And Why the Coronavirus Outbreak Doesn’t Give You an Excuse to be Racist
Written by Christine Xiang '20, Gracia Xu '20, Amy Chen '22, Gawon Yoo '22
At the same rate as the epidemic is spreading, misinformation is growing on social media and websites. To clarify the conditions and the statistics of the Coronavirus outbreak, AB HOSA-Future Health Professionals has researched this issue using trusted sources such as the CDC and WHO websites. Please read these carefully to protect yourself and to avoid any misconceptions or prejudice.
What is a novel coronavirus?
A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified. The 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is different from the coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold.
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses common in many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people such as with MERS, SARS, and now with 2019-nCoV.
What is the source of 2019-nCoV?
2019-nCoV is a betacoronavirus, like MERS and SARs, all of which have their origins in animals. The sequences from U.S. patients are similar to the one that China initially posted, suggesting a likely single, recent emergence of this virus from an animal reservoir.
Early on, many of the patients in the outbreak of respiratory illness caused by 2019-nCov in Wuhan, China had some link to a large seafood and live animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread.
How does the virus spread?
Person-to-person spread has been reported outside China, including in the United States and other countries. Coronaviruses are generally thought to be spread most often by respiratory droplets.
What are the symptoms and complications that 2019-nCoV can cause?
The CDC believes at this time that symptoms of 2019-nCoV may appear in 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. For confirmed 2019-nCoV infections, reported illnesses have ranged from people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill and dying. Symptoms can include:
Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath
Other early symptoms include chills, body aches, sore throat, headache, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, and runny nose.
In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
Has anyone in the United States / Massachusetts gotten infected?
As of February 3rd, 2020, there are a total of 11 confirmed cases in the U.S. and 1 in Massachusetts. A member of the UMass Boston community who recently returned from Wuhan, China tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Is it safe to travel to China or other countries where 2019-nCoV cases have occurred?
The CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to China.
What if I recently traveled to China and feel sick?
If you were in China and feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, within 14 days after you left, you should:
Seek medical advice – Call ahead before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room. Tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.
Avoid contact with others.
Not travel.
Can products or packaging from China spread the virus?
In general, there is likely a very low risk of spread from products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks since it is harder for the virus to survive on surfaces with no hosts.
Can I become infected from interacting with Chinese people?
Although 2019-nCoV originated in China, it is virtually impossible to become infected from any students at AB who have not been to China in the past month, no matter their race or nationality.
How can I protect myself?
The same precautions to help prevent colds and the flu can help protect against 2019-nCoV:
Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Cover your coughs and sneezes.
Stay home if you are sick.
Timeline of Events
12/31/2019: first reported cases
1/7/2020: virus is identified as 2019-nCoV
1/11/2020: first death reported in China
1/21/2020: first US case reported
1/29/2020: CDC announced 15 additional US airports, including Logan, to begin to provide enhanced screening of passengers from China for novel coronavirus.
1/30/2020: first US case of person-to-person spread
1/31/2020: WHO declares public health emergency / Proclamation on Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus
2/2/2020: Implementation of new travel policies to be effective at 5:00 p.m. eastern standard time on February 2, 2020
DISCLAIMER: the information contained in this guide is current as of 2/5/2020. For more updated information, check the CDC or WHO website. Do not trust any other sources on the Internet, especially anything you see on social media. Stay healthy and safe, AB!
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