Coronaviruses are types of viruses that typically affect the respiratory tracts of birds and mammals, including humans. Doctors associate them with the common cold, bronchitis, pneumonia, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and they can also affect the gut.Over the last 70 years, scientists have found that coronaviruses can infect mice, rats, dogs, cats, turkeys, horses, pigs, and cattle. Sometimes, these animals can transmit coronaviruses to humans
Most recently, authorities identified a new coronavirus outbreak in China that has now reached other countries. It has the name coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19.
WHAT IS CORONA VIRUS?
The name “coronavirus” comes from the crown-like projections on their surfaces. “Corona” in Latin means “halo” or “crown.”
Among humans, coronavirus infections most often occur during the winter months and early spring. People regularly become ill with a cold due to a coronavirus and may catch the same one about 4 months later.
This is because coronavirus antibodies do not last for a long time. Also, the antibodies for one strain of coronavirus may be ineffective against another one.
SYMPTOMS:
Cold- or flu-like symptoms usually set in from 2–4 days after a coronavirus infection and are typically mild. However, symptoms vary from person-to-person, and some forms of the virus can be fatal.
Symptoms include:
sneezing
runny nose
fatigue
cough
fever in rare cases
sore throat
exacerbated asthma
TREATMENT AND PRECAUTION:
There is no cure, so treatments include self-care and over-the-counter (OTC) medication. People can take several steps, including:
- resting and avoiding overexertion
2.drinking enough water
avoiding smoking and smoky areas
3.taking acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen for pain and fever
4. using a clean humidifier or cool mist vaporize. A doctor can diagnose the virus responsible by taking a sample of respiratory fluids, such as mucus from the nose, or blood. TYPES:
Doctors currently recognize seven types of coronavirus that can infect humans.
Common types include:
229E (alpha coronavirus)
NL63 (alpha coronavirus)
OC43 (beta coronavirus)
HKU1 (beta coronavirus)
Rarer strains that cause more severe complications include MERS-CoV, which causes Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and SARS-CoV, the virus responsible for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
In 2019, a dangerous new strain called SARS-CoV-2 started circulating, causin
IMPACT:
The latest figures, based on WHO and national counts:
Mainland China: 2,870 deaths among 79,824 cases, mostly in the central province of Hubei — Hong Kong: 94 cases, 2 deaths
—Macao: 10 cases
— South Korea: 3,736 cases, 20 deaths
— Italy: 1,576 cases, 34 deaths
— Iran: 978 cases, 54 deaths
— Japan: 961 cases, including 705 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, 12 deaths
— Singapore: 106 cases
— France: 100 cases, 2 deaths
— United States: 72 cases, 1 death
— Spain: 71 cases
— Germany: 66
— Kuwait: 45 cases
— Thailand: 42 cases, 1 death
— Taiwan: 40 cases, 1 death
— Bahrain: 38 cases
— United Kingdom: 35 cases, 1 death
— Malaysia: 29 cases
— Australia: 23 cases, 1 death
— United Arab Emirates: 21 cases
— Canada: 20
— Iraq: 19
— Norway: 17
— Vietnam: 16
— Sweden: 13
— Netherlands: 10
— Switzerland: 10
— Greece: 7
— Lebanon: 7
— Croatia: 7
— Oman: 6
— Austria: 5
— Finland: 5
— Israel: 5
— Russia: 5
— Mexico: 4
— Pakistan: 4
— Czech Republic: 3
— India: 3
— Philippines: 3 cases, 1 death
— Romania: 3 cases
— Belarus: 2
— Belgium: 2
— Brazil: 2
— Denmark: 2
— Georgia: 2
— Algeria: 1
— Afghanistan: 1
— Armenia 1
— Azerbaijan: 1
— Cambodia: 1
— Dominican Republic: 1
— Ecuador: 1
— Egypt: 1
— Estonia: 1
— Iceland: 1
— Ireland: 1
— Lithuania: 1
— Monaco: 1
— Nepal: 1
— New Zealand: 1
— Nigeria: 1
— North Macedonia: 1
— Qatar: 1
— San Marino: 1
— Sri Lanka: 1
BE HEALTHY 