What Causes Coronavirus
The cornavirus that originated in China is currently causing fear worldwide. On January 7 of this year, scientists first identified the new form of the virus as the cause of an accumulation of pneumonia. But what's behind it? We have put together the most important information for you.
Corona virus: transmission from person to person possible
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the new coronavirus called "2019-nCoV" spreads from person to person. Chinese authorities also confirmed that human-to-human transmission of the new virus was found.
This assumption was also confirmed by the WHO at a press conference on January 27. The first person-to-person transmissions outside of China occurred in Vietnam and Germany, among others.
Coronavirus: Various symptoms indicate illness
Coronaviruses in general occur worldwide and are mainly transmitted via droplet infection. According to the World Health Organization, coronaviruses are a large family of respiratory viruses that can cause diseases ranging from colds to Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
Sick people primarily show respiratory infections. The incubation period averages seven days. This means that a week can pass between the infection and the onset of an infectious disease. In contrast, according to the Robert Koch Institute, the novel coronavirus assumes that the incubation period can last up to 14 days.
According to the WHO, symptoms of the current (new) disease are fever (over 38 degrees), cough and / or difficulty breathing. The Robert Koch Institute also lists runny nose, like a mild cold. The WHO also mentions the occurrence of breathing difficulties. "In serious cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death," says the World Health Organization.
Corona virus: transmission from person to person possible
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the new coronavirus called "2019-nCoV" spreads from person to person. Chinese authorities also confirmed that human-to-human transmission of the new virus was found.
This assumption was also confirmed by the WHO at a press conference on January 27. The first person-to-person transmissions outside of China occurred in Vietnam and Germany, among others.
Coronavirus: Various symptoms indicate illness
Coronaviruses in general occur worldwide and are mainly transmitted via droplet infection. According to the World Health Organization, coronaviruses are a large family of respiratory viruses that can cause diseases ranging from colds to Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
Sick people primarily show respiratory infections. The incubation period averages seven days. This means that a week can pass between the infection and the onset of an infectious disease. In contrast, according to the Robert Koch Institute, the novel coronavirus assumes that the incubation period can last up to 14 days.
According to the WHO, symptoms of the current (new) disease are fever (over 38 degrees), cough and / or difficulty breathing. The Robert Koch Institute also lists runny nose, like a mild cold. The WHO also mentions the occurrence of breathing difficulties. "In serious cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death," says the World Health Organization.
Coronavirus study: 83 percent complained of fever
In a study of 99 patients infected with coronavirus in China, the following symptoms were most common, according to a report by The Lancet:
Fever (83 percent)
Cough (82 percent)
Shortness of breath (31 percent)
Muscle pain (11 percent)
Confusion (9 percent)
Headache (8 percent)
Sore throat (5 percent)
Runny nose (4 percent)
Chest pain (2 percent)
Diarrhea (2 percent)
Nausea and vomiting (1 percent)
More than one of these symptoms (89 percent)
Distinguishing between coronavirus and cold or flu is difficult
Important: People are already contagious with the current disease, i.e. the new type of corona virus, if there are no symptoms yet. That is why it is currently so difficult to contain the disease. The Robert Koch Institute commented: "Individual cases have become known in which people have become infected from those who have apparently not yet shown any symptoms."
It is difficult to distinguish between the coronavirus and a conventional flu or a cold - in winter it is season for diseases of this kind in Germany. In Iserlohn, about 20 kilometers southeast of Dortmund, a student reported to the emergency services on January 27 with corresponding symptoms and arranged for his school to be evacuated. However, his symptoms did not later turn out to be the result of the coronavirus. The student complained of fever and sore throat and had previously been in China.
This is how the treatment of the coronavirus works
In the event that you have been infected with the corona virus, the WHO does not prescribe any special treatment - there is simply no specific procedure for this type of virus. The body has to fight the viruses itself.
However, many of the symptoms caused by the coronavirus can be treated. Treatment therefore depends on the patient's condition. People who think they have the coronavirus should see a doctor or hospital and phone the facility in advance so they can prepare and plan treatment.
And what does a treatment look like? According to a report by the renowned medical journal The Lancet on January 24 of the first 41 cases, some of the patients received oral or intravenous antibiotics and the neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir, a drug used to treat viral flu.
Chinese doctors also gave methylprednisolone for severe pneumonia, reports the Pharmaceutical Newspaper. The drug has a decongestant and anti-inflammatory effect. Some patients also received oxygen through the nose or were even intubated.
Corona virus occurs frequently in China
So far, the new corona virus - which belongs to the same family of viruses as SARS and MERS - has appeared frequently in China. Other cases have occurred outside the People's Republic, in countries with high travel volumes to and from China. Current case numbers, affected countries and information on risk areas are listed on the bottom of the Robert Koch Institute homepage.
As the Robert Koch Institute reports, most of those affected had previously been to Wuhan. It is a metropolis in China with eleven million inhabitants in the province of Hubei. The city is considered an important national and international transport hub.
Here the first accumulated cases of a disease with the new coronavirus occurred. As the WHO later announced, the new coronavirus had also been transmitted to other cities in China.
Corona virus warning: Avoid travel to Wuhan (China)
In a study of 99 patients infected with coronavirus in China, the following symptoms were most common, according to a report by The Lancet:
Fever (83 percent)
Cough (82 percent)
Shortness of breath (31 percent)
Muscle pain (11 percent)
Confusion (9 percent)
Headache (8 percent)
Sore throat (5 percent)
Runny nose (4 percent)
Chest pain (2 percent)
Diarrhea (2 percent)
Nausea and vomiting (1 percent)
More than one of these symptoms (89 percent)
Distinguishing between coronavirus and cold or flu is difficult
Important: People are already contagious with the current disease, i.e. the new type of corona virus, if there are no symptoms yet. That is why it is currently so difficult to contain the disease. The Robert Koch Institute commented: "Individual cases have become known in which people have become infected from those who have apparently not yet shown any symptoms."
