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On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency, that is, a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). The UN health agency on February 12, 2020, announced that “COVID-19” will be the official name of the deadly virus from China, saying that the disease represented a “very grave threat” for the world, but there was a “realistic chance” of stopping it. The letter “co” stands for “corona”, “vi” for “virus”, and “d” for “disease”, while “19” was for the year, as the outbreak was first identified on December 31, 2019.
World Health Organization Chief Tedros said, “The name has been chosen to avoid references to a specific geographical location, animal species, or group of people, in line with international recommendations for naming aimed at preventing stigmatization.” WHO had earlier given the virus the temporary name of “2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease”, and China’s National Health Commission this week said it was temporarily calling it “novel coronavirus pneumonia”, or NCP.
As of February 11, 2020, 43,103 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed globally. A total of 42,708 cases have been confirmed in China, and 395 cases have been confirmed outside China. Increasing evidences demonstrate the link between the 2019-nCoV and other similar known coronaviruses (CoV) circulating in bats, and more specifically those of the Rhinolophus bat sub-species. These sub-species are abundant and widely present in southern China and across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Recent studies indicate that more than 500 CoVs have been identified in bats in China. However, the route of transmission to humans at the start of this event remains unclear. Bats are rare in markets in China, but hunted and sold directly to restaurants for food. The current most likely hypothesis is that, an intermediary host animal has played a role in the transmission. So far, the main clinical signs and symptoms reported in this outbreak include fever, difficulty in breathing, and chest radiographs showing bilateral lung infiltrates.
Recommendations made by the World Health Organization have been summarized into seven major ones:
1) There is no reason for measures that unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade. WHO doesn’t recommend limiting trade and movement.
2) Support countries with weaker health systems.
3) Accelerate the development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics.
4) Combat the spread of rumors and misinformation.
5) Review preparedness plans, identify gaps, and evaluate the resources needed to identify, isolate, and care for cases, and prevent transmission.
6) Share data, knowledge, and experience with WHO and the world.
7) The only way we will defeat this outbreak is for all countries to work together in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation.
What the public needs to know (Source: World Health Organization)
• Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases like 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.
How to protect yourself
Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness, such as coughing and sneezing.
• Wash your hands frequently: Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand rub if your hands are not visibly dirty.
Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub eliminates the virus if it is on your hands.
• Practice respiratory hygiene: When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue—discard tissue immediately into a closed bin and clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
Why? Covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing prevents the spread of germs and viruses. If you sneeze or cough into your hands, you may contaminate objects or people that you touch.
• Maintain social distancing: Maintain at least three-feet distance between yourself and other people, particularly those who are coughing, sneezing, and have a fever.
Why? When someone who is infected with a respiratory disease like 2019-nCoV coughs or sneezes, they project small droplets containing the virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the virus.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.
Why? Hands touch many surfaces that may be contaminated with the virus. If you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with your contaminated hands, you can transfer the virus from the surface to yourself.
• If you have fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early: Tell your health care provider if you have traveled in an area iwhere 2019-nCoV has been reported, or if you have been in close contact with someone who has traveled and has respiratory symptoms.
Why? Whenever you have fever, cough, and difficulty breathing it’s important to seek medical attention promptly, as this may be due to a respiratory infection or other serious condition. Respiratory symptoms with fever can have a range of causes, and depending on your personal travel history and circumstances, 2019-nCoV could be one of them.
• As a general precaution, practice general hygiene measures when visiting live animal markets, wet markets, or animal product markets.
Ensure regular hand washing with soap and potable water after touching animals and animal products; avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth with hands; and avoid contact with sick animals or spoiled animal products. Strictly avoid any contact with other animals in the market (e.g., stray cats and dogs, rodents, birds, bats). Avoid contact with potentially contaminated animal waste or fluids on the soil or structures of shops and market facilities.
• Avoid consumption of raw or undercooked animal products.
Handle raw meat, milk, or animal organs with care to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods, as per good food safety practices.
• Avoid xenophobia associated with coronavirus.
The novel coronavirus outbreak, originating in the city of Wuhan, Hubei, China, in mid-December 2019, has led to increased prejudice, xenophobia, and racism against those who are Chinese, including suggestions on social media to cull the Chinese race and “burn down” China to stop the epidemic. However, it is not acceptable to single out Chinese, Asians, or international students and treat them like walking coronavirus pathogens.
