Is China’s Coronavirus a New Global Pandemic?
Coronavirus, assumed to have been originated from Wuhan, is spreading all over the world, even after a number of preventive and draconian measures being taken by the authorities of different nations. As of Tuesday, the total number of deaths occurred is confirmed to be 106 since December 31- the day the outbreak was announced. Reports show that there are at least 4515 infections, including 1771 new cases. According to public health experts in Hong Kong, there could be more carriers of the deadly coronavirus in China.
Two experts from HKU (The University of Hong Kong) said that around 44000 people may already have been infected with coronavirus and the number is expected to double by the end of the last week of Jan.
The two HKU experts, after analysing the available data, said that Chongqing could be the next most affected city after Wuhan. They also warned about the spread of infection to other cities having direct and transportation links to Wuhan. These include Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
Taking into account the increasing number of infected people, Leung- a Harvard-trained doctor, called for draconian measures to limit population mobility and human-to-human contagion. He also said that countries need to be prepared as the coronavirus has greater chances of becoming a global pandemic. His gave this statement after noticing that quarantine measures that have been implemented so far made a limited effect on millions of people.
Measures being taken
- Wuhan has been sealed off by Chinese authorities.
- Around 56 million people have been lockdown in Hubei and around 20 cities have been closed off to prevent the spreading of the virus.
- Construction of at least two makeshift hospitals in Wuhan has been ordered buy Beijing and is expected to be completed in February beginning. According to the NHC (National Health Commission), 10000 hospital beds have already been reserved for infected patients.
- Travel restrictions have been applied to limit the mobility of infected people.
- Airports around the world have been following screening measures and some countries are working to evacuate their citizens from China.
On Tuesday, after having a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed his confidence in China’s ability to contain and control the outbreak that was first noticed in late December 2019. And according to a top infectious disease expert at Duke-National University- Dr Linfa Wang, the upcoming two weeks are highly crucial for determining whether China’s current response to the outbreak is working or not. He said this after noticing that the incubation period of coronavirus can last up to two weeks.
Ma Xioaowei- director of the National Health Commission said that they will be able to control the spread of the death-causing virus with lower costs and at a faster rate as strict measures have been taken by a number of localities in the country.
Know more about the quickly spreading virus- Coronavirus
According to WHO, coronaviruses are a group of viruses that can lead to illnesses varying from the minor ones like the common cold to more severe conditions like MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). These kinds of viruses are usually transmitted from animals to people.
SARS was transmitted from civet cats while MERS was transmitted from a particular type of camel. Even there are many coronaviruses that have been diagnosed in animals but have not infected humans.
Symptoms of coronavirus
The common signs of coronavirus include cough, fever and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, it can lead to kidney failure, pneumonia, acute respiratory syndrome, and even death.
Though the accurate incubation period is unknown, it is expected to be between 10-14 days. No doubt the virus is death causing, it is not as deadly as other types of coronaviruses such as SARS and MERS.
Where did the virus originate?
Though Chinese health authorities are still trying to determine the exact origin of the virus, it has been assumed to come from a seafood market in Wuhan where wildlife was also traded illegally.
According to WHO, an animal source is most likely to be the main source of the outbreak.
As far as the global emergency of the virus is concerned, it is an emergency in China, but it has not yet become a global health emergency.
How the Coronavirus can be prevented?
No vaccine is currently available to prevent the coronavirus infection. However, there are some preventive measures recommended by WHO which people should follow to reduce the chances of infection.
- Wash hands frequently with an alcohol-based soap or hand rub.
- Cover nose while sneezing and coughing, throw the used tissue away immediately and wash hands properly.
- Avoid close contact with anyone who has a fever and cough.
- Seek medical care immediately and share travel history in case you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above.
- Avoid direct and unprotected contact with live animals while visiting live markets.
- Avoid the consumption of undercooked or raw animal products.
The worldwide scenario of coronavirus
- The Wuhan coronavirus has spread to 22 countries and territories worldwide. The number of confirmed cases as of January 30, 2020 13:00 UTC is 7,921 and the death count is 170.
- Five cases of the mysterious coronavirus have been confirmed in the United States. Among these 1 is in Arizona, 2 in California and 1 in Washington.
- In Germany, Japan and Vietnam, the cases have been reported in the patients who didn’t personally visit China, but got the virus from someone else who had visited Wuhan. According to the WHO, such a human to human transmission is the most worrisome.
Coronavirus in India
The first confirmed case of coronavirus in India was reported on January 30 in Kerala. The patient is a female student at Wuhan University and has been tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The patient is stable and is being closely monitored. And now, 806 people in Kerala are under observation at present. There are also three suspected cases of the novel virus in Delhi.
While the nations are trying their best to prevent the spreading of the virus, the scientists are working hard to identify the strain of the coronavirus and are looking for a possible cure.