Big Pharma at it again…. Here are some simple questions answered for those who are paranoid by the media and there lies.
Can the coronavirus be transferred through items shipped from Wuhan ?
There is no evidence this is a risk yet. But most diseases – including the coronavirus it can be spread through surfaces contaminated by people coughing or sneezing on them.
There is still questions about whether international shipping would be a major problem if boxes were infected and spread globally.
Cold viruses typically tend to survive less than 24 hours outside the human body although norovirus can last months outside the body.
The most reassuring fact so far is that cases seem to require close contact with another person – say, a family member or healthcare worker – in order to spread.
Is there any reason such viruses are emerging more from China?
Yes – large populations of people living in close proximity to animals.
This coronavirus almost certainly came from an animal source, with one suggestion being snakes and bats. Sars, another coronavirus that originated in China, came from bats and the civet cat.
The early cases of this new infection were traced to the South China Seafood Wholesale Market. Live wild animals were also sold including chickens, bats and snakes.
It is a far cry from the usual shopping experience if you are used to your meat nicely cut up and in clear plastic packaging in your typical Western-supermarket.
Given we have flights from Wuhan to America, should we be wearing face masks yet?
No. There are still no official declaration from the WHO about this virus and the risk is deemed to be “low” so far. Seasonal flu is still a bigger risk to your health than this novel coronavirus, doctors are claiming.
How does the speed of the confirmed spread compare with previous outbreaks?
It is very hard to know how fast it is actually spreading.
It might appear as though cases have soared, from 40 to 440 in less than a week. But this is misleading.
Most of the “new” cases were already out there but have only just been detected as China steps up its surveillance.
There is actually very little information on the “growth rate” of the outbreak.
Is there anything we could do for prevention?
There is no vaccine and very little beyond basic hygiene to minimize the risk.(Wash your hands!)
Doctors will be trying to diagnose and isolate cases as quickly as possible and trace people patients have come into contact with to try to stay on top of the virus.
How likely is it to travel to the UK or Europe?
The longer this goes on and the more people are infected in China, the more likely it becomes there will be cases in the UK and Europe.
Is it possible to vaccinate in order to prevent this respiratory illness?
At the moment, there is no vaccine that can protect people against this type of coronavirus, but researchers are looking to develop one.
It is a new strain that hasn’t been seen in humans before, which means doctors still have lots to learn about it. (Don’t Forget about the patents I posted yest.. There already making a vaccine for idiots)
I am traveling to China soon and would like to know what, if necessary, precautions to take?
Based on currently available information, the World Health Organization has not recommend any restrictions on travel or trade.
Is it possible for the virus to have affected any person, who traveled to China – October to December 2019?
The first human cases were identified in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019.
There have not been any other suspected human cases reported prior to this.
Given the type of virus, the incubation period (how long it takes for symptoms to appear after catching the infection) is days, rather than weeks.
It is not yet known how or when the virus became infectious to people.
Experts believe the first cases were transmitted by an animal.
Are airports planning to screen arrivals?
Currently, US airports are minimally screening passengers on arrival from China. The government is keeping the situation under review.
The Extra checks such as temperature scans have been put in place to screen passengers.
Airports in Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo have been screening air passengers from Wuhan and US authorities last week announced similar measures at three major airports in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York.