What is known about the deadly 'Wuhan' coronavirus, scientifically nomenclatured 2019nCOv, SO FAR...
1. Local cases had been discovered as earlier as December 8, 2019 around the Wuhan metro area. The slow initial spread offers evidence that it is of zoonotic origin and has now mutated into the human genome. The first cases were dismissed as cases of severe influenza.
2. The outbreak began to kick off around December 31. Evidence is present that Chinese authorities initially tried to suppress information about the illness, and was thwarted by the massive response by citizens and medical personnel on Twitter and Weibo.
3. Around the same time, scientists from the Beijing Military University had decoded the viral genome of 2019nCOv and a patent had been filed, available for viewing on Google. The genome data was released to the rest of the global scientific community shortly afterwards.
4. 2019nCOv is a coronavirus, as is SARS and MERS (Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome) Most coronaviruses are harmless to humans, although some types like the ones mentioned here, are serious and potentially fatal.
5. The primary cause of death in viral pneumonias and influenza results from the body's own immune system going into overdrive, attacking itself and potentially causing organ destruction. Antibiotics are of NO USE against viruses. The only effective treatment for viral pneumonia is early detection and prompt hospitalization, followed by symptom management, fever reduction, fluid and electrolyte replenishment, and antihistamines to reduce severe immune responses. Prophylactic antibiotics are administered in the hospital ONLY to prevent secondary bacterial infections.
6. The city of Wuhan is also the location of TWO BSL (Biosafety Level)-4 laboratories affiliated with biowarfare research. A People's Liberation Army official had issued a warning in 2017 that the threat of a potential "hot agent" escaping from one of the laboratories is real and significant.
7. As of the time of this thread posting:
A. 14 cities in the Hubei provincial region are under mandatory quarantine.
B. Over 1,300 cases in the Hubei area. Still rising, with approximately 100 new cases diagnosed every 8 hours. Over 50 confirmed fatalities. The latest death is a Wuhan Central Hospital physician who had been critically ill for 9 days. It is still too early too establish a mortality rate for this virus, although current WHO estimates still place it around 2%.
C. Over 20 confirmed cases worldwide. All are people who have traveled from Wuhan in the last 3 weeks. None of the abroad cases are fatal as of the time of this posting. There are also 2 confirmed cases in the United States. Both are in stable condition and under quarantine. Over 630 suspected cases are still being monitored all over the world.
PLEASE KEEP THIS THREAD CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED WITH LATEST DEVELOPMENTS.
A spreadsheet showing the latest progression of the spread and morbidity/mortality of 2019nCOv is also available here:
The source is reputed to be from medical staff directly on ground zero at Wuhan's main communicable diseases hospital.
1. Local cases had been discovered as earlier as December 8, 2019 around the Wuhan metro area. The slow initial spread offers evidence that it is of zoonotic origin and has now mutated into the human genome. The first cases were dismissed as cases of severe influenza.
2. The outbreak began to kick off around December 31. Evidence is present that Chinese authorities initially tried to suppress information about the illness, and was thwarted by the massive response by citizens and medical personnel on Twitter and Weibo.
3. Around the same time, scientists from the Beijing Military University had decoded the viral genome of 2019nCOv and a patent had been filed, available for viewing on Google. The genome data was released to the rest of the global scientific community shortly afterwards.
4. 2019nCOv is a coronavirus, as is SARS and MERS (Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome) Most coronaviruses are harmless to humans, although some types like the ones mentioned here, are serious and potentially fatal.
5. The primary cause of death in viral pneumonias and influenza results from the body's own immune system going into overdrive, attacking itself and potentially causing organ destruction. Antibiotics are of NO USE against viruses. The only effective treatment for viral pneumonia is early detection and prompt hospitalization, followed by symptom management, fever reduction, fluid and electrolyte replenishment, and antihistamines to reduce severe immune responses. Prophylactic antibiotics are administered in the hospital ONLY to prevent secondary bacterial infections.
6. The city of Wuhan is also the location of TWO BSL (Biosafety Level)-4 laboratories affiliated with biowarfare research. A People's Liberation Army official had issued a warning in 2017 that the threat of a potential "hot agent" escaping from one of the laboratories is real and significant.
7. As of the time of this thread posting:
A. 14 cities in the Hubei provincial region are under mandatory quarantine.
B. Over 1,300 cases in the Hubei area. Still rising, with approximately 100 new cases diagnosed every 8 hours. Over 50 confirmed fatalities. The latest death is a Wuhan Central Hospital physician who had been critically ill for 9 days. It is still too early too establish a mortality rate for this virus, although current WHO estimates still place it around 2%.
C. Over 20 confirmed cases worldwide. All are people who have traveled from Wuhan in the last 3 weeks. None of the abroad cases are fatal as of the time of this posting. There are also 2 confirmed cases in the United States. Both are in stable condition and under quarantine. Over 630 suspected cases are still being monitored all over the world.
PLEASE KEEP THIS THREAD CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED WITH LATEST DEVELOPMENTS.
A spreadsheet showing the latest progression of the spread and morbidity/mortality of 2019nCOv is also available here:
The source is reputed to be from medical staff directly on ground zero at Wuhan's main communicable diseases hospital.
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