Professor Neil Ferguson, a public health expert at Imperial College in London England, said there might be 100,000 or more people affected by the coronavirus in late January – a mutation of a common virus currently sweeping headlines worldwide. But in late January, there were only 2,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus so far according to the professor. Most of those infected with the virus were in the city of Wuhan in the Hubei province in central China, where the virus is said to have originated.
The virus might have been derived from a wild animal sold at a Wuhan market. In response to the pandemic, authorities in China have publicized a short-term ban on the trade of wild animals. Violators of this ban were threatened with harsh punishments.
This particular virus catching the world’s attention is known as 2019-nCoV. The virus originated from the same family of viruses where SARS and MERS hailed from. All of these viruses were said to have originated in bats, but then these illnesses had spread to other animals before affecting people. The SARS outbreak of 2002-2003 was discovered in palm civets and other small mammals. MERS was unique for having the ability to leap from camels to people.
Medical officials in Canada confirmed a second case of coronavirus in Toronto on January 27. The first reported individual in Canada with the coronavirus was a man in his 50s. The second patient in Canada with the virus was his wife. The pair had travelled to the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Flight CZ311 from Guangzhou China on January 22. Also, 19 people with respiratory symptoms who had also ventured into the Hubei region were being monitored for signs of the illness. Â
Frequent kinds of human coronaviruses, including types 229E, NL63, OC43 and HKU1, can instigate mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses in similarity with the common cold. Symptoms of an infection from a coronavirus might include runny noses, headaches, coughs, sore throats and fevers. Also, those infected by the virus will have a general feeling of unwellness. Human coronaviruses can sometimes cause lower-respiratory tract illnesses, such as pneumonia or bronchitis, especially with people suffering from cardiopulmonary disease. Individuals with weakened immune systems, infants and older adults can also become severely ill from coronaviruses.
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission were the first medical body to identify the coronavirus on December 31, saying this virus was accountable for triggering recent cases of pneumonia in Wuhan. The Public Health Agency of Canada said the risk of catching the 2019-nCoV version of the coronavirus was low as 2019 drew to a close. Yet, the agency also recommended travellers to consult travel.gc.ca for any updates regarding public safety before voyaging abroad.
