What you need to know right now about the coronavirus—where it’s at and how to avoid it

January 29, 2020 at 02:00AM by CWC

There are currently five confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the U.S. All five people recently traveled to Wuhan, the city in central China, which is the epicenter of the outbreak. And while the outbreak is rapidly spreading within China and to other countries, the CDC says the risk to Americans is very low.

“We are fortunate in that the virus did not originate here, or get imported here, before it was determined how it was occurring,” says Arnold S. Monto, MD, professor of epidemiology and global health at the University of Michigan. “We can institute control measures which the people in China, where it originated, were unable to put into effect early enough to prevent spread.”

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At least 100 people in 26 states who may have the virus are being monitored by the CDC. So far, CNN reports that roughly 25 of them were found not to have it. Over 4,500 people around the world have contracted the virus, and just under half of the total cases are in the Hubei province of China, where Wuhan is located. All coronavirus-related deaths (106, so far) happened in China. Symptoms can include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath.

Dr. Monto has served as an adviser for WHO, consulted with the U.S. Department of Defense on communicable diseases, and visited Beijing during the SARS outbreak in 2003. He adds that SARS, which is also a coronavirus, was controlled not with a vaccine, not with an antiviral, but with public health measures. And it was totally eliminated.

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He adds that SARS, which is also a coronavirus, was controlled not with a vaccine, not with an antiviral, but with public health measures. And it was totally eliminated.

“That was something we did not really predict, and suggests that the virus was not well-adapted to humans, coming from animals,” he says. “And we would hope that the same situation applies here.”

Leana Wen, MD, a visiting professor of health policy and management George Washington University, says the most important things Americans can to do protect themselves is heed travel warnings, and avoid non-essential travel to China. Dr. Wen, who is also the former president of Planned Parenthood, says that while global concern around coronavirus is necessary, Americans should focus their attentions closer to home.

“Americans need to keep in mind that there is a virus right here in our country, that will sicken and kill,” she says. That virus is influenza, which causes the flu.

The CDC estimates that this flu season, more than 15 million people have gotten the flu. It has lead to over 140,000 hospitalizations and between 8,200 and 20,000 deaths. Dr. Wen says it’s not too late to  get the flu vaccine, and urges people to so.

To prevent the spread of any virus that is spread person-to-person, Dr. Wen recommends washing your hands frequently with soap and warm water, cleaning communal surfaces, avoiding touching your nose, mouth and eyes, staying  home when you’re sick, and avoiding those who are sick.

Sorry to break it to you, but sweating out a cold isn’t a thing. But if you still want to workout, here’s how to tell if you’re too sick.

Author Kara Jillian Brown | Well and Good
Selected by CWC