"Scientists and public-health officials are learning more about the new coronavirus behind an epidemic that has reached dozens of countries.
We are updating our questions and answers regularly to keep up with their findings.
Here is what they know so far, and how you can minimize your risk.
THE LATEST ON THE CORONAVIRUS
- The global death toll is now about 3,000—China’s death toll as of Saturday was 2,870
- U.S., Australia and Thailand report their first coronavirus deaths
- Armenia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Ecuador and Qatar each reported their first infections over the weekend
- Japan ran a slimmed-down marathon in Tokyo to protect the Olympics from the threat of the epidemic
What is a coronavirus?
This virus belongs to a family of viruses known as coronaviruses. Named for the crown-like spikes on their surfaces, they infect mostly bats, pigs and small mammals. But they mutate easily and can jump from animals to humans, and from one human to another. In recent years, they have become a growing player in infectious-disease outbreaks world-wide.
Seven strains are known to infect humans, including this new virus, causing illnesses in the respiratory tract. Four of those strains cause common colds. Two others, by contrast, rank among the deadliest of human infections: severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, and Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS.
This new virus is called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or Sars-CoV-2. The disease it causes is called Covid-19. (The number stands for 2019, the year it emerged.)
What are the symptoms of the illness and how do you know if you have it?
Patients initially develop a fever, cough and aches, and can progress to shortness of breath and complications from pneumonia, according to case reports.
They might develop nausea, with vomiting and diarrhea.
Some become only mildly ill, or are infected but don’t get sick.
Others are mildly ill for a few days, then rapidly develop more severe symptoms of pneumonia..."
Read all.
No comments:
Post a Comment