How serious is the Wuhan China coronavirus outbreak? NZ Doctor explains official information

 

 
 
Summary of answers:

New virus infection – novel Coronavirus, thought to originate from a seafood market in Wuhan City in China

First case detected in December 2019 in China, Now spread to other regions like Hongkong, Macau, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Australia, France

4000+ confirmed cases worldwide

100+ people have died in China attributed to the virus (many already fragile health)

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause airway infections – common cold to serious lung infections. They circulate among animals

Viruses can mutate at high frequencies and adapt, survive better in changing environments

New strains of coronaviruses may appear periodically, like the ones caused SARS in 2003 and MERS in 2015 outbreak. This is a new strain.

In some people, it has the potential to cause pneumonia, multi organ failure and death. But it doesn’t happen in everybody.

Basic things you can do to protect yourself your friends, family and whanau:

1. Maintaining basic hand hygiene

2. Safe food practices

3. Avoid close contact with people showing symptoms

4. Use of mask

5. Don’t sneeze into the open air

6. Think carefully before you travel