The Coronavirus, that started in China has the world fearing a pandemic, however, there is no need to panic. 

The virus started to spread last year in December through a seafood market located in Wuhan, China. It’s still not clear exactly how the virus was formed, but markets, in general, have been blamed for being the source of diseases in the past. Fish and other animals being sold in markets could’ve been the start of the virus. However, it is still somewhat unknown how the virus came about. As of right now, there are more than 800 confirmed cases and around 41 deaths of the coronavirus. Most of them have taken place in China, however,  a few other cases have been spotted in Thailand, Japan, South Korea, France, and the US.

China has taken drastic measures to keep the situation under control by restricting travel to 35 million people in the area of Wuhan. All transportation systems have been suspended including airlines, subways, and ferries. All of the restricted travel came on time for the Lunar New Year festivities. 

The US State Department has issued a travel advisory for people, urging them to exercise increased caution in surrounding areas of China. The CDC also gave out a warning advising people to avoid unnecessary travel.

Federal health officials in the US have taken precautions into their own hands by implementing special screenings at international airports. Flights going to and from Wuhan have been traced. More than 1,200 travelers have already been screened and no one has been transported to a hospital for urgent care. The international airports include Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York’s John F Kennedy as well as Atlanta and Chicago. This type of precaution has not been seen since the Ebola outbreak in 2014. This virus does not appear to be as deadly as Ebola was. The Ebola virus was primarily passed through direct contact with an infected individual or through that same individuals blood/bodily fluids. 

There has been one confirmed case of the Coronavirus in the US,  a man in his 30’s in the state of Washington. He recently came back on a flight from China, being nowhere near the source of the virus, not being in contact with it. The man felt ill once after arriving from his flight and later went to his health care provider for a check. Test samples were collected and sent directly to the CDC for further testing which later confirmed that he indeed had the coronavirus. As of now the man is in stable condition at Providence Regional Medical Center.

This virus is related to two others that have caused major outbreaks, they are the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease, said “This is an evolving situation and, again, we do expect additional cases in the United States and globally,”. 

The symptoms for Coronavirus are respiratory problems, shortness of breath, fever, cough, pneumonia, and kidney failure. There is no vaccine/treatment for the Coronavirus but the National Institute of Health said that human trials for a vaccine should begin in the coming months. For now,  patients taken into a hospital will be getting support for their lungs and organs through fluids. 

Though the virus is primarily in the area of China, this should still serve as a reminder for all to keep up with their hygiene and check-in regularly with their primary physician. The virus is easily transmitted through human contact. The World Health Organization (WHO) has provided some ways to reduce the risk of contracting the coronavirus which is by simply cleaning your hands with soap and warm water, covering your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, and avoiding close contact with anyone with the flu.

This coronavirus is fairly new and will take time to see if it becomes a global epidemic. However, as of right now the WHO has decided that it is too early to declare a national emergency.