The outbreak of deadly Coronavirus in Wuhan city of China is a cause of major worry, with the epidemic spreading at a faster pace. China has so far confirmed 139 cases and 3 deaths caused due to this new strain of the virus.

The respiratory illness which mimics pneumonia has put neighbouring Asian countries on high alert, with Thailand, Japan and India announcing a high alert at the key airports.

In India, the passengers travelling from China are being scanned to identify the disease-carrying people at various ports of entry and the health authorities have announced that all arrangements are being made to tackle the situation.

The coronavirus is a new strain of the virus that belongs to the family Coronaviridae and sub-family Coronavirinae. It is a zoonotic virus which means that it can be transmitted between animals and humans. Also Read: Nipah Virus: Read to know about sources and symptoms

Coronavirus

These viruses are responsible for a host of illnesses ranging from the trivial common cold to the much more serious Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MeRS – CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS – CoV). They act by incorporating their viral RNA genetic material with the host’s DNA genetic material and slowly progress to many organs in the system of the individual who has contracted the coronavirus. In fact, there are still numerous types of coronavirus that are yet to be discovered which are circulating amongst animals and have not yet affected humans.

One such novel strain of this deadly virus was recently identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) officials in Wuhan city, Hubei province of China at the beginning of the year 2020. Due to its dangerous characteristics, immediate research was conducted by Chinese scientists and a novel coronavirus (n-CoV) was determined to be the trigger factor behind the spate of respiratory illnesses currently plaguing many people in China.

In order for people in India to prevent infections by this new strain of coronavirus and in case the disease arises in any individual, every single person should be aware of the signs, symptoms, prevention and medical care strategies, in order to ensure prompt treatment and complete recovery of the affected individual.

Symptoms:

The distinguishing symptoms of the coronavirus infection are similar to upper respiratory tract infections and comprise the following:

Diagnosis And Treatment:

The diagnosis of coronavirus infection is quite challenging to doctors, as the typical symptoms resemble that of a common cold or a viral fever. Also Read: Influenza Virus: Debunking Common Myths About The Contagious Disease

However, when there is an epidemic of the virus, the countries wherein it could spread are placed on high alert and the WHO even lays travel restrictions, warning tourists to avoid visiting those countries where the virus is prevalent at the time.

Due to the strain of coronavirus being very resilient, no efficient treatment method has been uncovered yet. Antibiotics cannot combat viruses and antivirals designed thus far have not been effective in destroying the viral strain in the system of the infected patient.

The best way to avoid the complications and myriad respiratory illnesses arising from coronaviruses is prevention. The WHO strongly advises children, youngsters and the elderly to regularly wash hands with a sanitizing liquid and use pollution masks if the person is living in regions where instances of coronavirus infection have been detected in humans.