The New Coronavirus from China Infected 440 People. Why Did the Virus Appear?

by Margot Bafta

In China, the number of new virus infections has risen sharply: physicians have registered 440 confirmed cases of infection. A mysterious disease claimed the lives of nine people.

25 people infected with the virus have already been discharged from the hospital, another 170 are being treated. The condition of 35 patients is assessed as serious. Nine people are in critical condition. Another 126 patients became infected with a mild form of the disease.

Now the number of infected has increased to 440 people, nine older people died. Also, a case of infection has already been registered in the USA. The first US case of Wuhan coronavirus was reported in the state of Washington after a man in his 30s was hospitalized in Seattle on Sunday. The man did not visit any markets connected to the virus in Wuhan, nor did he know anyone ill; the man has only just traveled back from that area.

What We Know About the New Chinese Virus:

  • The virus itself is known to belong to the group of coronaviruses.
  • The 2019-nCoV virus is a variant of the coronavirus that has not yet been transmitted to humans.
  • Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that includes 38 types of viruses, only six (seven with the new virus) of which infect humans.
  • Researchers believe that, most likely, the virus spread to people from animals, but it can also be transmitted from one person to another.
  • The symptoms of infection are fever, cough, shortness of breath.

The first cases of infection with the new Chinese virus were associated with the wholesale seafood market in Wuhan. At this market, visitors can buy not only fish, but also chickens, rabbits, and snakes. It is most likely that one of these species has become a source of infection.

British epidemiologists were right that the virus is transmitted not only from animals to humans. Today, the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China confirms that the virus can be transmitted between humans.

What Can People Do to Protect Themselves If They Travel from or to China?

  • Avoid live animal markets
  • Keep the distance from any animals in rural areas
  • Avoid anyone coughing and sneezing
  • Wash hands often and use a sanitizer
  • Avoid undercooked meat and eggs