Pandemic of the Corona virus

Selina Nguyen RQ and summative

 Are public health organizations prepared for the possible pandemic of the Coronavirus? Over the past 70 years, scientists have found that the Coronavirus can affect mice, rats, dogs, cats, turkeys, horses, pigs and cows. Most recently, authorities have identified a Coronavirus outbreak in China. The virus has now affected tens of thousands of people in China and is now reaching other countries around the world like the United States, The United Kingdom and some parts of Canada. Human Coronavirus was first identified in the 1960’s in the noses of patients with the common cold. The Coronavirus can cause both SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERSC (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome). Today there are seven identified human coronaviruses, the most recent outbreak virus is called COVID-19. It’s believed that the virus is transmitted using severted fluid from the respiratory system. The Coronavirus is airborone, meaning that the pathogen can be transmitted through the air. By coughing and sneezing without covering your mouth the virus can pass from one person to another. Touching and shaking hands with a person that has the virus can transmit the virus around. Even making contact with a surface that has the virus is on can infect you. Reports indicate the virus can be active up to 5 days on a surface. If you’ve recently traveled to the United Kingdom from mainland China, Thailand, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau or Vietnam and are experiencing symptoms there are things you should do. To prevent transmission, be sure to stay home if you are experiencing symptoms and avoid close contact with others. Make sure to cover your mouth while coughing or sneezing and wash your hands. Contact health authorities to let them know about your symptoms as you may need testing. If the symptoms seem to be getting worse, admit yourself to a hospital to seek medical help. While some viruses are highly contagious, health organizations aren't sure how rapidly the Coronavirys will spread. Corona virus can lead to severe illness or even death. Therefore it is important to keep an eye out for symptoms. Some of the symptoms include fever, dry cough, pneumonia, and shortness of breath. It may take 2-14 days for a person to develop symptoms after being infected. That's why this virus is so dangerous because you can be transmitting it and not even know. In addition we currently do not have a vaccine. As this is viral pneumonia, antibiotics are no use. The best bet is to contact your physician, which may then require you go to the hospital to seek medical help. If you get admitted to the hospital, you may get support for your lungs, organs and fluids. Recovery will also depend on the strength of the patient's immune system. Many individuals that have not survived this virus are due to the fact that they were aged or were in poor health. Health organizations are dealing with the virus even though it keeps on spreading. They will continue to try and contain it as much as possible. There's not much that we can do as a society but stay cautious and follow safe hand washing procedures, staying at home if ill, coughing/sneezing into a tissue and disposing of it properly, staying at home if ill, contacting the authorities if you suspect you or a family member have the virus. Additionally keeping yourself updated with the coronavirus through the legitimate news and internet sources as to the latest safety measures and updates.

 Citations:
 Andone, D., & Gumbrecht, J. (2020, February 13). The 15th US case of coronavirus is an evacuee at an Air Force base in Texas. Retrieved February 14, 2020, from https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/13/us/us-coronavirus-case-texas-base/index.html

 Denison, M. R. (1970, January 1). CORONAVIRUS RESEARCH: KEYS TO DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND PREVENTION OF SARS. Retrieved February 14, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92477/

 Liu, M. (2020, February 14). Perspective | The coronavirus and the long history of blaming the ' other' in public health crises. Retrieved February 14, 2020, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/02/14/coronavirus-long-history-blaming-the-other-public-health-crises/