Introduction
Like a deer caught in the glace of headlights, ‘germophobia’ has frozen public life across the globe. Rumours and fear- psychosis about COVID-19 are spreading like wild fire through multi- media, derailing public life everywhere in the world.
I think, we Indians, being the most sensible people in the world, should scavenge the truth and most effective preventive measures from the garbage of rumours and colourful lies about this virus, which has reached pandemic proportions.As per WHO latest reports, world is confronted with a fast spreading Corona virus, the count of affected patients as on 12 March, is 1,27,863.But if we examine the mortality rate, its 4718 till date, which means about 3.7%.
The earlier epidemic viruses which shook the world were Ebola, SARS, Nipah and now COVID 19. All these deadly viruses ensured that their hapless victims are more exposed to termination. Ebola had a mortality rate of about 25% and SARS , approximately 22%. Nipah also proved to be a deadly virus. This statistics points out a reliable conclusion. The much more hyped COVID-29, is not a killer, than other new viruses which swept across few countries. Even road accident casualties are more than this pandemic.
An interesting thought struck my mind today morning. Many thousands of years, man had been hunting and massacring animals and birds ,sometimes for food, mostly for fun and sports. Perhaps mother Nature is hitting the man kind hard as a back lash, for all the atrocities perpetrated against the Animal World – through mutant and deadly virus emerged from the animals and birds. “Poetic Justice”.
The rumours about the COVID-19 virus are agog that there is no dearth of doomsday predictors and self- styled bio- research scholars.
Myths and Facts
Lets review few myths which are ruling the roost in multi-media forums.
Myth-1: Alcohol is an effective remedy for Corona Virus. So every day consumption of Alcohol is a good preventive measure.
Truth – Alcohol based hand sanitizer is quite effective against the virus. Consuming Alcohol is not a prevention.
Myth-2: Wearing masks are effective.
Truth- It’s not required for us to wear masks always and as we think of it, it could be counter- productive if we fiddle with the mask with infected hands and fingers. Its more prudent for the infected person to wear masks. As a matter of fact, even if we wear a mask, your eyes are not protected from the spraying droplets of cough or sneeze from a man standing nearby.
Myth-3: If you go near an infected man the virus will contaminate you.
Truth – The virus can only contaminate through droplets, not through air. Hence if we keep away 2 meter distance from the infected person, you got nothing to fear. However, keep away from any man who is sneezing or coughing, as a precaution.
Myth-4: The virus get infected through touch or standing nearby.
Truth- WHO says maximum contamination happened by carelessness of people. Virus is easily transferred by touching any objects where droplets sneezed by a patient has fallen. Virus stays 10 hours on such objects. If only, you bring your contaminated fingers to your face, the virus get infected. Since its a involuntary action, it is very difficult to control this habit.
Myth-5: It’s good to avoid non- vegetarian food, especially birds like chicken.
Truth- Eating properly cooked meat or fish, negates all probability of infection, even if the Corona Virus is there on the meat, perhaps left by the butcher. Such risks are existing for vegetarians too, who especially eat fresh salads, hence the requirement to thoroughly clean it before consumption.
Myth-6: The virus can’t survive in hot climate and high temperature.
Truth- The virus was spreading in Singapore and Iran , where the temperature was comparatively hot. There is no scientific proof to authenticate this belief. Perhaps the hot weather helps to reduce lung infection better than in damp and cold environment.
Preventive Measures At Home and Elsewhere
What precautions are necessary for family members of a person in home quarantine?
We need to nominate one designated family member to interact with the quarantined COVID 19 suspect, who needs to wear surgical mask and gloves at all times. All physical contact should be scrupulously avoided ,including sharing of linen. Visitors are strictly not allowed. In case the quarantined person becomes symptomatic, all his/ her close contacts will be home quarantined ( for 14 days) and followed up for an additional 14 days or till the report of such cases turn negative on lab testing- WHO guidelines. An important factor of home quarantine is disinfection and cleaning of all surfaces possibly contacted by the person with 1% sodium hypochlorite solution. Toilet surfaces have to be cleaned with phenolic disinfectants or other household bleaching solutions. Cloths have to be washed separately, after having soaked in the same solution with gloved hands.
Home quarantine should be preferably done in a confined ,well- ventilated single room , with attached bathroom and toilet. If another family member needs to stay in the same room, always maintain a safe distance of at least 1 meter from the quarantined person, though it’s very difficult. The quarantined person should be kept away from people having enhanced risk- elder people, persons with Asthma, pregnant women, small kids. As a matter of fact , in China the epicenter of Corona out- break, only 2% of the patients have been below age 20. It’s important that the quarantined person should always wear mask and totally avoid touching any objects which can be touched by the family members. The used masks should be washed in a similar disinfectant, or burnt.
Conclusion
As of now, there are 74 confirmed cases of COVID 19, and one death reported in India. There could be thousands of infected persons ,not medically reported in India, who could be silently spreading the virus in their own communities. Till date an effective vaccine has not been invented.
The safest bet to keep away the epidemic, as of now, is to avoid contact with public as much as possible , keep washing your hands with sanitizers, after human contact. A spray- pen hand sanitizer available in the market, quite handy, is an easy solution to this situation.
Awareness is the mantra of the day. It’s wise to cancel all public gatherings, festivals and congregation of people, till the Corona virus is contained. Together we can fight this Pandemic, saving our planet from chaos.
Jai Hind
