Here’s the latest that you need to know about the new coronavirus
By Betsy McKay Updated March 12, 2020 1:08 pm ET Scientists and public-health officials are learning more about the new coronavirus behind an epidemic that has reached dozens of countries. We are updating our questions and answers regularly to keep up with their findings. Here is what they know so far, and how you can minimize your risk.The Latest on the Coronavirus What is a coronavirus? This virus belongs to a family of viruses known as coronaviruses.
Some patients haven’t had a fever initially or might develop a “walking pneumonia,” meaning they might spread their infection to others because they aren’t sick enough to be in a hospital. But this new virus spreads from one person to another more easily than SARS, some disease modeling and case studies suggest.
The CDC says it expects the virus to spread more widely in the country. Federal and local health officials are preparing for that likelihood and urging the public to prepare to take precautions and for possible business and school closures. Some schools have been closed and events canceled proactively.
To infect new hosts, the virus’s genes undergo mutations that alter its surface proteins, allowing them to latch onto the cells of new species.In the case of SARS, the virus jumped from bats to civet cats before gaining the ability to infect humans. In the case of MERS, camels served as the intermediate host.Coronaviruses can also jump directly to humans, without mutating or passing through an intermediate species.
Scientists are also investigating whether the new coronavirus might spread through urine or feces. Tests have found it in the digestive tract of some patients. The WHO has said it doesn’t believe so-called fecal-oral transmission to be a driver of transmission of Covid-19. Experts are debating how easily the virus is transmitted. The WHO-led mission of experts who visited China reported that clusters of transmission occurred largely in families, suggesting close contact. Other outbreaks suggest more widespread patterns.
Can face masks protect you? Health experts and mask makers say only a properly used reusable N95 respirator mask certified by an independent agency can guard against the virus. Paper or polyurethane foam masks don’t filter out smaller particles responsible for transmitting infectious agents. They might help prevent sick people from transmitting to others.
Surgical masks don’t offer full protection against airborne viruses. They don’t fully seal off the nose and mouth.39.9”These traditional masks are less effective with small droplets, as they can travel farther and in unpredictable paths affected by wind and other gusts. The droplets can be inhaled around the sides of the masks.A coronavirus can also be transmitted by touching an object where airborne droplets have settled.
Surgical masks don’t offer full protection against airborne viruses. They don’t fully seal off the nose and mouth.39.9”These traditional masks are less effective with small droplets, as they can travel farther and in unpredictable paths affected by wind and other gusts. The droplets can be inhaled around the sides of the masks.A coronavirus can also be transmitted by touching an object where airborne droplets have settled.
Get a flu shot, if you didn’t get one already. Stock up on some supplies in case you have to stay home, infectious-disease experts say. To avoid cleaning out store shelves, just buy a few extras on your regular orders or trips to the store. Items to consider include shelf-stable foods like cans of beans, packages of rice and pasta, and beverages; pain relievers and other common medications; extra prescription medications; and hygiene and cleaning products.
Still, cases have been documented. In Macau, a 15-year-old tested positive for the coronavirus despite having no fever or cough, according to that special administrative region of China. Scientists reported in the Lancet medical journal that they identified the coronavirus in a 10-year-old boy who developed no symptoms, even though others in the child’s family fell ill. Chinese news outlets have reported a handful of other potential asymptomatic cases.
Of 44,672 cases in China, 81% had mild symptoms, 13.8% were severely ill, and 4.7% were critically ill, according to the Chinese CDC. All of those who died were in critical condition. Where did the new coronavirus come from? The new virus likely came originally from bats, scientists say. It isn’t known exactly where or how it jumped to humans, though. Viruses from bats often infect another mammal first and then mutate to become more transmissible to humans. One hypothesis is that the intermediary animal for this new virus may be a pangolin, a small mammal sold in wildlife markets, prized for its meat and scales covering its body.
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that 55% of patients in Wuhan who became ill before Jan. 1 had a link to the market, compared with 8.6% of those who became ill after that point. Scientists say it will take some time to identify the exact source.
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