Coronavirus Continues to Spread

As of Feb. 19, the Wuhan coronavirus has killed more than 2,100 people and infected approximately 76,000, continuing to spread by the second. 

First reported in late December 2019, the Wuhan coronavirus is suspected to have originated at a seafood market in Wuhan, China; it was shut down in early January in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus, but it was too late - by then, the virus was being transmitted among people. 

It was first believed that the virus came from snakes at the market, one of the types of wild animals the market sold, but a research paper by the Wuhan Institute for Virology suggests that the virus actually came from the bats, which, according to the New York Times, is the culprit for spreading other major viruses. They are known to carry multiple viruses without getting sick, which may have caused human diseases in Africa, Australia, Bangladesh and Malaysia.

“I think that is if this market was maybe a little bit more sanitary it could have been avoided,” biology teacher Cynthia Cooper said. “I bet it would be less likely to have viruses that cross over from animal populations into human populations. However, I think that as humans continue to encroach on areas where animals live, like the rainforest or the jungle, that we will have more contact with viruses like this one, and have other coronaviruses that develop because coronavirus is a type of virus is not a specific virus. We've had other coronaviruses before.”

After an 80-year-old passenger tested positive for the virus, a cruise ship was quarantined off the coast of Japan. Only getting the results 10 days after the cruise had left Hong Kong, the virus was seen on a Diamond Princess Cruise. Carrying 2,666 guests, 380 of who were American, and 1,045 crew when it cast off and was quarantined after 10 coronavirus cases were reported Feb. 4. The quarantined ultimately failed with 542 passengers testing positive for the virus. Some American passengers decided to come back to the U.S. despite the quarantine not being over. Scheduled to end Feb. 19, those who returned will have to restart a new 14-day-quarantine.

The virus is beginning to spread globally. It has spread to other Asian countries such as South Korea and other areas such as Italy and Iran. South Korea now has 602 cases, the most reported cases outside of China as of Feb. 23. In Iran, 28 cases, with 5 deaths, have been reported just after Iran officials said the virus was not in their borders. Some cases that have been linked to Iran have been found in Canada and Lebanon. Italy is now the host of the largest Coronavirus outbreak outside Asia. 132 cases have been confirmed including two deaths. Italy has taken measures  to prevent the spread including canceling university classes and religious, sporting and cultural events. Authorities are also attempting to cease travel to and from the area the outbreak is occurring in.

“I read in the New York Times yesterday that specialists are predicting that [the coronavirus] will infect three to seven percent of the Earth, that’s a scary statistic; at the same time, I feel that healthcare in be United States is where it needs to be to handle such a virus,” junior Gabriel McDerment said. 

The best way to stay safe from the virus is to avoid contact with people who are sick and to avoid touching areas such as the eyes, nose or mouth; to cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue, staying home if sick and wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

            “We already know what's happening,” sophomore Caitlyn Cox said. “The outbreak has happened and we're already fighting against it as quickly as possible. I mean, if we've learned anything from Ebola, it's going to expand and then go down. I don't really think it's going to be the next plague.”