Coronavirus: the four measures that doctors recommend to prevent infection

Coronavirus: the four measures that doctors recommend to prevent infection

The epidemic caused by the Chinese coronavirus (2019-nCoV) continues to claim new victims and victims. According to figures from the National Health Commission in China, the total number of deaths has risen in the last hours to 106 victims and there are more than 4,500 confirmed cases in the Asian country. In Europe, German health authorities have confirmed on Tuesday the first case of contagion of a citizen who was not in China and was infected by contact with a citizen of Wuhan who carried the virus.

The Ministry of Health last week called for peace and assured that there is a "very low" risk of contracting the coronavirus in Spain. The new minister, Salvador Illa, said at a press conference that "our country has sufficient resources and a good coordination system with the Autonomous Communities to act in the event of any eventuality."

Even so, the Ministry of Health itself launched last Friday a protocol of action against possible cases of infection that take place in our country and gave a series of guidelines for the citizen to minimize the risk of infection. The Spanish Society of Preventive Medicine, Public Health and Hygiene (Sempsph) has also recalled what are the basic prevention measures.

Avoid contact
The Ministry of Health recommends avoiding "close contact" not only with people who may have been in the affected area, but with all those who show "signs of respiratory condition such as coughing or sneezing." At first it was thought that the virus was transmitted in only one direction, from animals to people, but the investigations carried out last week confirmed that it can also be transmitted from person to person, through the air droplets.

"In order for the infection to occur, direct contact of the respiratory secretions of an infected animal or of a sick person would be necessary, with the mucous membranes of another person (nose, mouth, eyes)," says the Ministry of Health. The health authorities warn that it is "unlikely transmission by air over distances greater than one or two meters", so it is recommended to maintain a safe distance of one meter with people who have different respiratory conditions.

Frequent hand washing
As with other viruses such as influenza, frequent hand washing is the most effective measure both to prevent infection and to prevent the spread of the virus. This is reflected in the document prepared by Health: "Generic measures of individual protection against respiratory diseases [such as pneumonia caused by the Wuhan virus] include performing hand hygiene (washing with soap and water or alcoholic solutions)".

This washing must be done by rubbing palm on palm with enough soap, then interlacing the fingers, and rubbing the backs of the fingers against the palm. In addition, as recommended by el Sergas (Galician Health Service), you should perform a rinse that includes the area of ​​the forearms and reaches the elbow, and drying with disposable paper towels. "This process should take between 40 and 60 seconds."

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Cover your mouth and nose
The Ministry of Health also advises covering your mouth and nose with tissues or with a cloth when you cough or sneeze. It is more than usual to see how the people we have around us and with whom we agree in public transport cough or sneeze on the hand.

As Vicente Baos, primary care physician at the Collado Villalba-Pueblo Health Center and author of the El Supositorio blog, is an error. "Everyone coughs in the hand. And of course, neither washed, nor gel, or anything. With this level of knowledge / attitude to viral respiratory infections we take it clear if something fat comes." If we do not have disposable tissues, it is best to cover your mouth with your forearm, to prevent possible droplets from spreading through direct contact.

Avoid eating food in affected areas
Finally, although this measure does not affect our country, the Spanish Society of Preventive Medicine recommends that, in the affected areas, the consumption of meat and other foods that are not properly cooked be avoided. This will avoid the possibility that the coronavirus can be transmitted through food.

Despite the existing concern, both the Ministry of Health and various medical societies of our Spanish insist that in our country there are no reasons for the alarm. "Spain has a Coordination Center for Health Alerts and Emergencies of the Ministry of Health, in continuous contact with the WHO and the ECDC, Public Health Alert Units in most of the Autonomous Communities and Preventive Medicine Services in the hospitals in charge of managing the transmission risk ”.

What are coronaviruses and why is the world on alert?

What are coronaviruses and why is the world on alert?

China's health authorities have confirmed that the current outbreak of coronavirus has left 213 dead and more than nine thousand confirmed cases only in the national territory.

According to the latest balance of the authorities 15,238 suspicious cases have been registered, on Thursday, 42 people died in the province of Hubei, in the center of the country, where 1,200 new cases were registered in a day in which the WHO declared a international emergency for the new coronavirus.

Before the spread of this virus, several countries in Asia, Europe and America used the necessary protocols to prevent any possible case, however, patients with the virus have already been confirmed in France, Germany, United States, Thailand, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Vietnam, Canada, Sri Lanka, among others.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday decided to declare the international emergency against the spread of the virus.

"We must all act together to limit the spread. We can only contain this by acting together," WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a press conference in Geneva.

However, the official made it clear that the entity does not approve the travel ban.

