How worried should you be about Coronavirus?

For the past several weeks, news headlines across the globe have been laser-focused on the new Coronavirus causing concern amongst many people. What exactly is coronavirus, how do you protect yourself from getting it, and how concerned should you be?

What is coronavirus?

Coronavirus is a respiratory illness from a large family of viruses common in many types of animals. Coronaviruses found in animals have evolved and have even spread amongst people – examples of these occurrences include MERS-CoV (Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus) first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus) identified in southern China in 2003. MERS infected almost 2500 people leading to more than 850 deaths while SARS infected more than 8,000 people and resulted in nearly 800 deaths. The death toll from the new coronavirus outbreak has surpassed the number of fatalities of SARS.

The strain of coronavirus currently in the news is a new strain that has not previously been identified in humans. It has been given the name of ‘2019-nCoV’ by the World Health Organization (WHO) and was first detected in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, a city with a population of 11 million. This particular strain of coronavirus has not been seen before.  It is suspected that this virus originated from an animal source at a large seafood and animal market in Wuhan and is now spreading from person to person. It is not known at this time what exactly is the incubation period of 2019-nCoV is but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that symptoms may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after being exposed to this virus.

How contagious is coronavirus?

According to health officials, the 2019-nCoV type of coronavirus appears to be spreading by person-to-person contact. This is similar to other common respiratory tract illnesses, such as MERS and SARS, which are spread by respiratory droplets from an infected person when they cough or sneeze.

What are the symptoms of the new coronavirus?

People who have been infected with 2019-nCoV have reported mild to severe symptoms of fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, tiredness, and headache. In severe cases, this strain can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and death. Many of the patients with severe complications from 2019-nCoV have had pneumonia in both lungs.

Should I be worried?

For U.S. citizens who have not traveled abroad to China (especially Wuhan) or been in contact with anyone who has recently traveled to that area, the answer for now is no. In order to contract 2019-nCoV, you have to be exposed to it; therefore unless you have been around someone with the virus or have traveled and returned recently from Wuhan, China, your risk of infection is low.

However, information about this new coronavirus continues to emerge. It is expected that more cases will be reported but at this point, the threat to the American public is low. So far, the death rate associated with the 2019-nCoV has been lower than that of SARS and much lower than MERS. However, for anyone who has traveled to China should be aware of what the symptoms are of 2019-nCoV and report them as soon as possible to their doctor.

The bigger concern and threat to American citizens is the flu.  We are in the midst of the flu season and far more people will likely contract the flu than the new coronavirus. According to the CDC, so far nationwide, 19 million people in the U.S. have had the flu this season. But unlike the coronavirus which has no yet resulted in any deaths in the U.S., influenza has already killed approximately 10,000 Americans since October, according to federal data.

What’s the best ways to prevent contracting 2019-nCoV?

It starts with avoiding exposure to the coronavirus which is why the CDC recommends that people avoid all nonessential travel to China. Anyone who arrives at airports from China can expect enhanced health screenings at airports upon their arrival.

While there is no specific treatment for the 2019-nCoV, other important steps helping protect yourself from this virus or any upper respiratory virus (like influenza) are to practice good hygiene:

·      Wash your hands thoroughly (at least 20 seconds) with soap and water to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. If soap is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.

·      Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

·      Avoid close contact with people who are sick

·      If you become sick, stay home from work or school. 

·      Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects such as cell phones, TV remote controls and other frequently used surfaces.

·      If you have not done so already, there is still time to get a flu shot. Even though it will not protect you from the coronavirus, it increases your chances of staying healthy this winter.

·      Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your sleeve when coughing or sneezing. Throw used tissue in the trash.

Should you wear a face mask? Surgical masks do offer some protection but only when worn properly. According to the Food and Drug Administration, it’s best to wear a face mask that will block large particle droplets and most small particles transmitted by coughs and sneezes.  The FDA recommends one called N95 respirator, which fits snugly across the face and are available at more drugstores. 

David B. Samadi, MD, Urologic Oncology Expert and Robotic Surgeon located at 485 Madison Avenue on the 21st floor, New York, NY – 212-365-5000.  Follow Dr. Samadi at www.samadimd.com,  www.prostatecancer911.com, and www.roboticoncology.com