PULSE Magazine | January 2020 Issue

WUHAN CORONAVIRUS

(2019-nCoV)

A new virus understood to be a new strain of coronavirus that has not previously been identified in humans is sweeping through eastern and central China now has confirmed 5 cases in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that it had identified the first case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus in the state of Washington, the second case just confirmed this is in Chicago. The virus, called 2019-nCoV, also known as Wuhan virus, is a coronavirus which is one that infects the nose, throat, or sinuses and has pneumonia-like symptoms including fever, cough and difficulty breath- ing. So far, according to official statistics, 100 have died and over 4,500 have been confirmed to be infected, but estimates of infections run much higher, in the thousands. Medical professionals who were tending to patients have themselves fallen ill. These numbers are rapidly climbing each day. The United States and other nations and territories have been preparing response plans, even quarantines, for weeks. This in response to this coronavirus now being transmitting from human to human through respiratory track. In general coughs and sneezes are highly effective means to spread the virus. This is a rapidly evolving situation. It is common for viruses to mutate, but them doing so makes them more dangerous as they may become immune to any treatments designed to tackle them. The flu is an example of a virus that mutates, and that mutation is why different flu vaccines are needed every year. The World Health Organization recommends that any person who might have a respiratory illness should seek medical attention and share their travel history with their physician. Especially if individuals have passed through East, South, and Southeast Asian countries.

How the virus has spread

 31 December: China alerts the WHO about a spate of pneumonia-like cases in Wuhan

 1 January: The seafood/animal market believed to be at the center of the outbreak is closed

 9 January : WHO says the infection is caused by a new type of coronavirus

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11 January: First death confirmed

 13 January: Virus spreads abroad, with a suspected case in Thailand

 16 January: A case in Japan is confirmed

 17 January: Second death - a 69-year-old in Wuhan

 20 January: Number of cases triples to more than 200, and outbreak spreads to Beijing, Shenzhen and Shanghai; third death confirmed; Chinese officials confirm human-to-human transmission

 21 January: US authorities announce the first case in USA - a man from Washington

 22 January: Death toll climbs to 17, with more than 400 cases confirmed

 24 January: Second case in USA — a woman in Chicago

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