#coronaviruses cause respiratory illnesses such as the common cold. Symptoms are typically mild to moderate but can cause pneumonia and bronchitis. Common amongst animals worldwide, but only a handful of them are known to affect humans ➡️
#Cornoavirus #Corona #Epidemic #pandemic
#Cornoavirus #Corona #Epidemic #pandemic
Rarely, coronaviruses can evolve & spread from animals to humans. Happening now as the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) & the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-Cov), both of which are known to cause more severe symptoms ➡️
Since Dec 2019, the virus has spread to other countries, including #Thailand, #Japan, #Korea & #UnitedStates. National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Dr Zafar Mirza, has rejected the claim that #Pakistan had diagnosed its first case of the #coronavirus ➡️
Comparing 2019-nCoV with the genetic sequences of more than 200 #coronaviruses that infect various animals in the world, scientists suggested that 2019-nCoV likely originated in #snakes in #China.
#Microbiologists like me would understand that a change to one of the viral proteins in 2019-nCoV allowed the #coronavirus to recognize & bind to receptors on certain host cells which may have helped the virus hop to humans. Same happened in case of #Swineflu H1N1 in 2009 ➡️
In order for #coronavirus to spread (pandemic) in humans, it needs to do 3 things:
1) Infect humans (animals to human tranfer)
2) Replicate or reproduce in human cells
3) Spread among humans in the shortest time ➡️
1) Infect humans (animals to human tranfer)
2) Replicate or reproduce in human cells
3) Spread among humans in the shortest time ➡️
Symptoms of the new #coronavirus include fever, cough & difficulty breathing. Which are similar to those caused by SARS. There are no specific treatment & mostly people will recover on their own.There is no vaccine for the new coronavirus but there is no need to panic either ➡️
#China has "lockdown" certain areas to prevent #coronavirus becoming Pandemic. This lockdown affected about 35 million people. Major airports in the U.S. including in #Pakistan are conducting screenings to make sure incoming passengers aren't infected ➡️
Prevention methods include avoiding animal markets & uncooked meat. Wash hands often with soap & water for at least 20 secs. If you suspect an infecrion, wear a face mask, cover your coughs & sneezes & wash your hands. Report & seek treatment ➡️
#France is the first country in Europe to report the #coronavirus infections. #Australia #UnitedStates #Malaysia #Nepal, #Vietnam #Singapore #Japan #SouthKorea, #Taiwan #Thailand reported cases too indicating a Pandemic situation now. All patients had travelled to #China ➡️
A sad news for China as the #ChineseNewYear celebrations begin. Shanghai #Disneyland , one of the biggest tourist attractions in China shutting down on Saturday to prevent epidemic of #coronoavirus. Shanghai Huangpu River Cruise & Great Wall of China closing too ➡️
When it comes to emerging infectious diseases sp those newly recognized in humans, it's not only what we know that matters but also what we do not know. I'd say concern is warranted, panic is not. It can become a threat but now just focus on staying healthy & alert. #microbiology
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