"WHO does not recommend and in fact opposes any restrictions" on travel or commerce, added the head of WHO.

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What is a coronavirus?
According to the WHO, coronavirus is a family of viruses that cause various diseases in humans and animals, which can range from a common cold to severe acute respiratory syndrome.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, coronaviruses are common throughout the world, can infect and make people sick.

The new outbreak is called 2019-nCoV and was identified on January 9, 2020 by WHO. The virus is believed to have spread from a seafood market in the Chinese city of Wuhan, but authorities identified cases that had no contact with that place.

Global alert
Both China and WHO have warned about the ease of propagation and in the absence of a vaccine to deal with the virus, have expressed concern to deal with a possible epidemic.

To avoid such assumptions, several airports in Australia, the United States and several Asian countries such as Thailand have begun to carry out medical checks on passengers from China to prevent the spread of the virus.

Measures to prevent coronavirus
Among the advice disclosed by the Chinese state media and the WHO are the use of masks, use handkerchiefs to cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands frequently, avoid crowds, and go to the doctor as Symptoms will be identified soon.

What is Wuhan coronavirus? Symptoms, treatment and how to prevent the disease

What is Wuhan coronavirus? Symptoms, treatment and how to prevent the disease

Wuhan's coronavirus has killed at least 213 people and keeps more than 9,700 infected, according to the National Health Commission of China, which numbers 1,370 the number of patients in serious condition and 124 who have exceeded the illness. Although most cases have been registered in the capital of Hubei Province, the focus of the infection, other major cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin and Guangdong have decreed the highest health emergency and even the outbreak has exceeded the giant's borders. Asian.

There are already eight cities in the affected region surrounded by the Chinese Government to contain the spread of the virus, which in total keeps more than 40 million people confined. Outside of mainland China, there are 10 cases in Hong Kong, eight in Taiwan and seven in Macao. In Thailand, 14 cases have been confirmed; in Japan 11 and in Singapore 10. Also, seven others have been detected in Australia; five in the United States and France; four in South Korea, Germany and the United Arab Emirates; two in Italy, United Kingdom, Vietnam, Canada; and one in Cambodia, Nepal, Finland, India and Sri Lanka.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared on Thursday the international emergency due to the rapid increase in patients affected by the coronavirus. "We declare this alert not because of what is happening within China but because of the situation in other countries, and because [the Wuhan coronavirus] could spread to places with weaker health systems," said WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press conference. The global alert "does not mean that we distrust China: on the contrary, we believe in the full capacity of that country to combat this emergency," said the CEO, who this week traveled to Beijing and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

What is the coronavirus?
Popularly called 'Wuhan virus' in reference to the city where it originated and where most cases are being registered in 2019-nCoV reminds of infections such as the Middle East coronavirus respiratory syndrome (MERS) or acute severe respiratory syndrome ( SARS), which in 2003 led more than 800 people worldwide. These types of epidemics are usually caused by virus from animals that mutate and end up being transmitted to other living things.

An investigation carried out by Chinese scientists suggests that the virus could come from a snake. After locating the germ they have managed to study it to try to determine where it came from and the reasons for its virulence. After comparing it with other known coronaviruses, they soon found that the virus was the mixture of one originating from bats but mixed with another of unknown origin. And that recombination of RNA went to the snakes, as explained in the study published in the 'Journal of Medical Virology'. Although it is not yet known precisely, the coronavirus is transmitted mainly through contact with infected animals or through close contact with the respiratory secretions that are generated with the cough or sneeze of a sick person. On the other hand, the Chinese National Health Commission has just discovered that physical contact is another way of spreading.

Coronavirus symptoms
The World Health Organization (WHO) admits that "not enough is known about 2019-nCoV to draw definitive conclusions about how it is transmitted, the clinical characteristics of the disease or the degree to which it has spread," but it can be look for similarities with other coronavirus strains, which can occur in various ways; from the common cold to acute pneumonia. These are some of the most frequent symptoms among infected patients to date:

• Fever.
• Cough.
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat.
• Headache.
• Muscle pains.
• Fatigue.
• Nasal congestion.

In more severe cases, which usually occur in elderly people or who suffer from some other disease, the infection can also cause:

• Pneumonia.
• Severe acute respiratory syndrome.
• Renal insufficiency.

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Coronavirus treatment
At the moment, there is no cure for coronavirus, but Chinese doctors are working against the clock to develop a vaccine based on past experiences. The Shanghai East Hospital of Tongji University (China) has already announced the urgent approval of a project to produce a joint cure between this medical center and the Stermirna Therapeutics laboratory, but the drug production process is more complex than It seems.

