Coronaviruses range from the common cold to much more serious diseases that can infect both humans and animals and are potentially deadly, including the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
Common symptoms include
- runny nose
- headache
- cough
- sore throat
- fever
- a general feeling of being unwell
It can also cause lower-respiratory tract illnesses, such as pneumonia or bronchitis, which is more common in people with cardiopulmonary disease, people with weakened immune systems, infants, and older adults.
Prevention
There are no vaccines available to protect against the coronavirus infection. Most coronaviruses spread through infected people coughing and sneezing, by touching an infected person’s hands or face, etc.
Below are some recommended precautions:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-base hand sanitizer often.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
- Avoid close contact or shaking hands with sick people
- Stay home if you are sick
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
- Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces
- Avoid eating raw or undercooked food and exercise care when handling raw meat, milk or animal organs to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods.
- Avoid sick animals
Recommendations in case of infection or suspected infection
People suspected or confirmed to have MERS need not be hospitalized unless seriously ill. Recommendations for infected individuals and their caregivers include the following:
- Stay at home and away from public places other than necessary to seek medical care.
- Restrict visitors, especially older adults or immunocompromised.
- Wear a disposable surgical face mask when around other people or in public and replace it every few hours.
- Stay in a separate room, use a separate bathroom, and keep separate eating and drinking utensils, towels, clothing, bedding, and other items. These should be washed with soap and water or sanitized with a surface disinfectant known to kill coronaviruses.
- Wear disposable gloves when handling potentially contaminated surfaces or objects, including laundry.
- Wipe all “high-touch” surfaces (countertops, doorknobs, bath fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets) daily, using cleaning and disinfecting products labeled to kill flu and coronaviruses.
In case of contact with infected person, the person should monitor any symptoms for 14 days after the exposure. If symptoms develop, they should seek medical attention and follow the above steps.