(CNN) – The new coronavirus It is now a “public health emergency of international interest” that has left more than 2,700 people dead and more than 80,000 people infected worldwide.
A US health official said it is not about whether this virus will spread in the country, but when. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the USA. UU. (CDC) anticipates that the virus will continue to spread beyond this year.
This is what you need to know about the disease and how to stay safe:
Why is this coronavirus different?
There are many types of coronaviruses, including some that cause the common cold.
But this deadly strain is called a new coronavirus because it had not been previously identified in humans.
It is unusual for several reasons:
– Scientists believe that this type of coronavirus jumped from an animal other than humans, which is rare.
– Then it became transmissible from human to human, which is even rarer.
– An infected person may not show symptoms until 14 days after being exposed to the virus. That is especially worrying because this new coronavirus can be transmitted while a person still does not show any symptoms.
What are the symptoms?
Fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat and shortness of breath are some of the most common symptoms of the new coronavirus.
“It can be more serious for some people and can cause pneumonia or breathing difficulties,” says the World Health Organization.
“In more rare cases, the disease can be fatal. Older people and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as diabetes and heart disease) seem to be more vulnerable to getting seriously ill with the virus. ”
What can work centers do?
It is important that companies encourage sick employees to stay at home, according to the CDC.
“Do not require a proof from the health care provider for employees who are ill with acute respiratory illness … since the offices and medical facilities of the health care provider may be extremely busy and not provide such documentation in a timely manner,” said the CDC
Sick employees should not return to work until their temperature has remained below 38.0 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) for at least 24 hours, without the help of medications to reduce fever or others that may alter symptoms, the CDC said.
And now is the time to make sure workplaces are clean.
“It routinely cleans all surfaces that are frequently touched in the workplace, such as cubicles, countertops and door knobs,” the CDC said.
“It provides disposable wipes so that employees can clean commonly used surfaces (for example, door knobs, keyboards, remote controls, desks) before each use.”
And while it may seem basic, many adults do not practice the correct label when coughing and sneezing (cover their mouth and nose completely with a tissue or the top sleeve) or wash their hands properly for at least 20 seconds.
Therefore, the CDC advises companies to post posters on how to prevent the spread of disease.
How can you protect yourself?
(Photo by AIZAR RALDES / AFP) (Photo by AIZAR RALDES / AFP via Getty Images)
–
In general, the public should do “what one does each cold and flu season,” said Dr. John Wiesman, secretary of health in the state of Washington, where the first case of new coronavirus was confirmed in U.S.
That includes washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
The World Health Organization recommends staying at least 1 meter away from anyone who may be infected.
If you feel sick, you should cover your entire mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. But do not use your hands. Use the bent elbow or a tissue immediately after.
While the CDC does not recommend N95 respiratory masks for the general public, they do recommend them for health workers.
But certain types of facial hair can prevent respirators from working effectively. Then, the CDC created an infographic that shows which facial hair styles are more risky than others.
Is there a cure for the new coronavirus?
No. Although many patients have recovered from their symptoms, there is no known cure.
But the first study in the USA. UU. of a medication to treat new coronaviruses in humans is underway at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
That clinical trial will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the antiviral drug remdesivir in adults diagnosed with coronavirus, the US National Institutes of Health said. UU. (NIH).
What about a vaccine?
Scientists are working on a vaccine, but don’t wait for it soon.
The NIH are trying to develop one, but they say it will take at least a few months before clinical trials begin and more than a year until a vaccine can be available.
Separately, scientists in Texas, New York and China are also trying to create a vaccine, said Dr. Peter Hotez, a vaccine scientist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
But the challenge is intimidating, said Hotez.
“The lesson we have learned is that coronavirus infections are serious and one of the newest and biggest health threats in the world.”
Elizabeth Cohen, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Jacqueline Howard contributed to this report.
– .
