This virus from China, Wuhan city, is causing panic. Millions of people are in quarantine. Review of this Coronavirus 2019-nCoV, what are the symptoms, the means of transmission, the treatments and advice. Our experts take up the subject.
Coronaviruses a family of 7 members including 3 fatal
Coronavirus infections do not necessarily lead to death (3 out of 7 strains have caused death) and symptoms may also be mild. Symptoms in humans linked to a coronavirus infection are similar to a respiratory infection which can be more or less serious, including a runny nose, headache, cough, etc. Symptoms of gastroenteritis are also sometimes possible. Coronaviruses are transmitted by air (spraying saliva, mucus, etc.) or by contamination of objects (an infected person touches a handful with unwashed hands, etc.). Animals are sometimes even asymptomatic vectors of this type of virus, particularly bats. Dogs and cats can also be affected by coronaviruses.
The Chinese coronavirus, what origin?
The Coronavirus from a Wuhan food market may have originated, although it remains to be confirmed, from wild meat from a snake. This animal would be a reservoir for coronaviruses like the bat. Wuhan City and the affected market have been placed in isolation to prevent the spread of the virus. However, other countries such as Japan and Korea have confirmed cases of infected individuals. Since the beginning of the epidemic, several cities in China have been quarantined and the Chinese New Year festivities have been canceled in the cities most affected because the virus is transmitted from man to man, the wearing of a mask is therefore recommended.
The virus is considered an emergency in China, but it is premature, according to the WHO, to speak of a global public health emergency epidemic. France has planned to set up a rapid diagnostic test in hospitals to identify cases if there are any in France. This test, performed on samples of respiratory origin, is developed by the National Reference Center for respiratory infection viruses (including influenza) at the Institut Pasteur.
What are the symptoms of this coronavirus?
Treatments and advice:
The world health organization advises to limit contamination:
- Avoid close contact with people with acute respiratory infections;
- Wash your hands frequently, especially after direct contact with a sick person or their environment;
- Avoid unprotected contact with farm animals or wild animals;
Coronavirus 2019-nCoV is a new strain, but it is not the 1st coronavirus causing death and spreading rapidly. It is important to respect the hygiene measures recommended by the authorities. In France there are no confirmed cases at this time.
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