By Bernadette Lunas
News about the novel coronavirus (also known as 2019 n-Cov) continues to send many into panic, so much so that the last time I was in a grocery store, the entire shelf of rubbing alcohol was cleaned out, save for a few bottles of “alcologne” with questionable efficacy.
And don’t even get me started on face mask hoarding.
As of Feb. 3, the Philippines has two confirmed cases of n-CoV, both came from Wuhan, with one of them, a 44-year-old, reported dead after developing “severe pneumonia.” The first death due to novel coronavirus outside of China.
“In his last few days, the patient was stable and showed signs of improvement. However, the condition of the patient deteriorated within the last 24 hours, resulting in his demise,” said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.
Hours before the announcement, the government has temporarily banned non-Filipino travelers arriving from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
Currently, the virus has spread in 26 countries and infected over 17,300. The World Health Organization last week declared coronavirus a global health emergency as the outbreak continues to spread outside of China.
The virus is believed to have originated in the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, China, about 650 miles south of Beijing and home to more than 11 million people. As number of confirmed cases in China and abroad continues to increase, authorities hypothesize that human-to-human transmission is possible.
“The virus initially appeared to spread only by very close contact such as hugging, kissing, or sharing eating utensils,” said Dr. David Heymann, chairperson of a WHO committee that is gathering data on the virus.
A good news, however, came from Japan over the weekend, with the National Institute of Infectious Diseases saying it has succeeded in cultivating and isolating the virus from an infected person. The isolated virus will be used to develop a vaccine and drug for the coronavirus, as well as a test kit for quick diagnosis.
Many experts assert there’s no reason to panic or hoard face mask. The Department of Health on Jan. 31 called on to the public to stop hoarding face masks as shortage of supply will affect health workers and those who really need them.
Instead, the Health department recommends easy-to-follow ways to prevent contracting the virus such as regular and proper handwashing, covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, avoiding close contact with people who are experiencing fever and cold or flu-like symptoms, cooking meat and eggs thoroughly, and avoiding unprotected contact with live wild and farm animals.
When washing hands, it’s better to use germicidal soap and warm water. A germicidal soap contains antimicrobial ingredients that fight bacteria and fungi, which can cause a range of illnesses from skin infections to pneumonia.
Use 70 percent rubbing alcohol if soap and water are not available.
The DOH also advises to eat healthy food, such as malunggay, and drink lots of water. Get enough rest and exercise. Vitamin C also helps in strengthening the immune system.