Global health and security have been further threatened since December 2019, with the outbreak of the Coronavirus in China. Officially named Covid-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO), The 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) has been declared by the WHO as a “global public health emergency,’’ while Chinese President Xi Jinping described it as the ‘’largest public health emergency,’’ since the founding of the communist Peoples Republic of China as death rate globally hit 2,619 as of Monday, February 24, 2020, with 2,597 deaths in mainland China. The virus has equally spread to 29 more countries aside from China with eight deaths in Iran, seven in South Korea, one each in the Philippines, France, Taiwan, and Japan, and three in Italy. So far, 79,360 cases of Covid-19 have been registered globally with 77, 234 cases in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
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Alarming public health authorities throughout the globe, airports across the world in a bid to contain the spread of the virus have continually deployed measures to isolate passengers with symptoms of Covid-19. With no cure for the deadly virus yet, medical researchers in China and pharmaceutical companies around the globe like Abbvie, Gilead Sciences, and Inovio are working extremely hard to develop cure/treatments for the disease.
Identified as a large family of viruses capable of causing illnesses ranging from the common cold to severe diseases such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV), and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV), the novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that hitherto was not identifiable in human beings. Zoonotic in nature (can be transmitted between animals and humans), investigations found out that civet cats transmitted the SARS-Cov to humans, while dromedary camels infected humans with MERS-CoV. The transmission of coronavirus from animals to human beings is of great concern owing to the fact that several known coronaviruses are spreading in animals and are yet to affect humans.
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Being the most populous black nation on earth and a high immigrant population to China and other parts of the globe including the 29 more affected countries, Nigeria stand a huge risk of recording cases of coronavirus especially as Nigerians living in China are finding their way home amidst the spread of the virus. Despite efforts made by the federal government to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in Nigeria such as closing the Panda Supermarket in Abuja and increasing surveillance in Nigerian airports, it is imperative to educate the Nigerian public on the virus.
Common Signs and Symptoms
- Fever
- Cough
- Short breath
- Difficulties in breathing
Severe Symptoms
- Pneumonia
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
- Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
- Kidney failure
How to avoid contacting Corona Virus
- Washing your hands regularly
- Covering mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing
- Cooking meat and eggs thoroughly before eating
- Avoiding close and physical contact with affected persons and people displaying signs of respiratory illnesses such as sneezing and coughing
- Avoid travelling to China and countries with a high rate of the spread of the coronavirus
Sources:
Who.int
Aljazeera
Pharmaceutical-technology
Featured Image Source: NNX
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