[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/J4fqRLTJGWQ” align=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]So, given the update yesterday from the CDC, many of you may be wondering about this “Coronavirus” coming from China. We’ve had our first potential case here in the US, with a young man in Washington State – highlighting how *global* health and health epidemics now are – just a plane flight away. I just did a segment on this week on CNN and another interview for SmartHER news – here are the 5 things you need to know. (and click below to watch the clip)
- What is it? This is a new virus strain that has never been discovered before – it’s been dubbed “2019-nCoV”. It’s in the same family of viruses (Coronaviruses) as SARS and MERS. Which is why you’re having Dustin-Hoffman-In-Outbreak flashbacks. But the potentially encouraging news is that while those 2 viruses were felt to be “extremely contagious”, it’s felt that 2019-nCoV *may* cause less severe illness – but this is still an unknown.
- What does it cause? 2019-nCoV causes a respiratory illness – in some, that’s mild, with cough, fever, and mild shortness of breath, while in others it can cause severe pneumonia and even death.
- How is it spread? Good question. Unlike SARS and MERS which were extremely contagious from human-to-human, researchers currently believe that the primary method of transmission is from live animals to humans (which is why the majority of people sickened by it have lived in or visited Wuhan, a city in China – and specifically the live seafood and wildlife market there). However, there are people who have developed 2019-nCoV that didn’t go to the market, so the CDC is saying that there does at least appear to be some “limited” spread from human-to-human.
- What do you need to do? Other than avoid traveling to Wuhan (or really, any elective travel to China), follow the exact same steps that you should be following to avoid the flu during this flu season: try to avoid people who are sick, wash hands religiously, use hand sanitizer when you *really* can’t get to the sink, and wipe down everything – from kitchen faucets to the items your kiddos bring home from school (I do this with their backpacks and lunchboxes) – with disinfectant wipes.
- What you REALLY want to know: Should this be keeping you up at night? Not right now. Does this highlight how interconnected we all are now, particularly when it comes to health? Yes – and it definitely concerns me. But for the moment, we need to watch and learn more – and I’ll keep you updated.
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