Graphic by Vivian McPherson ’23
BY FIONA HINDS ’21
A new type of coronavirus was discovered in Wuhan, China at the end of December 2019.
A coronavirus is a type of virus that usually affects the respiratory tract in mammals and is often not transmittable to humans. However, coronaviruses can mutate and then pass from animals to humans and from human to human. The strand of the virus currently causing panic is called 2019-nCoV for now, which stands for “2019 novel coronavirus.” This coronavirus is the third coronavirus strain known to cause severe symptoms in humans, the other two being Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
Symptoms of 2019-nCoV include fever, coughing, difficulty breathing, diarrhea and body aches. In more severe cases, pneumonia and kidney failure can occur. The virus can also cause death; as of Jan. 29, the death toll is at 133. However, many of those who died already had compromised immune systems or were in poor health before contracting the virus. According to Time, 2019-nCoV has infected as many as 44,000 people in Wuhan, China.
According to the Washington Post, the coronavirus is thought to be very contagious and is able to be spread during the virus’ incubation period, which is around 10 days. The virus likely spreads through secretions of the respiratory system, such as sneezing or coughing. However, a study published by The Lancet medical journal says that the virus may be able to spread even if those infected have not yet shown symptoms. Because of this, there may be more people infected with the virus who have not yet shown symptoms.
According to NPR, the first known cases of 2019-nCoV were in December 2019 in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Most, but not all, of the original cases were traced back to an animal market. Because of this, the New York Times reports that the People’s Republic of China has shut down all live animal markets until the epidemic is controlled.
Fear of contagion has forced the cancellation of many Lunar New Year celebrations, and Wuhan and 12 other cities are on lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus. The epicenter of the 2019-nCoV is in Wuhan, but there have been confirmed cases in 13 provinces, as well as the municipalities of Chongqing, Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin. However, human to human transmission has only occurred in China as of now.
The United States has reported four cases in Los Angeles and Orange County, California, Seattle, Washington and Chicago, Illinois. However, those infected have been quarantined and are currently in good condition, according to The New York Times.
There is also worry that China may not be able to produce enough protective wear. According to the New York Times, local governments across China are mandating that citizens wear protective gear, such as masks, to lessen the rate of contagion. Moreover, health care workers must wear full protective suits. Shortages of both masks and protective suits may be expected. As highlighted in the Washington Post, there are also concerns about the state of village hospitals, which are often smaller and less funded than city hospitals.
Much of the panic from 2019-nCoV stems from fear of the unknown. The New York Times points out that the common flu kills about 35,000 people a year and hospitalizes 200,000 people a year in the United States alone. However, since other coronaviruses have higher mortality rates than the flu, people are alarmed. Officials are reminding people not to panic. While the disease has been label as “highly infectious” by China’s Bureau of Disease Prevention and Control, it has been deemed less dangerous than SARS and the threat to the American public remains low.
This article has also been translated into Mandarin and French.