The toll of people getting diagnosed with coronavirus is climbing since December. According to the latest figures, as of now, more than 37,000 confirmed cases have been recorded worldwide. At least, 811 cases of death from coronavirus have been confirmed.It has killed more people than SARS though the fatality rate of corona virus is still very low as that of SARS.
Wuhan has been the epicentre of the outbreak and the majority of death and illness have been recorded in one of its province, Hubei. So far, illness has been spread to 25 countries. Scientists have been racing to understand the disease caused by a coronavirus, Covid-19 which has now become the most pandemic of the 21st century. The number of cases is 10 times higher than that of SARS that caused 6 months of the epidemic in 2003.
A Glance at How Dangerous is Coronavirus
As compared to SARS, the Covid-19 transmits between humans more readily although it is less virulent. On an average basis, 2.5 people are getting infected in the early stages of the epidemic. However, the Chinese authorities have reduced the reproduction number greatly through their actions like isolating the traces and tracing the contacts.
Severe respiratory illness has been diagnosed in about 20 per cent of the patients due to coronavirus. It has already killed 2-3 per cent of them. The immune defences get declined with the age and that is why older people are much more vulnerable than the young people.
What Happens on Getting Infected
• Within the lower respiratory tract, the virus multiplies after which symptoms develop. The early symptoms are a cough and fever. Some people recover within a few days but 20 per cent of the people go on developing the illness like pneumonia. The lungs get inflamed and to help in breathing, they may need a respirator.
• In severe cases, the immune system overdrives and the body cells and proteins get overwhelmed and start destroying other organs.
Any Drug and Vaccine Developed
There is no existing drug is designed to treat the coronavirus although some antiviral medicines may help in alleviating the symptoms. In China, doctors are giving the drugs normally which are given to HIV infected people.
Understand How does the Virus is Spreading
In order to catch the Covid-19, the person has to be physically close to the infected individual. A significant amount of virus sheds through sneezing or coughing. The respiratory infections are most commonly caused by the viral particles which travel very swiftly through the air. Various members of the family and other workers surrounding the infected individual are the most vulnerable to the infection without a good barrier of protection and with close contact.
Catching Infection Through Air Travel
• It is true that if you are travelling close to a person who is shedding some symptoms of infections in the air cabin, you could be infected. Through cabin air circulation, the germs spread even if you are sitting two rows away from the infected person. However, modern planes have the efficiency to remove any sort of viral particle from the air.
• At the departure gate, you will be at the main risk seeing the proximity of the queue. It is worth washing your hands with an alcohol-based hand wash so that you are smaller risk of getting infected after using a surface common to many people.
According to the World Health Organization, the incubation period between the symptom and infection appears to range from 2 to 14 days. Perhaps, a minimum of 5 days is the most common.Crash programmes are in action to develop a vaccine which prevents the coronavirus, Covid-19 infections.
