The Coronavirus Epidemic – What We Know (NEW VIDEOS)

Coronaviruses are nothing new — they typically cause the common cold — but we can’t ignore the novel type of coronavirus that is spreading from China to other parts of the world. Check out our two latest videos, covering Transmission & Updates and Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, & Vaccine Status, for Dr. Seheult’s summary of all of the information available so far.  

Why This Coronavirus Is Different

The current coronavirus outbreak, which likely originated at a meat market in Wuhan, China, is an RNA virus just like common coronaviruses. However, this strain appears to have jumped from animals to humans, similar to the SARS & MERS virus outbreaks. While there are several hypotheses about the cause of this — covered in the Coronavirus Outbreak – Transmission & Updates video — there is no current consensus. 

Who This Coronavirus Is Affecting

An article published in The Lancet revealed the most common symptoms and basic statistics of those infected with coronavirus. As of January 25, 2020, more than 1,300 people have been diagnosed with at least 41 reported deaths. What’s most interesting, though, is that the rate of infection and death appears to be relatively equal for patients with and without preexisting comorbidities. Our Coronavirus Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, & Vaccine Status video has more of this important information.

What to Do Next About the Coronavirus Outbreak

Although reported cases of coronavirus in the United States and other countries outside of Asia is still relatively low, local additional precautions such as mask wearing may be recommended. As for keeping up on the latest information, statistics, and treatment options, keep tuning in to MedCram, where we’ll aim to share updates as soon as they’re available.