Coronavirus

               Most people have heard about the coronavirus in the news lately, but not everyone knows how it all started or the details of the current status of the outbreak. To begin, a CNN article explains that the virus was likely spread to humans by bats. Scientists determined this connection by analyzing the genetic sequence of the virus and comparing it to viruses found in various animals, and the virus associated with the bat has a genetic sequence that most closely resembles that of the virus found in humans during this outbreak. To many virologists, the virus’ origin is not surprising because bats are the reservoir for many other viruses such as Ebola, rabies, SARS, and MERS. Although the virus likely originated from bats, there is also a high chance that it was transmitted to another animal before being transmitted to humans. The disease was first reported during a time of bat hibernation, so it is unlikely that they would have had direct contact with humans. The first cases of coronavirus were reported in Wuhan, China, but has quickly spread to other countries in today’s globalized world.

According to a recent CNBC article the coronavirus has infected over 8000 people in 18 different countries. In fact, the US recently confirmed its first human-to-human transmission of this virus. Over 200 people have died from this illness, and these numbers continue to rise. Although this virus emerged less than a month ago, it has already infected more people than the SARS epidemic did over nine months in 2003. While it does spread much faster than SARS, it does not seem to have such a high mortality rate. The coronavirus causes flu like symptoms such as coughing, fever, difficulty breathing, and pneumonia. The virus is spread by human contact, droplet nuclei, large droplet transmission, and fomites.

In response to this outbreak, the WHO issued a global health emergency, which will enable them to easily provide financial and political support to China as they work to contain this outbreak. The WHO is most concerned that the coronavirus will spread to countries with poor healthcare systems, and they will be completely unequipped to treat people who fall ill or prevent the disease from spreading further. Many travel advisories are also in place to limit unnecessary travel to and from China in hopes to contain the virus. According to the WHO, the Chinese government is doing everything they can to contain the virus, despite the economic strain it could put on the country. According to a BBC article, scientists are working to discover a vaccine for the coronavirus, and they hope to begin human trials in the early summer.