, then it is the right time to resume saying ‘Namaste’, instead of shaking hands.

A flight from Tehran brought swab samples of Indians in Iran who are suspected of having virus infection. The flight landed at around 5.30 am, and returned with many Iranian nationals at around 1030 am on Saturday. The Indian government also discussed with the Iranian authorities and a ferry flight with 300 swabs of Indians suspected to have contracted the coronavirus infection from Tehran will be arriving in Delhi soon. This plane operated by Iran’s Mahan Air would not be carrying any passengers and would ferry Iranians from India on its way back to Tehran.