Coronavirus outbreak in China, which has claimed more than 50 lives and got over 4000 people infected is putting many countries at a high-risk alert. Research has been underway to find the virus’ most specific treatments.
There is hope for a cure as a Hong Kong researchers have developed a vaccine for the deadly virus, but they need time to test it according to infectious diseases expert Professor Yuen.
According to the professor, his team was working on the vaccine and had isolated the previously unknown virus from the city’s first imported case. However, it would take months to test the vaccine on animals and at least another year to conduct clinical trials on humans before it becomes fit for use. The vaccine if successfully tested could save many lives.
“If the vaccine appears effective and safe in a number of animal species, it will go into clinical trials on humans. This takes at least one year even if expedited,” Yuen said.
China, North America, Europe, Asia, HongKong, Macau, Taiwan, Australasia are among countries hit by the coronavirus.
Common signs and symptoms of the deadly virus include a runny nose, cough, sore throat, possibly a headache and maybe a fever, which can last for a couple of days. For the elderly and the very young whose immune systems are weakened, there’s a chance the virus could cause a lower, and much more serious, respiratory tract illness like pneumonia or bronchitis. Usually one gets mild to moderate upper respiratory tract illness, similar to a common cold
The virus was first transmitted through human contact with animals. Human to human transmission of the viruses occurs when someone comes into contact with an infected person’s secretions, such as droplets in a cough, a sneeze or handshake. The virus can also be transmitted by touching something an infected person has touched and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes, and sometimes when a patient’s waste is not handled well.
Health experts note that most of the time, symptoms will go away on their own and but one should seek care early. If symptoms feel worse than a standard cold, one should see a doctor, who can prescribe a pain or fever medication.