The company's executive director, Li Hangwen, has assured that it will take a maximum of 40 days to manufacture the first samples, which will be based on the new technological generation of messenger RNA (mRNA) and some preliminary procedures. Samples will be sent for testing and taken to the clinics as soon as possible, it has advanced. The vaccine production cycle can last up to five or six months, while the mRNA vaccine has the advantage of a shorter development and production process.

The Spanish Society of Preventive Medicine, Public Health and Hygiene (SEMPSPH) has shared some prevention measures that, in this case, are very similar to those of influenza:

• Avoid close contact with people affected by respiratory infections.
• Wash your hands frequently, especially before and after direct contact with sick people and their environments.
• Maintain a distance of one meter between people (approximately).
• Cover your mouth and nose with your forearm or tissues when you cough or sneeze and wash your hands afterwards.

In addition, SEMPSPH recalled that given the possibility that it can be transmitted through food, health authorities in the affected areas recommend avoiding the consumption of meat or other foods that are not properly cooked. For travelers who have recently visited the Wuhan area, the Sub-Directorate General for External Health recommends:

Avoid close or direct contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections.
Maintain good personal hygiene, especially after direct contact with sick people.
Avoid close contact with live or dead animals and their secretions.
Avoid consuming products of animal origin (avoid meat or undercooked or raw foods).

On the other hand, remember older travelers and those with underlying health problems who may be at risk of getting a more serious illness, so they should assess the risk of a trip to Wuhan with a healthcare professional at an International Vaccination Center ; In addition, due to the high activity of the seasonal flu epidemic in China, travelers should receive the seasonal flu vaccine at least two weeks before the trip, according to national recommendations.

The four expert tips to reduce the risk of infection by Wuhan Coronavirus

The four expert tips to reduce the risk of infection by Wuhan Coronavirus

Before the epidemic of pneumonia due to a new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Wuhan (China), the Spanish Society of Preventive Medicine, Public Health and Hygiene (SEMPSPH) ensures that there is a very low risk of cases occurring in Spain; although it considers that the country has adequate epidemiological surveillance systems to detect any imported case and to activate the isolation measures necessary to prevent transmission.

Since it has been confirmed that the pathogen can be transmitted from person to person through flugge droplets (up to 1 meter away), from SEMPSPH remember that the recommendations are almost the same as to avoid the flu.

Tips to prevent contact

• Avoid close contact with people affected by respiratory infections.
• Frequent hand washing, especially before and after direct contact with sick people and their surroundings.
• Keep a distance of approximately one meter between people, covering your mouth and nose with your forearm or tissues when coughing or sitting and washing your hands afterwards.
• Given the possibility that it can be transmitted through food, the health authorities, in the affected areas, recommend avoiding the consumption of meat or other foods that are not properly cooked.

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What steps to take to prevent coronavirus?

What steps to take to prevent coronavirus?

The coronavirus, known as "Wuhan pneumonia" has claimed the lives of at least 81 people in China and more than 2000 people have been reported, according to data from the National Health Commission of the Asian country.

In the United States, five people infected by the virus have been reported that has led China to close access to several cities to stop the rapid spread.

Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the virus is not an international public health emergency, people around the world are looking forward to what may happen.

Coronavirus is not a global emergency: WHO

The risk presented by the coronavirus is because it is "a new virus" and the human body "has no defenses" to attack it, the epidemiology expert Juan de Llano explained to the Voice of America.

"It is a danger if it really causes an epidemic or a pandemic," said the doctor who is also a professor at Miami Dade College, Florida.

For the specialist, the symptoms are very similar to those of a common cold: cough, runny nose, fever, among others. However, there is an indication that could reveal a more serious situation.

"When a person starts with shortness of breath and this person is not an asthmatic acquaintance or the person does not have these types of problems, they should suspect that something is really wrong," explained the doctor.

To prevent infection, De Llano recommends avoiding contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections. Cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze, use masks and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

"Handwashing is essential, we knock on a door, we knock on an object, then we put our hands to our eyes, our mouths, we eat, we greet (...) and this is how diseases are transmitted more," he said.

The professor stressed the importance of informing with reliable sources: "Contact the health department and try to know if the information you are receiving is correct."

To date, no vaccine or specific treatment is available to combat infection by this new outbreak.

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How to avoid the coronavirus, here we tell you!

How to avoid the coronavirus, here we tell you!

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following daily actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses

There is currently no vaccine to end coronavirus infection. However, the best way to do this is to avoid exposure to this virus, to prevent it.

The origin of the outbreak, whose first cases were detected in December, is found in a seafood and fish market in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

The name of the new virus is 2019-nCoV or Wuhan pneumonia. In addition, it is known that it has a different genome from other coronaviruses, it is new within the family and was not known.

