Over the past month, what started as a small group of people infected with a coronavirus in Wuhan, China has grown to an outbreak of over 24,700 cases and 494 deaths as of February 5th, 2020 - see map below. While commonly referred to as the Wuhan Coronavirus, the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (or 2019-nCoV) is a new type of coronavirus that causes a potentially deadly respiratory illness and can be spread from person-to-person. On January 30th, the World Health Organization declared a global emergency after the first person-to-person transmission in the US occurred. So far only two deaths have occurred outside of mainland China, but there are a number of confirmed cases in 28 other countries so far. While it is unlikely at this point that you will come into contact with the virus in the US, it's a good idea to be aware of the symptoms and your risk of contracting the coronavirus. We’re here to help you understand what the 2019-nCoV is, what the symptoms are, and how you can reduce your risk of contracting it.

What is the 2019 Novel Coronavirus?

A coronavirus is a type of virus found in a variety of animal species, such as cattle, bats, cats, etc. Historically, there have only been rare incidences in which coronaviruses has spread from animals to humans, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The CDC has stated that person-to-person spread of these two coronaviruses “is thought to have happened mainly via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread.” The spread of potentially harmful respiratory droplets can be contained by washing your hands frequently, covering your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, avoiding contact with other people if you are sick, and by cleaning and disinfecting objects you have come into contact with. 

This new coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, is believed to have been spread from animals to people at a large seafood and animal market in Wuhan, China. There are now indications that the virus is moving from person-to-person, but as of now it is unclear how easily the virus is spreading. More importantly, the question still exists of whether the coronavirus can be spread before any symptoms arise. Luckily, the mortality rate of this new coronavirus is already lower than that of SARS and MERS, and is only expected to decrease as the gap between confirmed cases and confirmed deaths continues to grow. Another important difference is that the Chinese government has cooperated with the World Health Organization, the US Center for Disease Control, and the worldwide scientific community by sharing their research on the virus. This is a major improvement, since the containment of the SARS and MERS outbreaks were slowed by the withholding of information by the Chinese and Saudi Arabian governments, respectively. The investigation into the cause and containment of 2019-nCoV is ongoing, but as of right now there is a very low health risk for the American public. 

What are the Symptoms?

The three main symptoms of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus are fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. Symptoms should appear anywhere from 2 to 14 days after being exposed to the virus. Because of the potentially long incubation period, anyone experiencing these symptoms should avoid contact with other people for 14 days. Keep in mind that it’s also flu season here in America, so if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms it is best not to assume you have 2019-nCoV. You should still seek medical attention as soon as possible, but just remember that the symptoms of influenza and 2019-nCoV are similar and there are only a few known cases of the coronavirus in America. 

How to Prevent Contraction of 2019-nCoV

The best way to prevent the contraction of 2019-nCoV is to avoid exposure to the virus. While it is highly unlikely that you are going to come into contact with the coronavirus in America, the Center for Disease Control recommends taking these standard precautions:

• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
• Wash your hands frequently with hot water and soap or use hand sanitizer 
• Do not touch your nose, eyes, or mouth with unwashed or unsanitized hands
• Keep your home and workspace clean and disinfected
• Stay at home if you are sick

There is not currently a vaccine or antiviral treatment for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. If you think you have been exposed to the virus, contact your healthcare provider immediately. The CDC strongly recommends avoiding all non-essential trips to mainland China until this outbreak is under control. If you are traveling internationally at all in the near future, please read this guide from the Center for Disease Control.

This blog post was written on January 31st, 2020. To hear the latest updates on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, we recommend the following websites:

The Center for Disease Control

The World Health Organization