CORONAVIRUS: QUESTIONS & ANSWERS.
The mysterious coronavirus has left two dead and at least 44 people across Thailand, Japan and China sick with pneumonia-like symptoms, causing some worries about another Sars-like outbreak. Airports in the region are ramping up their screening, using thermal scanners to detect clues of infection in travellers and in particular those travelling from China, where the outbreak started. Here’s what is known so far:
Q What is coronavirus?
A Coronavirus is a family of viruses that range from the common cold to the more severe MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), the latter of which caused a deadly outbreak 17 years ago. It’s commonly found in animals and it’s rare for the virus to transmit to humans, the CDC reports.
The current strain is a novel coronavirus, meaning that is has previously not been identified in humans.
In 2002 and 2003, there was a worldwide outbreak of SARS, where more than 8,000 people got sick, globally 774 died and in Canada, 44 people died. Of the 8,000 infected, 438 were Canadian.
Q Where did the outbreak originate?
A The coronavirus outbreak originated in December at a seafood market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where 11 million people live. Aside from typical ocean fare, there have been reports that live birds and animals were sold at the market.
The province’s health authority issued a directive on Dec. 30 that all hospitals were to report cases of pneumonia where there was no determined cause. A day after, the authority announced a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan and noted that some of the cases had a link to the seafood market. On Jan. 1, the market was shut down and disinfected, the South China Morning Post reported.
Q What are the symptoms?
A Clinical signs and symptoms include mainly fever, with a few people reporting difficulty breathing and pneumonic infiltrates, which is a dense liquid that fills the lungs.
Q How has it spread?
A In the past week, Thailand has confirmed two cases of the virus while Japan has confirmed a single case. The three individuals had travelled from Wuhan, but two of them had no contact with the seafood market believed to be the origin.
The first woman, 61, discovered by Thai authorities to have the virus did visit a smaller market in Wuhan, where freshly slaughtered animals were sold. Due to a language barrier, it hasn’t been determined if the second Chinese woman, 74, in Thailand had visited the seafood market. The Chinese man, who’s in his 30s, said he didn’t visit the market.
In China, authorities have confirmed 41 people have the novel coronavirus and two deaths have occurred so far.
There are worries the outbreak might spread as many Chinese prepare to travel for Lunar New Year at the end of the month.
Q Is it a risk to Canada?
A Health Canada has issued a Level 1 advisory for travel to Wuhan. That means travellers should take the usual precautions of getting the correct vaccinations, washing hands, avoiding unhygienic areas and preventing mosquito bites.
Canadians coming from
China who experience flulike symptoms are required to notify a border services officer, or to tell their doctor if they become ill after returning to Canada.
In the United States, the CDC began additional health screening Friday at the three major airports in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco, for individuals who took a direct or connecting flight from Wuhan.
Q What precautions should be taken?
A The World Health Organization doesn’t recommend an outright travel ban to affected regions, but is warning people to avoid contact with others who have acute respiratory infections, avoid being around dead animals and to avoid eating meat and eggs that are not thoroughly cooked. As well, ensuring proper hygiene, such as proper hand washing, covering the mouth when coughing and sneezing into a tissue or your elbow is important.