What is a coronavirus?
A virus is designated under the category of coronavirus if it has the capability of causing illnesses varying from colds to more severe illnesses like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
What is the name of this specific virus?
This virus has been named the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
Where did it orginate?
The virus originated in Wuhan, China. Many of the first reported cases have been traced back to Hua Nan Seafood Wholesale Market, a bustling market with animals and people in close proximity.
How is it transmitted?
Coronaviruses can be transmitted from animals to humans. However, this specific outbreak has shown a tendency to be transmitted from human to human through close contact with infected persons.
What are symptoms of the virus?
Symptoms include:
fever
coughing
headache
runny nose
sore throat
shortness of breath
How many have been infected or died?
Thousands of people have been infected by the illness and more than 100 have died.
Have cases been reported in the United States?
The first case in the United States was reported in Washington.
Has it spread to other countries?
Cases of the coronavirus have appeared in fifteen countries so far including:
Taiwan
Thailand
Japan
South Korea
Malaysia
Nepal
Singapore
the United States
Australia
France
What preventative measures are currently being taken?
An emergency committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) was formed in Geneva, Switzerland, but has not announced an international public health emergency yet.
The Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC) is screening passengers arriving at major airports in the United States upon return from travels in Wuhan.
The U.S. State Deparmtent has issued a warning about travel to China.
What is Wake Forest currently doing about it?
The Student Health Service (SHS) sent an email notifying students, faculty and staff about the situation of the coronavirus on Jan. 24.
SHS is advising students who have recently been to Wuhan to wear a mask and report to the staff so that they can be placed in an isolation room. The staff is also seeing anyone else who reports symptoms of the virus.
Students from Wuhan have also been provided with information about the outbreak and instructed to report to the staff if they experience any of the symptoms.
SHS will continue to assess the situation based on updated protocols and statements issued by the the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC in regard to this breaking issue.
