China coronavirus: All you need to know in 500 words

in #steemit4 years ago

A new virus has killed at least 304 people in China and infected more than 14,000 worldwide.gettyimages-1201638596.tmb-479v.jpg
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global health emergency over the outbreak of a new coronavirus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

At least 304 people have died in China and infected more than 14,000 globally, most of them in China.novel-cov-ec-22012020.tmb-479v.jpg
What is a coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

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They circulate in animals and some can be transmitted between animals and humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.

The new coronavirus has been named novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). It is the seventh coronavirus known to affect humans.

What are the symptoms?
Common signs of infection include fever, coughing and breathing difficulties.

In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, SARS, kidney failure and death.

The incubation period of the new coronavirus is thought to be between one and 14 days. The virus is contagious before symptoms appear.coronaviruscloseup.tmb-479v.jpg
How many people are affected?
In mainland China, 304 people have died and 14,380 have been infected, according to official figures.

The Philippines is, so far, the only country to report a death from the virus outside mainland China.

Elsewhere, cases have been confirmed in Australia, France, Spain, Italy, Japan, Finland, the Philippines, Malaysia, Nepal, India, Singapore, South Korea, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Germany, the United Kingdom and Cambodia.