Did that title get your attention? Good! Now, let’s chat.
What is the coronavirus?
It is important to know that coronavirus is NOT a single virus, but rather a family of viruses that have been around for a very long time. If you have ever had a common cold (who hasn’t), then you have had a coronavirus. Some coronaviruses are transmitted between animals, humans, and sometimes animal to human transmission is possible.
So what is all the hype about?
If it’s just like a cold, why the panic? The common cold is just one type of coronavirus. Other recent coronaviruses include MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). This variety is known as 2019-nCoV (Novel Coronavirus). It is worth mentioning that 2019-nCoV has not previously been identified in humans. The 2019-nCoV was discovered in relation to an outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, China.
A few interesting facts.
2019 nCoV was given the name “novel” to indicate that it is a new virus.
At the time of writing this article, there is no know cure or vaccine for 2019-cNoV.
At the time of writing this article, 2019 nCoV has spread to at least six other countries and been identified as the cause of at least 17 deaths.
Symptoms of 2019-nCoV.
- Fever
- Dry Cough
- Shortness Of Breath
- Troubled Breathing
Treatment of 2019-nCoV.
No known cure or vaccine is available at this time. Treatment of the virus is limited to supportive measures with the hope that the patient recovers on their own and patient isolation to help prevent further infection.
North American threat?
Given the speed at which international travel has attained in the modern day, it would be ignorant to believe that there is no threat to the North American continent. At the time of writing this article, an American traveler who arrived in Seattle on January 15th has been diagnosed with 2019-nCoV.
Additionally, 5 travelers in Quebec have been held in hospital for observation for possible exposure to the virus. A sixth traveler was also held, but has since been given the all clear.
Planning ahead.
If you do not have a pandemic plan ready to be put into place, now would be the time to get it thought out. Watch for a human to human transmission within your region (for me that is a 100km radius). Monitor news for national or continental human to human transmissions. Research reliable sources of pandemic preparedness (my personal favorite is DOOM and BLOOM with Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy.
Get your plan in place and stock up on supplies. Even if this one turns out to be a bust, it isn’t the first one of it’s kind and certainly won’t be the last!