By now you should know about this pandemic virus which is affecting the lives of people around the world. It’s a new virus infecting people, most likely coming from animals like bats and other intermediate mammal hosts not yet defined.

It started in China where it infected close to 80,000 people with a mortality rate of 2-3%. Mostly affecting the population over 65 and with underlying diseases like heart, lung, hypertension, diabetes and poor immunity like cancer patients. As of now children have not had a major problem with this virus.

It’s a viral respiratory infection transmitted person to person by droplets and may be also airborne. Certainly, surfaces get contaminated from the droplets and the virus can live in those surfaces for hours to days (not well determined yet). It has also has been found in stools so there may be a fecal-oral transmission, not thought at this time to be very significant.

An important point to make is that maybe asymptomatic patients that carry the virus may transmit it. More recently they have found high viral load levels on certain asymptomatic patients which may reinforce this theory and people may be well for about 5 days before they have symptoms.

Sick patients are considered contagious and should be on quarantine at home if stable or under respiratory isolation in the hospital setting.

The virus has spread into the community and this is the reason why we are talking about social distancing and about not going to big gatherings, and probably staying at home as much as possible.

Governments also are self isolating by different means and you have seen what China, Italy, Europe, Israel, and USA have done with international flights.

If you follow instructions of hand hygiene with alcohol products or soap and water for 20 seconds, not greeting people with hand shakes or kisses, avoiding large gatherings and keeping social distance, then most of you should remain well.

Friends and family stay safe at home and follow common sense and guidelines from official agencies like CDC. Practice good hygiene, clean surfaces with agents like bleach or Clorox, and if you have any questions ask your health care provider.

Later on we will discuss about symptoms, transmissions, and diagnosis.

Writen by Dr. Simon M. Edelstein
Infectious Disease Specialist