Chinese coronavirus: where does this type of disease come from and why is it so dangerous

The total number of people infected with the 2019-nCoV coronavirus in China is approaching two thousand. The number of deaths is also growing - there are already more than 80 of them. Writes about this with the BBC.

Фото: Depositphotos

The type of virus that is currently experiencing an outbreak in China is well known to doctors.

It belongs to the family of so-called coronaviruses, which have previously caused outbreaks of several diseases - for example, the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) epidemic in 2003, as well as the Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers) in 2012. In the case of the first virus, 9% of all those infected died. and during the second epidemic - 35% of cases.

Where do dangerous coronaviruses come from?

The carriers of the viruses that caused the outbreak of Sars, Mers, and the 2019-nCoV coronavirus are thought to be not animals, but animals. They are carriers of many viruses dangerous to humans, but cases of human infection directly from animals, fortunately, are quite rare.

“Most often there is what is called a species barrier, and for the virus it is usually insurmountable,” says Andrew Easton from the University of Warwick.

“But if someone has a weakened immune system or there is some other factor that allows the virus to pass from an animal to a person, this rare case of infection can occur,” the scientist says.

The danger is most often associated with an unusual mutation of the virus.

“As a rule, the virus must change in a certain way so that it has the opportunity to live and grow in a new, unusual environment,” the scientist says.

In rare cases, when the coronavirus is transmitted to humans, things can take an extremely serious turn.

On the subject: 10 tips on not getting infected with Chinese coronavirus or flu on a plane

It is worth remembering that not all coronaviruses are very dangerous: a person constantly encounters their less aggressive varieties. But those that are passed from one species to another can be a big threat.

Why are “interspecies” coronaviruses so dangerous for humans?

“When a virus is transmitted from one species to another, it is impossible to predict how events will develop. It is not unusual for a virus to find a niche in a new environment. And in the early stages of this process, the virus can be very strong,” says Andrew Easton.

The fact is that when a virus unexpectedly passes from an animal to a person, the human immune system is not ready to deal with this particular virus, since it has never encountered it before. And a person is very vulnerable to such viruses.

A similar problem occurs when different types of influenza viruses begin to be transmitted from one species to another.

The deadliest influenza pandemic occurred in 1918-1919. It is believed that humans contracted this type of influenza from birds. Then up to 50 million people became victims of the Spanish Flu.

There is no clear evidence that the current coronavirus can cause such a severe epidemic, however, previous cases of human infection from animals cause doctors to be on their guard.

Can coronavirus spread very quickly?

The good news is that in the initial stages after transmission from animal to human, the virus cannot spread quickly from person to person. “This is another barrier, another obstacle that the virus has to overcome,” says Andrew Easton.

However, then the virus can be transmitted very quickly, and if this happens, the situation becomes extremely serious.

“Viruses, including coronaviruses, mutate at a fairly high rate,” the scientist emphasizes.

Further mutations of the virus could allow it to spread among people very quickly - meaning that the epidemic could cover a large area in a fairly short time.

This happened with the current outbreak of coronavirus in China, so it is necessary to take measures as soon as possible to prevent its spread.

On the subject: What is dangerous virus from China and how to protect yourself

“If someone with a weakened immune system gets it, it could be because they have a medical condition that makes them more vulnerable. However, a healthy person may not become infected. Some viruses are transmitted very quickly, while others, on the contrary, are transmitted very slowly. One of the questions that needs to be answered is what type of coronavirus this new coronavirus is,” says Professor Easton.

What to do when the virus spreads?

The bad news is that the spread of the virus cannot always be stopped with drugs. “There are very few effective antiviral drugs,” the expert warns.

There are a number of other fairly simple and effective measures, such as hand washing and use of medical masks.

“Basic hygiene rules are very helpful. They help protect ourselves and others from many diseases, and at the moment this may be the only available and effective means of control, since in the very near future we will not have any cure for this virus,” says the scientist.

It is also very important how to treat those who have already become infected.

“Another important aspect is to identify infected people as quickly as possible so that they can be helped and thus try to reduce the likelihood of the infection spreading,” says Andrew Easton.

Fortunately, after outbreaks of the Sars and Mers coronaviruses, mechanisms of action at the international level to prevent the spread of the disease have been developed.

“We've seen this happen several times before, and now when certain decisions need to be made, it happens faster,” says Andrew Easton.

Doctors hope that thanks to the findings from previous coronaviruses, the current outbreak - and all subsequent ones - will be less dangerous to people's lives and health.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Influenza is much more dangerous to American health than Chinese coronavirus

10 tips on not getting infected with Chinese coronavirus or flu on a plane

What is dangerous virus from China and how to protect yourself

Chinese epidemic threatens New York: doctor's opinion

Where can I get the flu shot in New York

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.