It is difficult to distinguish between the coronavirus and a conventional flu or a cold - in winter it is season for diseases of this kind in Germany. In Iserlohn, about 20 kilometers southeast of Dortmund, a student reported to the emergency services on January 27 with corresponding symptoms and arranged for his school to be evacuated. However, his symptoms did not later turn out to be the result of the coronavirus. The student complained of fever and sore throat and had previously been in China.
This is how the treatment of the coronavirus works
In the event that you have been infected with the corona virus, the WHO does not prescribe any special treatment - there is simply no specific procedure for this type of virus. The body has to fight the viruses itself.
However, many of the symptoms caused by the coronavirus can be treated. Treatment therefore depends on the patient's condition. People who think they have the coronavirus should see a doctor or hospital and phone the facility in advance so they can prepare and plan treatment.
And what does a treatment look like? According to a report by the renowned medical journal The Lancet on January 24 of the first 41 cases, some of the patients received oral or intravenous antibiotics and the neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir, a drug used to treat viral flu.
Chinese doctors also gave methylprednisolone for severe pneumonia, reports the Pharmaceutical Newspaper. The drug has a decongestant and anti-inflammatory effect. Some patients also received oxygen through the nose or were even intubated.
Corona virus occurs frequently in China
So far, the new corona virus - which belongs to the same family of viruses as SARS and MERS - has appeared frequently in China. Other cases have occurred outside the People's Republic, in countries with high travel volumes to and from China. Current case numbers, affected countries and information on risk areas are listed on the bottom of the Robert Koch Institute homepage.
As the Robert Koch Institute reports, most of those affected had previously been to Wuhan. It is a metropolis in China with eleven million inhabitants in the province of Hubei. The city is considered an important national and international transport hub.
Here the first accumulated cases of a disease with the new coronavirus occurred. As the WHO later announced, the new coronavirus had also been transmitted to other cities in China.
Corona virus warning: Avoid travel to Wuhan (China)
No vaccination against the coronavirus yet
And what about vaccination against the novel corona virus? So far, there is no vaccine. However, the first scientists are already working on it, since it has already been possible to sequence and publish the genome of the virus. The managing director of the global vaccination alliance Gavi Seth Berkley said to the German Press Agency (dpa). The development of a vaccination should take at least a year. Experts suspect that it will only come onto the market when the biggest wave is over.
At the same time, the authorities advise you to have the current northern hemisphere vaccine against influenza before traveling to China. "An influenza vaccination can help to avoid unnecessary suspected cases," says the Federal Foreign Office.
There are currently some protective measures that people must take into account in addition to mouthguards and disinfectants for coronavirus.
Infectiologist gives the all-clear: don't panic about the corona virus
People in Germany do not need to panic, infectiologist Prof. Oliver Witzke told the editorial network Germany. "The relevant offices and infectious medicine clinics and centers are very well prepared for this, and the corresponding plans are in place," said the director of the Clinic for Infectious Diseases and the West German Center for Infectious Diseases, University Medicine Essen.
In the meantime, the most curious conspiracy theories about the coronavirus are circulating on the web. Sometimes it is to laugh, but sometimes it is also to shudder. The fact is, however, that the spread of the virus in China could lead to supply bottlenecks for Chinese products. Above all, there are bottlenecks when it comes to hygiene products. Especially mouthguards and disinfectants have become scarce due to the corona virus. It is a stroke of luck for the discounter Aldi, because he can still offer disinfectants through a long planned offer week.
Also in Bavaria, where the first coronavirus case in Germany became known on January 28, the authorities seem to be well prepared with the so-called "Task Force Infectiology" at the State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL). An alarm plan intended for such cases is currently in effect, which regulates the process of reporting routes in the event of suspected illness and the determination of contact persons.
And what about vaccination against the novel corona virus? So far, there is no vaccine. However, the first scientists are already working on it, since it has already been possible to sequence and publish the genome of the virus. The managing director of the global vaccination alliance Gavi Seth Berkley said to the German Press Agency (dpa). The development of a vaccination should take at least a year. Experts suspect that it will only come onto the market when the biggest wave is over.
At the same time, the authorities advise you to have the current northern hemisphere vaccine against influenza before traveling to China. "An influenza vaccination can help to avoid unnecessary suspected cases," says the Federal Foreign Office.
There are currently some protective measures that people must take into account in addition to mouthguards and disinfectants for coronavirus.
Infectiologist gives the all-clear: don't panic about the corona virus
People in Germany do not need to panic, infectiologist Prof. Oliver Witzke told the editorial network Germany. "The relevant offices and infectious medicine clinics and centers are very well prepared for this, and the corresponding plans are in place," said the director of the Clinic for Infectious Diseases and the West German Center for Infectious Diseases, University Medicine Essen.
In the meantime, the most curious conspiracy theories about the coronavirus are circulating on the web. Sometimes it is to laugh, but sometimes it is also to shudder. The fact is, however, that the spread of the virus in China could lead to supply bottlenecks for Chinese products. Above all, there are bottlenecks when it comes to hygiene products. Especially mouthguards and disinfectants have become scarce due to the corona virus. It is a stroke of luck for the discounter Aldi, because he can still offer disinfectants through a long planned offer week.
Also in Bavaria, where the first coronavirus case in Germany became known on January 28, the authorities seem to be well prepared with the so-called "Task Force Infectiology" at the State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL). An alarm plan intended for such cases is currently in effect, which regulates the process of reporting routes in the event of suspected illness and the determination of contact persons.
