Coronavirus Soundbites

TTUHSC Experts Weight in on Coronavirus

Coronavirus is like a cold virus that typically leads to upper respiratory infections.
Coronavirus is not a new virus, but this is a new strain which started in December 2019.
It is closely related to the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus seen in 2003.
Information suggests it’s been around for at least 8,000 years. The first human case described was actually in 1965.
The name comes from their crown-like shape surface projections you can see in electronic microscopy images. Corona is derived from Latin meaning crown.

Anyone who has been to Wuhan in the past 14 days or exposed to someone who was there within the same timeframe and is displaying symptoms of the coronavirus. A person who has not traveled to China or been exposed to someone who has is not at risk.
Patients who may be immunocompromised are more prone to getting severe infections with any respiratory virus, not just coronavirus.

Cold-like symptoms—runny nose, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, respiratory failure.
Most of the time, symptoms are non-specific and people handle it well.
There is currently no vaccine or cure for coronavirus.
It is estimated that it would take at least 12 – 18 months to develop an effective vaccine.
Currently, testing takes about seven to 10 days and can only be done by the CDC.

In the air by coughing and sneezing exposing others to air droplets.
Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands.
Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands.

Be smart and take the same precautions you’d use for the flu.
Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer that has at least 60 percent alcohol.
Decontaminate surfaces that someone with a respiratory illness may have touched.
Stay away from people with respiratory illnesses.
If you’re traveling, be extra careful with what you eat or drink or expose yourself to.
Follow the advice of travel physicians or reputable experts before traveling to other countries.

Health experts say be concerned and smart, but there is no need to panic about coronavirus. Mortality rates remain relatively low at 2 percent. Those who have died are the patients who are more at risk of mortality with any infection—those with compromised immune systems, are elderly or have cancer, lung disease or kidney disease.
So far, no children under the age of 15 have been identified as having the coronavirus.
Most Americans are more at risk of getting influenza or measles and there are vaccines for both. There have been 2,100 deaths this year from influenza.
Cannot be transmitted between humans and domesticated animals.