According to the U.S. News & World Report, “there are 12 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the United States.” Many fear that the virus will continue to spread to thousands of residents. When a virus is unleashed among humanity, the potential for a mass number of fatalities becomes a threat Today, the coronavirus has many people frightened and thousands of others around the world are being quarantined for weeks in their home or a medical facility. The following article discusses the coronavirus outbreak and if there are any available treatment options.
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What Is The Coronavirus?
The virus responsible for the coronavirus (Covid-19) is not the same as the common coronavirus that circulates among humans causing the common cold or mild illnesses. The coronavirus that has had a recent impact on society, can cause viral pneumonia with little help from antibiotics.
Many people diagnosed with the coronavirus are suffering from fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing. However, in more serious cases, the coronavirus can cause organ failure. Medical experts are still conducting research on the coronavirus, but it apparently has a greater impact on individuals with a weakened immune system. In fact, it has had very little to no impact on children, one of the most vulnerable groups in society.
How Did The Coronavirus Spread To An Outbreak?
As a member of the coronavirus that has never been encountered in the past, it took he (World Health Organization (WHO) a while to recognize it as a threat and label it as a public health emergency to reduce the chances of an outbreak in other international territories outside of Wuhan, China where the virus is speculated to have originated.
Many of those initially diagnosed with the coronavirus either worked or shopped at a popular seafood wholesale market in the center of Wuhan.
The coronavirus originally comes from animals and can be spread to humans. The current state of the virus outbreak is not considered to be a pandemic.
How Can I Protect Myself From The Outbreak
Chief Medical Officials are advising anyone that has traveled to mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, or Thailand in the last 14 days and are experiencing a cough, fever, or shortness of breath to stay indoors and call 911, even if the symptoms are mild. The only medical test can determine if someone is infected with the coronavirus. If you suspect you’ve been infected, it’s imperative that you get emergency medical attention right away.
As of February, there have been 2,118 deaths by the Covid-19 outbreak. The virus is suspected of being transmitted from person to person. In fact, this is how it has unfortunately spread in the United States. Unfortunately, because experts don’t know how contagious the coronavirus is, many people impacted by the virus in the United States are being isolated.
Experts are waiting to collect more data to determine how dangerous the coronavirus is to humanity. The mortality rate remains low at an estimated 2%. Knowing the severity of the virus will help health experts combat the current outbreak.
What To Expect If I’m Affected
If you suspect that you’ve been impacted by the coronavirus, your doctor may take a sample of saliva, a nasal swab, or throat swab to send to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) for testing. If you’re experiencing extreme symptoms, you’ll need to be treated in a healthcare facility. The symptoms of the coronavirus can be mild to severe.
Most people will experience the symptoms of infection that include a cough, fever, sore throat, and difficulty breathing. However. all patients suspected of being infected with the virus must be properly accessed and diagnosed by a medical professional.
What Are My Treatment Options
There is currently no antiviral medication available to treat the coronavirus. Consequently, there is no vaccine against the coronavirus either. If you’ve been diagnosed with the virus, treatment options may include:
- isolation
- cough syrup or medication
- rest
- pain reliever
- fever reducer
- plenty of fluid
Many people are given medication to treat their symptoms. If your doctor believes you can be treated at home, they will give the patient treatment instructions. Patients that are very ill should be treated in a hospital.
You may initially see your primary care doctor for a diagnosis. However, you may be referred to a specialist that has a high level of training in infectious diseases, In fact, medical professionals have suggested letting your doctor know if you believe you’ve been infected with the coronavirus before you come in for a diagnosis.
This gives your doctor and the medical staff an opportunity to prepare beforehand, For example, your physician has time to contact infection prevention, contact public health officials, prepare your room, and have a mask ready for you. These are all important measures in keeping the coronavirus under control.
One of the biggest threats of the coronavirus is upper respiratory distress. Patients suffering from severe symptoms may be administered oxygen by a healthcare professional. The upper respiratory symptoms can be combined with a cough or fever and even pneumonia. In fact, it can be spread from person to person under close contact. Patients that are diagnosed with the coronavirus are being asked to limit their contact with other family members, friends, and co-workers.
Infected patients should stay within six feet of other people until otherwise directed by their doctor. With the proper diagnosis and treatment for the coronavirus, patients have a greater survival rate.
Conclusion
Health officials believe most people will recover on their own. The most vulnerable groups are the very young, the elderly, and those with a weakened immune system. Although there is a need to worry over the coronavirus, the WHO insists, “there’s no need to panic.” In fact, U.S. residents are being asked to avoid traveling overseas to eliminate the threat of exposure to the virus.
Research is being done to determine how transmissible the virus is and how quickly it’s spread from person to person. For more details on the impact of the coronavirus in the United States, you’re encouraged to contact your physician or CDC.
