The
current outbreak of the new 2019 Novel Corona virus (2019 n-Cov) has caught
many major countries around the world. China, its country of origin, South
Korea, Italy and Iran are some of the heavily affected areas.
Panic
spread in India after 15 Italian tourists and their Indian driver were
infected. You can find the current affairs number on the Government of India
website. The government is taking preventive measures like universal screening
of passengers at airports to keep the spread under control. Several
laboratories are expected to open for testing and research on n-Cov.
Amidst
all this, many health care experts are releasing updates to keep the public
informed and prepared. Corona virus information is floating everywhere, and it
is up to people to read and take precautionary measures to protect themselves
from the virus.
In
this blog, we take a deep dive to learn about COVID-19, corrected by its
symptoms, how it is transmitted, and not to do some hard work to prevent.
Are you infected with corona virus?
The
2019 n-COV belongs to a large family of corona viruses, which cause serious
illnesses ranging from the common cold to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-Cov) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-Cov).
And the worst thing about this new virus is that it has no specific symptoms.
Mild health problems - such as cough, sneezing, fever, and
difficulty breathing are some symptoms of infection. In some cases however,
there may be no symptoms. An infected virus can be a carrier, infecting many
others in the process, without itself being infected. Alternatively, infected pneumonia can develop
severe cases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, even
death.
So
if you are dealing with a cough and a cold this season, the only way to know if
you are infected with corona virus is to consult a health care professional. As
of now, there is no standard, direct test for the 2019 N-Cove. But, the virus
can be detected by running a series of tests.
How is COVID-19 Transmitted?
Researchers
have not yet been able to uncover the exact dynamics of virus transmission.
However, there are some channels through which this happens
- Through drops made after an infected person coughs or sneezes.
- Consumption of animal products virus.
- Contact infected animal/
- Through public places, especially during public transport, meetings, gatherings etc.
What you have to Do and Don’t to protect yourself from 2019 n-Cov?
Here
are some ways to protect yourself from an epidemic:
Maintain cleanliness
Wash
your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Scrub carefully between fingers and
nails. Use hand washes, sanitizers and alcohol sterilizers to clean your hands
and do not touch your nose or mouth otherwise.
Keep a safe distance from sick people
Avoid
direct physical contact with sick people, especially those with flu, cold,
cough or respiratory problems.
Cover your mouth
When
you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with a mask, cloth or tissue paper. Also,
if you are ill, use a medical mask. To sterilize the mask or cloth, heat it.
Heat your food well
Consumption
of infected animal products can cause virus infection. The virus cannot survive
at high temperatures. Thus, you should heat your food properly before consuming
it.
Seek medical care
There
is always initial medical care from the health care profession, even in cases
of common, mild symptoms such as cough, sneezing, fever, or difficulty
breathing. Self preventive care is helpful in these cases.
A list of things you should avoid:
Touching your face
The
virus enters our body through the nose and mouth. If you have touched an infected
area, especially in public places, your hands may be infected. Thus, avoid
touching your face before washing them properly.
Direct contact with animals
Avoid
unnecessary, direct contact with animals. The virus can be transmitted from
animals to humans. Therefore, if you have pets, you need to take care of
hygiene properly.
Do not travel when you are sick
Make
sure you are healthy before the trip. If you are not, seek medical attention
immediately. Avoid going to public places, buses and sharing taxis when fever,
cough, sneezing.
Do not take medicines without a prescription
Eating
common antibiotics does not help with 2019 n-Cov infection. If you are feeling
unwell, you should only take medicines prescribed by a health care
professional.
As
always, prevention is better than cure. And keeping the above suggestions in
mind, you and those close to you can protect against corona virus infection.
Stay healthy, and take care!
