What is the coronavirus?
A mysterious new virus that killed nine people in China has now made its way to the United States. Called a “coronavirus,” the bug is in the same family as SARS and MERS, viruses that have also caused deadly epidemics in Asia and other parts of the world.
Like SARS and MERS, the new coronavirus causes anything from mild flu-like symptoms to acute respiratory failure and death in people who get infected. Because coronaviruses are rare and poorly understood, hospitals often misdiagnose cases and don’t take the proper precautions to quarantine patients.
“Coronaviruses contain a strand of RNA within their envelope and cannot reproduce without getting inside living cells and hijacking the machinery found within,” the technology blog CNET reports. “Typically, these types of viruses are found in animals ranging from livestock to household pets and wildlife such as bats. When they make the jump to humans they can cause fever, respiratory illness and inflammation in the lungs. In immunocompromised individuals, such as the elderly or those with HIV-AIDS, they can cause severe respiratory illness.”
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the president of the World Health Organization, called an emergency meeting on Wednesday, January 22nd, to decide how to most effectively respond to the coronavirus. The last time an emergency meeting of the WHO was called, it was in response to the Ebola epidemic of 2014.
-
Calls for Peace Amid Diverse Perspectives on Ongoing Crisis In response to a series of recent demonstrations across Canada,...
-
Celebrity Voices in the Israel-Palestine Dialogue In the midst of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, a group of celebrities has...
-
Devastating Loss of Lives Sparks Outrage and International Concern A devastating Russian attack on the peaceful village of Hroza,...
-
Dutch Research Organization’s Forecast Faces Skepticism from Scientists and Authorities Recent predictions by the Solar System Geometry Survey (SSGS),...
-
Rishi Sunak Explores Policies to Safeguard the Next Generation from Tobacco Harm British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is contemplating...
-
Saudi Arabia Advocates Independent Palestinian State as Key to Peace The Saudi Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan, reiterated Saudi...
-
Justin Trudeau Calls for Answers in the Hardeep Singh Nijjar Case Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has issued a...
-
Disaster Unfolds as Historic Rainfall Devastates Derna, Prompting Global Support Efforts An unprecedented disaster has struck northeastern Libya as...
-
Two-week manhunt ends as fugitive Danelo Souza Cavalcante is apprehended Danelo Souza Cavalcante, a convicted murderer who had been...
-
House Republicans Launch Formal Impeachment Inquiry into President Biden The US House of Representatives has announced the initiation of...
-
International Support Pours In as Morocco Grapples with Tremendous Loss and Injuries Tragedy has struck the picturesque region of...
-
Tensions Rise as the U.S. Takes Action Against Violations of Sanctions and International Law in the Gulf The United...