What more we need to know about the COVID-19 ?
OVERVIEW: Coronavirus-2019
A new strain of coronavirus
causing pneumonia-like symptoms was recently identified in Wuhan, China,
marking the beginning of the spread of the virus across the globe.
Coronaviruses (CoV), so named for their “crown-like” appearance, are a large
family of viruses that spread from animals to humans and include diseases like
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
(SARS). Researchers have now confirmed that the virus can spread via
human-to-human transmission, though the original source of the virus has not been
identified.
‘’Stanley Perlman, M.D.,
Ph.D., an American Academy of Microbiology fellow, an ASM member and professor
at the University of Iowa, talks about the outbreak of a novel coronavirus,
COVID-19.’’
How is it different compare to other types of viruses?
According to ‘’Stanley Perlman, M.D., Ph.D’’ the coronaviruses were studied primarily in domestic and companion animals, until the first outbreak (SARS) in 2003. They don’t know if this novel virus is different from SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, it does seem to behave more like SARS-CoV but all 3 cause severe human respiratory disease and have higher rates of mortality than the influenza or other respiratory viruses.
When it
became a global concern?
In December, 2019, Wuhan, Hubei province, China, became
the centre of an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown cause, which raised intense
attention not only within China but internationally. Chinese health authorities
did an immediate investigation to characterise and control the disease,
including isolation of people suspected to have the disease, close monitoring
of contacts, epidemiological and clinical data collection from patients, and
development of diagnostic and treatment procedures. By Jan 7, 2020, Chinese
scientists had isolated a novel coronavirus (CoV) from patients in Wuhan.
On the 30th January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) of the United Nations declared the epidemic a public health emergency of international concern.
Official Timeline of COVID-19
COVID-19 UPDATE:
DAILY GLOBAL SITUATION (DATA AS OF 21 FEBRUARY 2020)
Source: World Health Organization
Global
|
76,769
confirmed (1,021 new)
|
China
|
75,569
confirmed
(894
new)
|
Outside
China
|
1,200
confirmed
(127
new)
|
As of Febuary 22 the Global death toll rises to 2,458
as Hubei province in China reports more deaths!
By James Griffiths and Jenni Marsh, CNN
Updated 11:09 p.m. ET, February 22, 2020
- The global number of confirmed coronavirus cases now exceeds 78,572, with the vast majority of cases in mainland China.
- There are 40,127 patients hospitalized in Hubei, including 1,845 who are in critical condition, according to the health authority, and 15,299 patients have been discharged.
- The Hubei report brings the total number of deaths in mainland China to at least 2,441. The global death toll is at least 2,458, with 17 deaths outside of mainland China.
- Iran has reported five deaths from the coronavirus, while Japan has reported three deaths, and Hong Kong, Italy and South Korea reach reported two deaths.
- Taiwan, the Philippines, and France have each reported one death.
UPDATES ON NOVEL CORONAVIRUS DISEASE
(COVID-19)
When did coronavirus reach the Philippines?
The first case of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV, now Covid-19) in the Philippines was confirmed on 30 January 2020, in a 38-year old woman who arrived from Wuhan. Two days later, the Philippines recorded the first death outside China on 01 February 2020.By
As of Sunday, February 23, the DOH said it has
probed 608 patients. There is still no recorded case of local transmission in
the country.
Out of this number:
131 - admitted to hospitals
474 - discharged from hospitals
3 - confirmed cases
Of the 3 confirmed
cases in the Philippines, one died due to severe pneumonia because of COVID-19,
the disease caused by the new virus, while the other two have since recovered
and are already out of the hospital.
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2019-nCoV infection cannot be
distinguished clinically from other causes of pneumonia, an important differentiator
is a history of close contact with a diagnosed case or history of recent travel
(within 14 days) to an affected areas.
Most
common complication is acute respiratory distress syndrome; other reported complications
includes,
○ Septic shock
○ Acute kidney injury
○ Myocardial injury
○ Secondary bacterial and fungal infections
○ Multiorgan failure
What can you do to protect yourself?
PREVENTION is the KEY!!!
o
There is no vaccine against
2019-nCoV. Prevention depends on standard infection control measures.
o
Avoid close
contact with people who are sick.
o
Frequent hand
washing at least 20 seconds with soap and water after all contact and use
alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
o
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
o
DO NOT! share personal items such as towels, dishes, or
utensils before proper cleaning.
o
A person who
cares for a patient should wear face masks, gowns, and gloves then remove and
discard all when leaving the room.
Responding to such epidemics requires not only an immense public health and medical response. We have to be aware of the challenge and concerns brought by 2019-nCoV to our community and insert effort to understand, prevent and control this disease to spread further. Extra precaution could be helpful. IT’S TIME TO ACT NOW!!!