Novel Coronavirus is a previously unidentified coronavirus. The virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is not the same as coronaviruses that circulate widely among humans and cause mild illness such as the common cold. There are many human coronaviruses that usually cause mild upper respiratory illness. COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). This new virus and disease was unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
What is the Source of the Virus?
Coronaviruses, humans, camels is a large family of viruses that are common in many different animal species, including cattle, cats and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect humans and then spread between humans, such as MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and now this new virus (called SARS-CoV-2). The SARS-CoV-2 virus is a betacoronavirus, like MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV. Sequence studies indicate that this virus likely emerged recently from a single animal reservoir
Initially, many of the patients at the epicenter of the outbreak in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, were linked to a large seafood and live animal market There was a connection, which suggested that there was spread from animal to human. Subsequently, an increasing number of patients were not exposed to animal markets, meaning it spread from person to person. The first case of COVID-19 in our country was detected on March 11, 2020.
How is the disease transmitted?
The virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted from person to person. It is thought to spread through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly inhaled into the lungs. Spread is more likely when people are in close contact with each other (within about 1-2 m). In addition, it is transmitted when sick individuals come into contact with the droplets released by coughing and sneezing with other people's hands and then put their hands to the mouth, nose or eye mucosa.
COVID- Can the virus that causes COVID-19 be transmitted through the air?
Studies to date show that the virus that causes COVID-19 is transmitted primarily through contact with respiratory droplets rather than air.
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Can COVID-19 be caught from someone who has no symptoms?
The main route of the disease is through respiratory droplets expelled by someone who coughs. The risk of catching COVID-19 from someone who has no symptoms is very low. However, many people with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms. This is especially true in the early stages of the disease. Therefore, it is possible to catch COVID-19 from someone who, for example, has a mild cough and does not feel sick. When the epidemiological characteristics of the cases in China were examined, it was observed that the average incubation period was 5-6 days (2-14 days) and in some cases it could extend up to 14 days. The contagious period of COVID-19 is not known with certainty. It is thought to start 1-2 days before the symptomatic period and end when the symptoms disappear.
Can COVID-19 be transmitted from the stool of someone with the disease?
The risk of catching COVID-19 from the stool of an infected person appears to be low. Although initial research suggests that the virus may be present in feces in some cases, spread via this route is not a main feature of the outbreak.
Is COVID-19 transmitted through blood?
In general, Respiratory viruses are not known to be transmitted through blood or transfusion, and no cases of transfusion-transmitted coronavirus have been reported.
Can I catch COVID-19 from my pet?
Hong Kong' There is no evidence to date that a dog, cat, or any pet can transmit COVID-19, although there is one example of an infected dog in . COVID-19 spreads mainly through droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. To protect yourself, clean your hands often and thoroughly.
How long does the virus survive on surfaces?
It is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but like other coronaviruses behave is flowing. Studies show that coronaviruses can persist on surfaces for several hours or up to several days. This may vary under different conditions (e.g. surface type, ambient temperature or humidity). When interpreting the duration of activity on inanimate surfaces, it should not be forgotten that not only the continuation of activity of the virus but also the duration of contact is important in transmission.
If you think a surface may be contaminated, clean it with a simple disinfectant to kill the virus and protect yourself and others. Clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth or nose.
Is COVID-19 airborne?
The virus that causes COVID-19 is transmitted mainly through droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks . These droplets are too heavy to remain suspended in the air. Drops quickly onto floors or surfaces.
You can become infected by breathing in the virus if you are within 1 meter of a person with COVID-19 or by touching a contaminated surface and touching your eyes, nose, or mouth before washing your hands
Through food Could transmission occur?
Based on the information so far about this novel coronavirus, foodborne transmission of COVID-19 appears unlikely – additional research is needed.
Who is at risk of developing severe illness?
COVID-2019 appears to develop severe illness more often in patients who are older, have high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, cancer, or diabetes:
>People aged 65 and over
People with serious heart diseases (heart failure, rheumatic valve diseases, cyanotic congenital heart diseases, right ventricular dysplasia, Brugada syndrome, people with myocarditis..)
People living in a nursing home or long-term care facility
People of all ages with underlying medical conditions, especially if they are not well controlled.
People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
People with weakened immune systems (Many conditions can cause a person's cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ damage, etc.) organ transplant, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and long-term use of corticosteroids and other immune-suppressing medications may cause immunodeficiency.)
People with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 40)
People with diabetes
People with chronic kidney disease on dialysis
People with liver disease
People who are pregnant are at risk of serious viral diseases They should be monitored because they are known to be at risk, but to date data on COVID-19 has not shown an increased risk
Smokers contract the disease more frequently and suffer from it more severely. Is he at risk?
In publications originating from China, it has been determined that "the risk of developing pneumonia due to COVID-19 is 15 times higher in smokers who contract COVID-19." It is a known fact that the use of cigarettes, hookahs and e-cigarettes causes infection in the lungs and suppression of the immune system to some extent. Smoking makes it difficult for the hair-like mechanism in the respiratory tract, called cilia, to work. These cilia cover the entire respiratory tract and work in the opposite direction of the respiratory route, ensuring that the particles that enter the body with the air, are retained by mucus, and are expelled through phlegm, move towards the mouth and nose. Smoking puts extra load on these cilia, making it harder for them to work. This makes it difficult to clean the respiratory tract and lungs.
During respiratory tract infection in the lungs, cigarettes and e-cigarettes also damage the structure of white blood cells called "neutrophils", which are responsible for clearing the infection, and intubated patients are more prone to hospital infections. becomes prone. It is estimated that this is caused by cigarette and e-cigarette smoke preventing the functioning of white blood cells called neutrophils. Suppressing the work of these immune cells working in the respiratory tract may also facilitate the development of many respiratory diseases, especially COVID-19. Harvard University Immunology Specialist Prof. Dr. Derya Unutmaz also said, "80-85% of coronavirus deaths in China and America are among smokers and those who recover." 90% of the infected patients are non-smokers... The damage caused by the coronavirus in smokers is 15 times greater than in a normal person. If you quit smoking today, even now, it will be very beneficial. Smokers urgently need to quit smoking. Otherwise, intensive care and other treatments do not have much of an effect on these people.
As it is known, the virus called SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19 disease and is popularly known as "Corona virus", is most easily activated in the body by attaching to a protein called ACE2. According to research, this suppression we mentioned revealed that the gene encoding the ACE2 protein, which the coronavirus uses to infect cells, is more active in smokers than in non-smokers. Of course, none of these studies can accurately predict the extent to which smoking will affect the current epidemic. However, considering that cigarettes and e-cigarettes seriously damage the immune system, it would not be wrong to assume that they can worsen coronavirus infections. The damage that cigarettes and e-cigarettes do to the respiratory tract and lungs is known. Therefore, although quitting smoking and e-cigarette use is always a very important action, it is especially important during the Covid-19 global epidemic that has ravaged the whole world.
Also, the ACE inhibitor shared on social media and groups It is nothing more than a rumor that blood pressure medications, which we call ARBs, are harmful. There is absolutely no scientific evidence and none of our patients should give up on a treatment that has been proven to be beneficial, otherwise blood pressure may rise, heart failure may increase, conditions requiring intensive care, strokes and heart attacks may increase.
Rinsing the nose with salt water is new. Does it help prevent coronavirus infection?
There is no evidence that rinsing the nose with salt water protects people against new coronavirus infection.
What kind of symptoms occur?
Current symptoms reported for COVID-19 patients include mild to severe respiratory illnesses with fever, cough and difficulty breathing. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but do not have any symptoms
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