The Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) out-break
With its rapid spread around the world, the nCoV coronavirus worries and raises questions. Is it safe to travel to china ? What are its modes of transmission. First appearing in China in December 2019, the 2019-nCoV coronavirus started spreading worldwide the following month. The number of people infected with the new respiratory coronarovirus (2019-nCoV) continues to increase very rapidly. As of January 28, 2020, 4,515 cases have been officially confirmed and at least 106 people have died from the disease in China. The total number of people infected would be much higher.
Where did it start ?
In fact, the first contaminations took place on the Wuhan market, which specializes in seafood, but which also sells birds, snakes, rabbits and their internal organs. Experts then confirmed that human-to-human spread through the respiratory tract was also possible.
What is the 2019-nCoV ?
Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Coronaviruses are a large family of zoonotic (meaning they are transmitted between animals and people) viruses that are known to cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
The alarming symptoms
Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Symptoms are variable (fever, cold, sore throat, cough, and sometimes difficulty breathing).
What can be done to reduce the transmission risk of Coronavirus-2019 transmission ?
Stay cautious about your basic hygiene
Most often, coronaviruses are transmitted by respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.
Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.
A challenge for the Chinese health system
Drastic measures have been taken by the Chinese government which has restricted all entry and exit from Hubei Province in central China. Since January 23 the city of Wuhan (epicenter of the epidemic), and 12 other major cities in Hubei have been quarantined (about 40 million people) and public transport (planes, buses, subways, trains and maritime transport) have been suspended. Transport and movement of people around the rest of the country has also been severely restricted. Public gatherings were prohibited, including visits to cultural sites (for example, the Lama temple in Beijing).
In the past two decades, China has rapidly strengthened its capacity to prepare for and respond to public health threats and, in the face of the latest challenge, moved swiftly to investigate the cause, isolate patients and trace their close contacts. Authorities also closed the implicated market and are conducting environmental assessments.
Consequences for the traveler
Follow the development of the epidemic and comply with the recommendations of local authorities, including travel bans (cities in quarantine). The CDC (USA) recommends postponing any non-emergency trip to China. Avoid crowds and wear a mask in public places. Avoid going to live or dead animal / fish / poultry farms and markets. Wash and disinfect your hands often, and avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth. Avoid contact with the sick and coughing people. Eat well cooked meat, poultry and eggs. If symptoms appear (fever, cough, respiratory discomfort) up to 14 days after a trip to China, consult a doctor quickly (wear a mask) and specify your trip.
However, It is not already doomsday
The disease is often mild but more rarely, can lead to severe damage to the respiratory tract which can be fatal, especially in people with chronic diseases. There is currently no specific treatment and management is symptomatic. New specific antiviral drugs are being studied (common antivirals such as oseltamivir, baloxavir, ribavirin and aciclovir appear to be ineffective).
You can still eat in your favorite chinese restaurant ; when the meat is cooked, the viruses are destroyed. However, as of now, you should avoid eating raw meat or fish, whether or not from China. Consumption of undercooked animal products, including milk and meat, poses a significant risk of infection by a wide variety of organisms that can cause human diseases.
Our source links :
http://www.safetravel.ch/safetravel2/servlet/ch.ofac.wv.wv203j.pages.Wv203ActualitesCtrl?action=showActu&refActu=002881
https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-statement-on-ihr-emergency-committee-on-novel-coronavirus
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