WhooHoo!!! That usually means we are excited about something. Wuhan, on the other hand, brings up an entirely different emotion right now. With the Corona Virus spreading, I wanted to give you some details and precautions that may help!
February is the time of year we start thinking about Spring. We plan summer vacations and weekend excursions, go shopping for a new spring/summer wardrobe, try a new restaurant.
But this year you might first pay attention to news reports about all the viruses around, including influenza and the Wuhan Coronavirus.
Do you believe Punxatawny Phil’s Groundhog Day prognostication that “Spring will be early?” Well, here in North Carolina, Raleigh’s favorite groundhog Sir Walter Wally, predicted six more weeks of winter! In either case, one thing is certain. It is still flu season, which typically runs through March.
And according to CDC estimates, as of February 3rd, there have been at least 19 million flu illnesses. That includes 180,000 hospitalizations and 10,000 deaths from flu in the United States. This link goes to the CDC Influenza website, which is updated weekly.
Add on top of that, the possibility of the Wuhan Coronavirus (2019 N CoV) spreading widely throughout the United States.
The World Health Organization (WHO) designated the outbreak an International public health emergency. As of February 3, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that there are 17,391 confirmed cases of the Wuhan Coronavirus. 17,238 of those are in China. That number is expected to rise.
As of this writing, the Coronavirus is still considered an epidemic (not yet a pandemic). Again, it is primarily in China, where it has spread to all provinces.
A pandemic is a disease spreading widely across more than one continent.
That said, the situation is being watched warily by the World Health Organization, and nations around the world. Of course, this includes the United States. Modern societies are so connected by travel these days, there is no telling how far it could spread.
Therefore, it makes sense to be prepared for emergencies. That is not to say panic. Just assess what resources are available to you, and what actions you would take if they weren’t. Some of those actions could be done ahead of time. Such as purchasing face masks and cleaning supplies. They don’t go bad and can be used later if you don’t need them. I like this book as a great resource guide.
In the meantime, many countries are preparing for an epidemic in their own country. They are placing supplies strategically, training medical personnel, and monitoring public health.
The latest situation summary updates, particularly for the United States, are available on the Center for Disease Control’s web page and on the World Health Organization site.
In the United States, the Coronavirus has been declared a public health emergency.
The threat of the Coronavirus in the US remains relatively low according to health officials today. However, this declaration will clear the way for distribution of emergency health supplies, and tests. Not to mention other actions needed should the virus spread.
The Associated Press reported that U.S. health officials have already tapped into a $105 million rapid response fund. Health officials also notified Congress that they may need $136 million more.
Update on Diagnostic Test
While previously there was no approved diagnostic test for the recently discovered virus, this has changed. The US FDA has now issued emergency use authorization (EUA) of a diagnostic test designed to confirm the presence of the Coronavirus.
The 2019-nCoV Real-Time RT-PCR diagnostic panel was developed by the CDC and its use was limited only to CDC laboratories. The latest authorization from the FDA will enable any CDC-qualified lab across the country to use the test. Efforts are underway to provide the test to laboratories nationwide.
I hope this will allow faster diagnosis without overtaxing the CDC. In an epidemic, there is no way they can effectively cover the whole country.
New Information on Mode of Transmission:
Initially, the Wuhan Coronavirus was thought to be transmitted through exposure to respiratory droplets through coughing, sneezing, and close contact with an infected person.
It is now thought that, in addition to respiratory droplets, the novel coronavirus may also transmit through the digestive tract, specifically the fecal-oral route.
Chinese state media has reported that scientists from the Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University and the Wuhan Institute of Virology recently discovered “virus genetic material” in stool samples and rectal swabs from some patients, according to Bloomberg.
Remember to wash your hands frequently! Washing with plain soap and water is fine. Rub vigorously for several seconds and rinse. Use hand-sanitizer if you don’t have soap and water available. Also, wash the backs of your hands as well. How often do you push open doors with the back of your hands to avoid getting germs on the other side?
