Wuhan coronavirus has now reached 6,000 cases worldwide
The coronavirus outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December and it has now spread across the globe.
Today, Chinese authorities are trying to contain the outbreak while other countries evacuate their citizens from Wuhan. At the same time, scientists are racing to learn more about the virus and develop a vaccine.
Here are the latest updates:
- The numbers: In China, 132 people have died and there are at least 6,061 confirmed cases in the country -- surpassing the number of Chinese SARS cases during the deadly 2003 outbreak.
- It's almost everywhere in China: Tibet, previously the last uninfected region of mainland China, announced its first suspected case today. This suggests the coronavirus is no longer just in dense urban areas, but has also spread to remote, rural corners of the country.
- Global spread: Outside mainland China, 91 cases have been reported in over a dozen countries. While most of these cases have a direct link to Wuhan, one case confirmed yesterday was a German man who had not been to China -- indicating human-to-human transmission.
- Evacuations: The US and Japan have already retrieved some of their citizens from Wuhan. Other countries such as Australia, France, India, South Korea and the UK are also preparing evacuation plans for their citizens in the city.
From the CDC (Center For Disease Control)
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people such as with MERS and SARS.
Source and Spread of the Virus
2019-nCoV is a betacoronavirus, like MERS and SARs, all of which have their origins in bats. The sequences from U.S. patients are similar to the one that China initially posted, suggesting a likely single, recent emergence of this virus from an animal reservoir.
Early on, many of the patients in the outbreak of respiratory illness caused by 2019-nCov in Wuhan, China had some link to a large seafood and live animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread. Later, a growing number of patients reportedly did not have exposure to animal markets, indicating person-to-person spread.
Chinese officials report that sustained person-to-person spread in the community is occurring in China.
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About your Dogs and Cats
Coronavirus outbreak: Can YOUR pet carry or spread coronavirus?
Chinese authorities traced the 2019 coronavirus outbreak back to a seafood market in Wuhan, where many of the first infections were discovered.
Experts believe the virus was first present in the meat being sold at the market, which allowed it to cross the species barrier and infect humans.
Coronaviruses are common in animals, and most human viruses first originated in other species.
The virus mutated so it could specifically infect humans, meaning in its current form, it cannot infect animals once again.
Pets, therefore, cannot spread the new virus, but there are other forms of coronavirus animal lovers need to navigate.
The disease has achieved human-to-human transmission, meaning people can pass it between one another, but it cannot be passed back to animals.
Instead, animals have their own strains of the virus to worry about, some of which affect pets.
Scientists have documented several animal strains of coronavirus, including two forms of the disease in cats and dogs, and others in ferrets, mice, pigs and cows.
In dogs and cats coronavirus infections cause mild GI upset- vomiting and diarrhea. In some cats the immune system can respond inappropriately, producing a serious condition called FIP ( but this seldom happens)
SO What to do?
You DO NOT need to worry about your dog and cats getting this.
As far as protecting yourself..one of the secrets weapons...HAND WASHING..often..with soap...for 20 seconds.. ( it's oral transmission)
IF your dog or cat EVER gets a flu virus, there are 3 things that I find particularly help
1. Honey- unpasteurized..local if possible. Antibacterial, antiviral, and great for coughs. 1/2 teaspoon/10lbs twice daily
2. Elderberry. Juice from the berries of this common North American Plant/Tree (there are many outside my door) - 1/2 teaspoon/10lbs twice daily. It is one of the few remedies that has been shown to decrease the severity and duration of colds and flu.
3. Licorice Root Tincture. Proven Ant-viral. Great for coughs. Licorice has been extensively studied, and is a mainstay in Chinese Medicine. Doses of 1/2ml (1/2 tincture dropper) per 20lbs twice daily.
I was dealing with a Cold/Flu myself, and was dosing myself with the above concoction 4 times/day...My symptoms started last Tuesday, and mostly resolved Friday.
As for PREVENTION...
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