What is corona virus?
Another name for the corona virus is 2019-NCOV. It is a type of corona virus. There are many species of the virus, but only 6 of them can be transmitted to humans.
Scientists say the virus may already be ‘mutating’ inside human cells, changing its structure and multiplying. As a result, it can become even more dangerous. On Monday, experts confirmed that the virus could spread from one person to another.
How terrible is this virus
The virus infects the human lungs and is transmitted from one person to another through the respiratory tract. The virus is spread by sneezing and coughing, just like the common flu or cold. However, there is a risk of organ failure or even paralysis, pneumonia and death. Two percent of the victims have died so far, perhaps more deaths. Moreover, there may have been deaths which were not identified. So it is not yet clear exactly how terrible this virus is.
The SARS (full name Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus, which killed 800 people worldwide a decade ago, was also a type of corona virus. It affected more than 6,000 people. Another viral disease was Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome or MARS. In 2012, 658 people died in it.
What are the symptoms of corona virus?
The main symptoms of corona virus infection are shortness of breath, fever and cough. Scientists say it takes about five days for the virus to show signs of infection once it enters the body. The first symptom is fever. Then there is dry cough. Shortness of breath occurs within a week and then some patients have to be hospitalized.
How did this virus spread?
The disease originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. On December 31, Chinese authorities first alerted the World Health Organization to a pneumonia-like outbreak in the city. Then on January 11 the first one died.
However, experts have not yet been able to confirm exactly how the infection started. Probably a factor as to why they’re doing so poorly. From animals, the virus first enters the human body and then spreads from person to person. Earlier, in the case of SARS virus, there were instances of first entering the human body from bats and later from Gandhagokul. And the Mars virus spread from camels.
In the case of the corona virus, there is talk of a seafood in the city of Wuhan. People who went to a market in the city were found to be infected. Wildlife was traded illegally in that market
Some marine animals, such as the beluga whale, can carry the corona virus. However, chickens, bats, rabbits and snakes were sold in that market.
What is the treatment?
As the virus is new, no vaccine or antidote has yet been discovered. There is no cure for the disease. The World Health Organization has already advised people to wash their hands regularly. They also recommend covering the nose and mouth during sneezing and coughing and staying away from people suffering from cold and flu. People in many parts of Asia have started wearing surgical masks.
For the time being, scientists are saying to avoid contact with the carriers of this virus as a remedy. Doctors advise to wash hands frequently, not to touch nose and mouth with hands and to wear mask when leaving the house.
Dr. University of Hong Kong. Gabriel Leung says in this health guideline, hands should always be kept clean, hands should be washed frequently. Do not rub your nose or face with your hands, you should wear a mask when you go out of the house. He said, “Wear a mask if you are sick, and even if you are not sick, wear a mask to avoid contact with others.”
SourceBangla Tribune