According to this report, some patients infected with 2019-nCoV reported diarrhea and not a fever, which has been a more common sign of the illness. This finding is significant to researchers and also to public health officials in preventing spread of the disease.
Bloomberg also reported that the first confirmed cases of coronavirus in the US had suffered from diarrhea before falling ill.
More helpful information on prevention and possible treatment of Coronavirus is on this page. However, our goal is to keep you informed, not offer medical advice. Please let your doctor know if you get sick. Practice good etiquette and hygiene to protect yourself and others. The second item on the list above is interesting.
How many of us think about the fact that taking cold and flu medicines masks symptoms?
Specifically, if your fever is artificially reduced by medicine, that does not mean you are not still contagious!! If you are sick, CDC says you should avoid others until your fever has been gone for 24 hours without the help of medicine.
Did you know that some plants are naturally antiviral? And antibacterial? Some are even natural antibiotics.
Ever tried natural pain relievers? As an example, I recently used pure peppermint essential oil mixed with coconut oil to relieve a migraine when nothing else was working! It is amazing what natural plants can do for you.
Here is more information on this in relation to the Coronavirus.
Interested in natural products? Feel free to check back often! We add new content all the time. Articles with helpful information and often some great deals, too! Research and conventional wisdom also states to get and stay healthy, you need to avoid stress, eat right, and get plenty of sleep. Check out our Health and Fitness category for things that may help!
This link will take you to the WHO website, which will be updated daily.
So we should all take a few simple precautions to help keep our families healthy. Start by following the simple procedures recommended by CDC and WHO, below. As you know, these are the same things that our parents and grandparents always told us:
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
- While sick, limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
- If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. After using a tissue, throw it in the trash and wash your hands.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces that may be contaminated with germs like flu.
Also, don’t forget to disinfect doorknobs, telephones, light switches, refrigerator door handles, microwave handles and buttons, and computer keypads, etc.
Keep hand sanitizer in the car for use after you pump gas, pick up fast food, and so on. Additionally, use of a mask if you are sick or if you are around someone who is sick, or in the case of a widespread outbreak can definitely help.
Coronavirus, flu, and other upper respiratory infections can spread through air droplets. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.
Signs of Infection:
The CDC says Coronavirus and flu symptoms are similar, beginning with a runny nose, cough, and sneezing. And it can be difficult to tell whether you have the flu or Coronavirus at first. Common signs of infection include the above-mentioned respiratory symptoms, fever, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
More and more research has emerged that shows if we are malnourished, or tired and run down, we are more susceptible to illness. This article is not meant to boost sales, but there may be some helpful things for you in our Health and Fitness category, as well.
Can Herbal Medicine Be Used to Fight the Wuhan Corona virus?
There are no specific treatments for the coronavirus at this time. Although one patient has been successfully treated with a combination of antivirals developed for other conditions. Drugs such as Tamiflu may be helpful, although it was developed specifically for influenza and has not been tested for coronavirus.
Many plants used in herbal medicine contain antiviral properties. For example, most of us have heard of Elderberry and may even use it for a cold or flu. The thing to keep in mind is that a plant can help the body as a whole, aiding in prevention and overall wellness.
But an herbal remedy is not a targeted drug. And is not the whole solution, but an important part. In a further update to this article, we will list a few of the plants that contain antiviral compounds.
What About Natural Medicine for treating the Corona virus?
There are natural approaches that can be undertaken to aid in preventing this virus. Or lessening the severity of it, if you do get it. And we will address those and provide links in a future post.
Please note that our listing antiviral herbs and mentioning natural remedies are not a prescription for and are not an endorsement of, those products. But rather provided so that you can make better choices for you and your family based on knowledge of these and conventional treatments.
Here is another resource for you on Corona Virus.
This post was written and compiled by L.H.R. ( I may have edited a couple of paragraphs to make it work for this blog, so any errors are entirely mine.)
Response Magic