coronavirus
Corona viruses were first
discovered in the 1930s when an acute respiratory infection of domesticated
chickens was shown to be caused by infectious
bronchitis virus. Human corona viruses
were discovered in the 1960s.
Corona viruses are
a group of related RNA viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans, these viruses cause respiratory tract infections that can range from mild to lethal. Mild
illnesses include some cases of the common cold (which is also caused by other viruses,
predominantly rhinoviruses), while more
lethal varieties can cause SARS, MERS, and COVID-19.
Symptoms in other species vary: in chickens, they cause an upper respiratory tract disease, while in cows and pigs they cause diarrhea. There are as yet no vaccines or antiviral
drugs to prevent or treat human
corona virus infections.
How did
Covid-19 start?
The
disease appears to
have originated from a Wuhan seafood market where wild animals,
including marmots, birds, rabbits, bats and snakes, are traded illegally.
Corona viruses are known to jump from animals to humans, so it’s thought that
the first people infected with the disease – a group primarily made up of
stallholders from the seafood market – contracted it from contact with animals.
COVID-19 affects different people in
different ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and
recover without hospitalization.
Most common symptoms:
- fever
- dry cough
- tiredness
Less common symptoms:
- aches and pains
- sore throat
- diarrhoea
- conjunctivitis
- headache
- loss of taste or smell
- rash on skin, or discolouration of
fingers or toes
Serious symptoms:
- difficulty breathing or shortness of
breath
- chest pain or pressure
- loss of speech or movement
Seek immediate medical attention if
you have serious symptoms. Always call before visiting your doctor or health
facility.
People with mild symptoms who are
otherwise healthy should manage their symptoms at home.
On average it takes 5–6 days from
when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show, however it can
take up to 14 days.