Disease control

A virus grows

A new kind of coronavirus, the group of viruses that spawned the SARS outbreak of 2003, has left China and captured the fears of the public. What do we know about 2019-nCoV?

Andrew Haffner and Samantha McCabe
January 27, 2020
A virus grows
Pedestrians wearing face masks cross a road during a Lunar New Year of the Rat public holiday in Hong Kong on January 27, 2020, as a preventative measure following a coronavirus outbreak which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan. (Photo by Anthony WALLACE / AFP)

This novel strain of coronavirus has sparked headlines and anxieties. With approximately 9,800 cases of viral infection now confirmed worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak on Jan. 30 to be a global health emergency. Browse our interactive map to see where infections have appeared so far.

What is coronavirus?

Coronavirus is an umbrella term to describe a group of viruses that can cause respiratory infections in humans. The SARS outbreak of 2003 was one strain of this virus. Much like that earlier virus, this latest variant — known to medical researchers as 2019-nCoV — is believed to have originated in China, in the hub city of Wuhan. Recorded infections of 2019-nCoV have now surpassed the official count of SARS infections in 2003, when that virus infected more than 8,000 people and killed 774.

As of this update on the current outbreak, a recorded 213 people, all of whom lived in China, have died from 2019-nCoV. According to the Centers of Disease Control, those who become infected by the virus from Wuhan experience acute symptoms like those of pnuemonia, including fever, cough, headache and running nose.

Where are people getting infected?

The outbreak of 2019-nCoV is now confirmed to have infected more than 9,800 people. Roughly 8,000 of those people are in China, where viral infections have been recorded across all regions. The virus has also been transmitted outside of China, and while it’s appeared in the U.S. and Europe, infections beyond mainland China have mainly showed up in Asian countries including Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia. In total, more than a dozen countries worldwide have been affected. There are currently no reported deaths from 2019-nCoV outside of China. See our infections map above to learn more.

What is being done to stop this?

Chinese authorities are attempting to hold a quarantine and travel ban within Wuhan and several other neighboring cities. However, that lockdown includes more than 50 million residents, an unprecedented effort that critics say is unrealistically great. Some national health agencies are turning to measures such as limiting international arrivals with visa controls or installing fever-spotting thermal cameras in airports. However, given the two-week incubation period of the virus, in which a patient may be infected and not yet show any symptoms, those strategies are believed to have limited success. National governments are advising their citizens to avoid travel to China and, in some cases, have begun evacuating their citizens from the country.

What can I do to stay safe?

Health experts suggest preventive measures like frequent handwashing, wearing a facemask in dense public places and avoiding unnecessary travel, especially to China. The latest coronavirus is believed to have spread from animals to humans in a Wuha wet market, an environment common to much of Asia. WHO recommends special caution to avoid spoiled meat and stray animals when shopping in wet markets, as well as thourough hand washing after touching animal products. If you are feeling sick, limit your exposure to others. Researchers are still learning about this latest coronavirus and it’s not yet clear precisely how dangerous it is to an average patient. So far, primarily older people or those with underlying medical conditions, have died.

How can I track the spread of this disease?

Even with preventive action, new 2019-nCoV infections continue to rise. Our interactive map can be used as a reference to see where the virus has been found so far, but keep in mind this data is still changing rapidly. Misinformation is rampant about the virus, its causes, transmission patterns and effects, so double-check with trusted news sources or global public health officials to confirm any information you find on social media or hear from others.



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