Hello my dear readers,
Welcome back to Friday Funday.
Honestly, since this Coronavirus or Wuhan virus outbreak, I don’t know if it’s a funday really…
Seems that every year are an estimated one billion cases of seasonal influenza viruses (flu), resulting in 290,000 to 650,000 deaths per year in the world due to complications, and nobody is speaking too much about it.
But still, this Coronavirus or Wuhan virus is pretty worrying.
While the definitive origin of this new virus is still under investigation, it was linked to Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, a wet market in Wuhan, China, which had a thousand stalls selling fish, chickens, pheasants, bats, marmots, venomous snakes, spotted deer and the organs of rabbits and other wild animals, and has led to the presumption of the illness having an animal source.
This has resulted in the fear that it would be similar to the previous SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak from 2002, that started in China, with a total of 8,098 people that became sick, and resulted in more than 700 deaths worldwide. And to not forget that it took more than a year and half to be cleared of it.
There are so many cultures and cuisines in this world, for example the wet markets, are open marketplaces with stalls selling fresh meat and fish, and are considered a traditional form of food retail in large Asian cities, superior to modern supermarkets and grocers for Chinese consumers.
I’m sure who travelled to Asia is very familiar with these wet markets, and I respect all these traditions as this is what makes our world so unique and beautiful, but in these cases, in these crowded markets brimming with everything from freshly caught fish to live poultry and reptiles, these are the perfect places for new viruses and dangerous infections to form and jump between species. I believe the respective authorities should be more careful and have better sanitary rules to keep the markets clean, to tighten regulations and to avoid these kind of viruses to form and spread.
Here in Singapore, the situation of the Coronavirus seems under control but for me is the first time that I experience something like this, and I must admit the situation is not really pink, and I hope authorities will take the necessary actions to avoid the spread as much as possible.
What impresses me the most, is that in one month, this virus travelled around the world! Countries have begun to confirm cases…I can understand the nearby countries, but including USA and Europe. It is really incredible! And unfortunately is the worst period now with the festivities for Chinese New Year!
I take the public transport to go to work and is kind of scary, especially because people without any symptoms can have it and spread it, without even being aware.
They say is spreading through droplets when people cough or sneeze but also by touching an infected person.
So far there are 13 confirmed cases in Singapore, but I’m afraid more will come as according to China’s National Health Commission, the number of confirmed cases in China increased and as per yesterday 30th Jan, there were 7,711 and 170 people had died.
Lots of airlines have begun to scale back or even cancel flights to China as the death toll and number of cases rises.
The common symptoms of Coronavirus are exactly the same as for a normal flu:
- runny nose
- headache
- cough
- sore throat
- fever
- a general feeling of being unwell
Photo credit: The Sun UK
How contagious is this Wuhan Coronavirus?
It seems one infected case would create between 2 and 3 new cases.
WHO (World Health Organisation) Risk Assessment
- China: Very High
- Region: High
- Global: High
Small but very important things that we can do to protect ourselves:
- wash our hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- avoid touching our eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
- cover our mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing.
According to the experts, wearing a mask can limit but not eliminate the risks, provided of course they are used correctly. That means securing them over the mouth, chin and nose, using the bendable metal strip at the top to keep it snug against the contours of the nose. Is most advisable for the people feeling unwell to wear them to avoid the spread while going to the doctor.
I have tried to buy some face masks but unfortunately are all sold out! Hopefully in the next following days we will be able to find some just in case.
Washing my hands for me is something that I do even too often but avoiding touching my eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands is literally impossible for me.
Do you know that researchers found that people touch their faces an average of 23 times per hour?
Well I guess I’m above the average.
Just think about it: I wash my hands and I go to work. While I walk I don’t touch anything, I take the bus and the subway and is impossible to not hold on the handrail so I must touch it, but then I have an itchy nose or face or eyes and here it is, I touch my face!
Or I come back from work, I try my very best to touch as little as possible, but I need to open the door when I reach home right? I need to turn on the light also and then I wash my hands, but in the meantime I’ve touched the door, I’ve touched the light button and the soap dispenser…so unless I have a smart home that is doing everything for me, if any virus was laying on my hands for sure is in my house now.
And this is in the happiest version when someone is not coughing or sneezing in my face!
I’m afraid this Coronavirus is here to stay for a while!
There is no cure for this Coronavirus as there is no cure for the common cold so please stay safe!
Enjoy your weekend and stay safe!
For me, I guess also this weekend I will be at home and I’ll do exactly this
Photo credit: Popsicle Society, cute squirrel that allowed me to take a pretty picture in the gardens of Singapore
Love, R
