China’s coronavirus outbreak: Increase of 136 cases over the weekend

A never-before-seen virus, detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, has claimed two lives and infected dozens of Chinese citizens with a pneumonia-like illness. 139 new cases of pneumonia caused by a new strain of coronavirus has been reported in China. Two cases were confirmed by health authorities in Beijing. While Guangdong authorities reported one case in Shenzhen. All three patients are believed to have visited Wuhan.

The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission announced that 136 new patients were diagnosed on Saturday and Sunday. Of those, one person died from the virus, two are in critical condition, and 33 are in serious condition. All cases have been linked to Wuhan. The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market at the center of the pneumonia outbreak in the city of Wuhan has been closed for disinfection since January 1.

All that you need to know about Coronavirus:

What is a coronavirus?

Coronaviruses belong to a family of viruses known as Coronaviridae and look like spiked rings under an electron microscope. They can only reproduce when they enter living cells. The viruses produced soon infect the cells in the host body. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are known to cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Where did the virus come from?

The virus appears to have originated in the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, a Chinese city of over 11 million people approximately 650 miles south of Beijing. The market sells fish, as well as a panoply of other animal meats.

Symptoms:

Patients present have high body temperature and a dry cough. Respiratory distress occurs that soon results in shortness of breath or breathing difficulties. Pneumonia has been detected in some patient chest X-rays, according to WHO.

Q: Is there a treatment for a novel #coronavirus infection?
A: There is no specific treatment for disease caused by a novel coronavirus. However, many of the symptoms can be treated and therefore treatment is based on the patient’s clinical condition https://t.co/PKzKaO2yfK pic.twitter.com/QxNg634JdS

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) January 17, 2020

Is there a treatment for coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are notoriously hardy organisms. They’re effective at hiding from the human immune system and as yet no reliable treatments has been made that can eradicate them. Instead, health officials attempt to deal with the symptoms.

How to reduce your risk of coronavirus?

Q: What can I do to protect myself from #coronavirus?

A: https://t.co/PKzKaO2yfK pic.twitter.com/eNhlhR0PEq

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) January 17, 2020

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced three US airports: New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles will start screening passengers arriving from Wuhan to check for signs of the new virus. Similar measures are being taken by the governments in Asia.

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