In addition to the Wuhan Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), there are other types of human coronaviruses: the common cold, the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following daily actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses:

•     Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
•     Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
•     Avoid close contact with sick people.
•     Stay home when you're sick.
•     Cover your cough or sneeze with the inside of your elbow, or sneeze into a tissue, then throw it away.

How to protect others

If you have cold-like symptoms, you can help protect others by doing the following

•     Stay home while sick
•     Avoid close contact with others
•     Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands
•     Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces

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Travelers to China should :

•     Avoid non-essential trips to Hubei, including the provincial capital, Wuhan.
•     Avoid contact with sick people.
•     Older adults and travelers with underlying health problems may be at risk for a more serious illness.
•     Avoid animals (dead or alive), animal markets and products that come from animals (such as raw meat).
•     Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
•     If you traveled to China recently and feel sick with a fever or cough or have trouble breathing, you should:
•     Seek medical attention immediately. Before going to a doctor's office or to the emergency room, call ahead and inform them about your recent trips and symptoms.
•     Avoid contact with others.
•     Do not travel while sick.
•     Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze.

How to prevent the new coronavirus

How to prevent the new coronavirus

The experts of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing offer key ideas for health professionals and citizens

The new coronavirus of 2019 (2019-nCoV) is a new respiratory virus that was first identified in Wuhan, China. It is believed that it began through an animal source, the virus is now spreading from person to person. The infection rate continues to increase worldwide, and as with any new virus, public health is the main concern.

The experts at Johns Hopkins Nursing School offer key ideas for health professionals and citizens about how to prevent disease, while remaining ready to face a developing outbreak.

Perhaps the most important thing at this time for US residents. UU. is that they perceive a sense of risk from an infectious agent. Everyone should take measures to reduce the risk of contracting the most common infections circulating at this time of the year, namely the flu and the common cold. "

And simple preventive measures can be very useful.

    "Constantly use good hygiene practices such as hand washing and avoid touching your face, especially your nose, mouth and eyes, as they are entry points for respiratory viruses. "

Having Veenema, PhD, MPH, MS, RN, an internationally recognized expert in preparedness for public health emergencies, says that health professionals should remember the greatest risk that is still on the horizon.

"Every day, health professionals participate in disease surveillance, detection and containment activities in order to protect their patients and their communities from the transmission of infectious diseases. Given the greatest threat of the new coronavirus now in the United States , all health professionals should consider the risk of a larger outbreak. While we constantly maintain standard infection control procedures in your workplace, we must be prepared to respond to a large-scale public health emergency. " .

And according to epidemiological researcher Paul Stamper, MSPH, it's good news that governments around the world are responding as quickly as possible to the information we have about the virus.

"It seems that many health professionals are very involved. The US government is very aware and aware of the situation."

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To the People's Republic of China

You are advised:

•     Provide more information on the risk management measures adopted by their public administrations, including crisis management systems at national, provincial and municipal levels, as well as other internal measures.
•     Improve the execution of rational public health measures in terms of confinement and control of the outbreak.
•     Improve surveillance and active case detection throughout its territory, especially during the celebration of the Chinese New Year.
•     Collaborate with WHO and its partners to conduct studies that allow to know the epidemiological characteristics and evolution of the outbreak, and, more specifically, to determine the source of this new coronavirus, in particular the animals that act as a reservoir and those involved in transmission zoonotic, as well as the understanding of the extent that contagion can reach between people and, where the virus is being transmitted, the clinical characteristics of the infection and the treatment necessary to reduce morbidity and mortality.
•     Continue to provide WHO with complete data on all cases, including viral genome sequences and details on any case or group of cases of infected healthcare professionals.
•     Perform screening tests at the exit of the airports and international ports in the affected provinces in order to detect in time those who present symptoms and, subsequently, subject them to a more detailed exploration and treat them if necessary, while trying disturb international traffic as little as possible.
•     Encourage detection at airports, railway stations and national long-distance bus stations, as necessary.

To the other countries

More cases exported in any country may be registered. Therefore, all countries must be prepared to adopt confinement measures, such as active surveillance, early detection, isolation and case management, contact tracking and prevention of the 2019-nCoV propagation, as well as to provide WHO with all relevant data.

Under the RSI, countries must provide information to WHO.

Technical recommendations (in English) are offered on the https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 page. Countries should primarily seek to prevent the spread of people, avoid secondary transmission and international propagation and collaborate with the international response through multisectoral communication and collaboration and active participation to increase knowledge about the virus and the disease, as well as to boost investigations. In addition, they should respect WHO recommendations regarding travel [1].