3 Facts You Should Know About Coronavirus

China recently announced Coronavirus, a global epidemic of a novel disease that bears resemblance with pneumonia and SARS that broke out in Wuhan. As doctors, epidemiologists, and medical researchers work to learn more about this new virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a global health emergency and been actively dispelling misunderstanding and disinformation.

The expansive spread of the Coronavirus is likely attributed to the frequent travels taken by Chinese citizens during Lunar New Year. According to the WHO, there are reportedly over 20,000 confirmed cases in over two dozen countries, the vast majority of which are in China, and 11 of which are in the United States.

Here are some facts you should know about the new coronavirus:

1.) Coronaviruses are zoonotic.

Coronaviruses are zoonotic, which means they are passed on from animals to humans. This is a new strain unexplained in humans. The virus recently emerged in a market for wholesale seafood in Wuhan, China. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), most patients were in close proximity to a fish market or were in contact with a customer at said market.

2.) There are no definite cures to the coronavirus.

Since the widely-circulating coronavirus has never before been exposed to humans, a definite treatment does not exist. Researchers at the U.S. National Institutes of Health confirmed they were in the beginning stages of developing one. At this stage, little is understood about the 2019 novel coronavirus, and there is no generic diagnosis, prescription, or care besides ensuring that patients receive adequate hydration, oxygen, and rest.

3.) The virus is contagious even before symptoms appear.

China’s health commission states that the incubation period of the 2019 coronavirus is between three to seven days, with the longest period being 14 days, and that people can spread the virus before appearing ill. So it is imperative that suspected carriers of the virus be quarantined. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expressed uncertainty about the speed at which the virus spreads among humans, but they announced the ability for the virus to spread within 6 feet from infected patients with no signs to near connections. Authorities urge against non-essential travelling.

Upon first glance, symptoms for the coronavirus bear striking resemblance with the flu. However, the novelty of this strand of coronavirus has sparked global anguish and uncertainty. In efforts to quell anxiety among the populace, authorities have been releasing timely statements updating citizens about developments in the spread of the disease and advancements in creating treatment for the virus.