Coronavirus
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Coronaviruses are a cluster of viruses that can infect birds, mammals, and humans too. These viruses have been responsible for several illnesses around the world starting from common cold to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus. Recently, a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) triggered an outburst in Wuhan, China in December 2019, which is a tremendous international concern.
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What is Coronavirus or Coronaviruses?
The word corona is derived from the Latin word that means crown. Coronaviruses bear spiky projections on their outer surfaces that look similar to points of a crown. The detailed reason for the spreading of coronavirus infection is not yet known, coronaviruses usually spread through droplets carrying large particles that can only be dangled in the air for three to six feet before it gets disappeared. So it’s probably the coughs or sneezes from an infected person may be the cause of spreading the virus. It is recommended to wash our hands regularly. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Eyes, nose, or mouth should not be touched with hands. The fever patient should avoid coming to work or school. It is advisable to stay away from people who have signs of a respiratory tract infection.
Coronavirus in Humans: CoronaVirus Symptom and Precautions for Safety
These viruses are termed as zoonoses, that means they can infect certain animals and easily spread from one animal to another. A coronavirus can likely spread to humans, particularly if a certain transformation in the virus occurs. Seven known coronaviruses can infect humans. The novel coronavirus was identified in 2019 that can infect humans. Data suggests that the novel coronavirus jumped from bats to humans after getting passed through an intermediate carrier. But scientists have not yet identified the contagious middleman creature.
Coronavirus Symptoms: According to the WHO, a symptom of infection include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. In more critical cases, coronavirus infection can lead to pneumonia, nausea, SARS, diarrhea, vomiting, kidney failure, and even death. People can recover within a few days, but especially the very young, elderly, or people with a weak immune system can develop a more severe infection.
Coronavirus Precautions: Scientists are working hard on a vaccine but informed it will not be available before 2021 for mass distribution. Chinese health authorities have posted their full genome in international databases for further investigation. At present, there are no approved antivirals for this particular coronavirus symptoms, so treatment is supportive. For the coronavirus affected patients, special aggressive care in an intensive care unit (ICU) can be used for lifesaving.
Coronavirus in Cats:
Feline coronaviruses (FCoVs) are found throughout the world that includes unreal infections to a highly fatal disease called feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). This is one of the most serious viral coronaviruses in cats. Both virulent and avirulent forces circulate in cat populations, and sensitive individuals that expose to the virulent strains develop the disease.
Coronavirus in Dogs:
In 1971, a canine coronavirus produces only moderate gastroenteritis in infected dogs was originally identified. Recently, strains of this enteric canine coronavirus have been identified with pantropic strains of the enteric virus. The constant evolution of canine coronavirus in dogs, throughout the collection of changes within the genome and hereditary additions or deletions, results in the growth of viruses with their tropism and virulence property. Enteric canine coronavirus in dogs is common worldwide.
Coronavirus in Horses:
Equine coronavirus (ECoV) has been found in individual animals and groups of horses. In the USA and Japan, over the last past seven years, a cause of disease disorders has been reported. The main infection signs in adult horses are anorexia, lethargy, and fever, with diarrhea and mild colic signs. The affected horses shed virus in their feces for up to 11 days and ECoV has also been detected in the feces of small numbers of healthy adult horses.
Do You Know? More Info!
Coronavirus oc43: Subtype OC43 (HCoV-OC43) is the more prevalent human coronavirus in several parts of the world. According to recent studies, these viruses can cause severe lower respiratory tract illnesses in children.
Coronavirus SARS: SARS was first reported in Asia in February 2003. The disease got spread rapidly to several countries in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is one of the viral respiratory diseases.
Coronavirus Vaccine: Around the world, scientists are trying to develop new rapid diagnostic tools that can be used. Unfortunately, there are not many effective antiviral vaccines for coronaviruses.
Coronavirus nl63: HCoV-NL63 infection causes mostly upper and sometimes lower respiratory tract infection, community-acquired pneumonia, and also croup in kids.
Coronavirus vs Rhinovirus: Rhinoviruses and coronaviruses are recognized as the major causes of the common cold syndrome. These viruses create serious respiratory illnesses resulting in hospitalization.
Coronavirus and RSV: The incident and clinical demonstration of human coronaviruses (HCoV) with respiratory tract infection (RTI) in hospitalized children of Norway and compared with a group of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-infected children.
Conclusion:
Chinese authorities have finally sealed off Wuhan and restricted travel to and from several other cities, which affected almost 60 million people. The motive is meant to “resolutely contain the momentum of the epidemic spreading” and protect lives. Many airways have canceled flights to China, few countries have even banned Chinese inhabitants from entering their place. Several more have evacuated their citizens from Wuhan.
