The latest virus that just appeared mysteriously from Wuhan China is now in the US, the coronavirus.
The first case has been confirmed on Tuesday in the state of Washington. People are now alarmed by this case.
Passengers from Wuhan will soon only be able to land in one of the five airports in the country.
As of the moment, JFK International Airport in New York, Los Angeles Airport, and San Francisco International Airport are now checking passengers arriving for symptoms like fever, cough, and breathing problems.
After this week, two more airports will also be screening passengers, although these airport screenings cannot determine infected people. The incubation period for the virus can last up to a week.
Scientists in the country are now trying to create a vaccine for this new virus, but that won’t happen soon enough. The National Institutes of Health is currently working on it, but it would take several months before the clinical trial starts and a year for the vaccine would be available to the public.
On the other research, a team of scientists in Texas, New York, and China is creating a vaccine on their own. Dr. Peter Peter Hotez, a vaccine scientist in Houston, said that it is very challenging work, “The lesson we’ve learned is coronavirus infections are serious and one of the newest and biggest global health threats.”
For now, people should be wary of its symptoms, such as coughing and sneezing. Other symptoms for the coronavirus include high temperature and shortness of breath. For some worse cases, this can lead to pneumonia, kidney failure, and, worst of all, death.
These scientists believe that this started with an animal and was spread to humans. Meat and eggs should be cooked thoroughly. For those having some medical conditions, it is recommended that they stay away from animal markets and raw meats as they could be considered at higher risk of severe disease.
In general, washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds is one of the most helpful things to do, like doing during flu season. Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing and disinfect the hands as much as possible.
The World Health Organization has made some recommendations globally to stop the virus, such as cross-border screening, increased surveillance, and being strict with the quarantine rules.
China already shut down their mode of transportation going in and out of Wuhan City, where it was first identified. They temporarily closed its airport and railway station for departing passengers. All its public transportation will be suspended as the government tries to stop the spread of the virus.
The city lockdown began at 10 AM local time on Thursday, as an increasing number of cases have been reported. Five hundred forty-seven cases are now confirmed in the mainland on Wednesday.
On the other hand, the WHO has not declared the virus “public health emergency of international concern.” They met on Wednesday but decided that more information has to be gathered before they maintain the status of this virus. They are expected to reach again regarding this matter on Thursday.
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