By Emely Abreu '21
The newest problem the world is now facing is the outbreak of the Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). What began in Wuhan, China has now made its way to several other parts of the world, including the United States, Britain, and Spain. The scariest part of this is that it has already killed over eight-hundred people, and there is still minimal knowledge about the virus. Although recent cases have since stabilized, doctors and officials from the Hubei Province, the region where the outbreak began, have said not to get our hopes up.
These viruses, in fact, can worsen dramatically in short time. This is particularly frightening in this situation because some regions are still enduring an intense outbreak, and there has been a struggle to prevent further expansion.
Officials are still working to comprehend how easily the virus spreads and how severe the
virus can become once someone becomes infected. Coronavirus infections can range from the common cold to much worse conditions, like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS),
which was a significant issue that also started in China in 2003. It is still difficult for scientists to say how dangerous this branch of the virus is at the moment and various methods, including HIV medication, are being tested to treat patients while a vaccine is developed.
Speaking up about the virus has also been hard. When one doctor spoke about the outbreaks early on, he was silenced by the government, which has not been entirely transparent about the number of infections and deaths. It is not clear whether these numbers are being correctly tracked and if the Chinese government is being truly honest about these statistics, especially with the pressure that the Communist officials place on their provinces.
As of now, the symptoms remain similar to the flu or a common cold, but can worsen with
time. It is important to stay safe, healthy and maintain good hygiene, and to see a doctor if feeling very sick. That being said, we must also remember that it is the peak of flu season,
and many symptoms of this new virus are common during the winter. Therefore, we need to remain informed to prevent useless worrying, and we must remember that the flu has killed thousands of people in the US this year alone, even if it has not been presented as much of a global crisis.
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