Protect yourself against the new coronavirus
Coronavirus. Source Wit et al., 2016. |
There is quite limited information about the
new strain, but it is quite well documented what we should do to generally avoid
respiratory virus infections. World Health Organization (WHO) published advices
for the public on how to reduce the risk of coronavirus infection [2]:
- Clean your hands frequently;
- Proper cough and sneeze hygiene;
- Social distancing (avoid contacting other people when you are sick, or at risk of acquiring the virus);
- If you have symptoms, seek medical care early;
- In coronavirus-infected areas, avoid contacts with farm and wild animals;
- Avoid the consumption of raw or undercooked meat, milk or eggs.
Let us elaborate on the
above-mentioned protective measurements, in an order of importance:
Hand hygiene
Hands can be cleaned by soap under
running water via hand washing or by applying alcohol-based hand rubs. Both are
effective against the virus. If your hands are visibly soiled, especially with
mucus, apply soap and water. Keep in mind, that hand cleaning can only be
effective, if the whole hand surface is covered with handrub or with soap. If
any part of the hand missed, the virus can survive there. Based on previous
studies, the most frequently missed areas are thumbs, fingertips and the back
of the hands [3, 4]. The WHO have a 6-step protocol, how to clean
your hands.
Proper caught and sneeze hygiene
When you caught or sneeze, cover
your mouth and nose with a tissue. Throw the tissue immediately and wash your
hands thereafter. If you do not have a tissue at hand, cover your face with
your elbow. These measures can prevent droplets releasing to the air. If you
have symptoms, it is a good idea to wear a face mask [5].
If you are not sick, you can also
wear a face mask. This can filter the air, and remove droplets. It is really
important that face mask should cover both mouth and nose. Once you put it on,
do not touch it, as the filtered droplets accumulate on it, neither touch your
face underneath. Wash your hands after you remove the face mask, and do not use
it multiple times [6].
Social distancing
In case of an outbreak, try to avoid
contacting other people, especially people with symptoms. The virus can
transmit form human to human. Reducing the number of contacts, the risk of
contamination also decreases. That is why Hong Kong schools will remain closed
until February, the reason why Shanghai’s Disneyland was closed, or the
Beijing’s lunar new year festival events were cancelled [7, 8]. Unfortunately, it is not really possible to
avoid all contacts, especially in large cities, like Wuhan.
Wuhan City. Source: Pixabay |
Avoid animals
In the last decades, it happened
twice that a previously unknown coronavirus caused pandemic. In 2002, the
SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus
appeared. Over a year, more than 8000 people were infected with SARS in 27
countries, and almost 800 of them died. The pandemic was ended in 2003, due to
the efficiently coordinated international measures. The source of the virus was
probably a live-animal market in China. 10 years later, in 2012, a novel
coronavirus, MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome)
emerged in Saudi Arabia. By 2016, the MERS virus infected 1700 people in 27
countries, and 624 (37%) of them died.
In both cases, the virus was
originated from bats. Baths are the reservoir a wide range of coronaviruses.
The virus can transfer from bats to other animals, and finally to humans [9].
The emergence of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Sorce: Wit et al., 2016. |
Epidemic happens, when the virus
mutated and becomes able to human‑to‑human
transmission. Probably, the same thing happened in case of the 2019-nCoV. A new
paper published in the Lancet in 2020 compared the genetic code of the new
virus to other coronaviruses [10].
Phylogenetic trees of coronaviruses. Source: Chan et al. 2020 |
The phylogenetic tree, or cladogram
on the picture is like a family tree for viruses. The closest they are the most
likely they are relatives. As it seen from the figures, the closest relatives
of the new virus are also bat coronaviruses [11]. We have limited information, how the virus gets
transmitted to humans. The Wuhan live animal market probably was a center of
the outbreak, where wild, exotic and farmed animals were held together [12]
In a study published in the Lancet,
more than 200 healthcare workers caring patient with SARS were investigated.
They were asked about the use of mask, gloves, gowns and hand washing. Only 69
of them reported that they used all the 4 measures, and thus none of them
became infected. 13 healthcare workers become infected with SARS, all of them
omitted at least one protective measures [13]. As this study demonstrated, if you apply the
appropriate protective measurements correctly, there is a great chance to avoid
getting infected.
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