Coronavirus Risks: What you need to know.

What is Coronavirus?

Understanding Coronavirus risks begins with learning about its origin. Coronavirus was first identified in the 1960s. The source of the virus is unknown; however, it may infect both humans and other animals. The name Coronavirus was adopted due to the virus’ crown-like shape (“Corona” is Latin for crown). This virus can cause upper respiratory infection symptoms in humans such as stuffy nose, cough, and sore throat. It may also cause middle ear infections in children. Coronavirus can be fatal in immunocompromised individuals.

Transmission of Coronavirus?

In January 2020, the World Health Organization identified a novel Coronavirus 2019-nCoV in China. In the United States, this virus is commonly active during the fall and winter, but anyone can be infected with it at any time during the year. Recently a case of Coronavirus infection was identified in a male in Washington state, who had recently visited Wuhan, China. This incidence of the deadly Coronavirus may have spread from snakes and bats.

Spreading of this virus is usually reported from one infected person to another. Common activities by which the infection can  also be transmitted are inhalation of contaminated air (caused due to coughing and sneezing by infected individuals), close contact with infected persons such as touching and shaking hands, touching surfaces or infected objects and touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands. It may be transmitted through fecal contact, though is method of infection is rare.

Coronavirus Risks: Elimination and Prevention

At this time, no specific treatment is known for these types of Coronavirus infections. No vaccine has been made publicly available for the 2019-nCOV strain of Coronavirus. However, attempts are currently being undertaken by The National Institutes of Health and other governmental and non-governmental institutions to develop the vaccine.   The World Health Organization suggests that anyone with underlying medical conditions avoid live animal markets and raw meats altogether as they are “considered at higher risk of severe disease”.

 The U.S. Centers for Disease Control suggests that If you have cold-like symptoms:

• Avoid close contact with others
• Protect others by staying home while you are sick
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
• Throw the used tissue in the trash
• Wash your hands
• Disinfect frequently used objects and surfaces
• Avoid traveling to an infected zone such as Wuhan in China

Environmentally friendly disinfecting techniques are very useful in preventing and minimizing Coronavirus risks. High touch surfaces in occupied spaces such as wall surfaces, doors, windows, knobs, furniture and others need to be disinfected to maintain and manage good Indoor Environmental/Air Quality.

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