Coronavirus: Debunking Myths

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Coronavirus, identified as COVID-19 for human beings, erupted in Wuhan, a Chinese city in the Hubei Province, back in December of 2019, and has effected more than 78,000 people around the world.

The death toll for COVID-19 is more than 2,800 in China alone, as per the latest reports.

Coronavirus, is a family of viruses that are common in many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people.

The World Health Organization has declared coronavirus, a “health emergency” globally as it has spread through almost 50 countries and has chances of spreading even more. While, it’s true that there is still a lot to be learned about this infectious deadly virus, there are many things we do know about it, in terms of how it can and can’t be spread and/or prevented.

Coronavirus: The virus and its types that may affect Humans

However, there are many myths associated with coronavirus, which have created fear among people far more than it is supposed to be.

A website source, Business Insider  posted a video in this regards and asked the Senior Director of NYC Health + Hospitals System-wide Special Pathogens Program and a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University to debunk some of the most common coronavirus myths. The video showing those two health experts exposing the myths and the real facts related to COVID-19, has gone viral on social media.

At Baaghi TV, we have gathered up the information and tried to answer seven of these queries:

It is deadly:

Coronavirus, according to US pathologists, is not a ‘death sentence’, and according to the data received:

  • It is only a mild type of a viral infection.
  • It has a 2% fatality rate and effecting mostly those who are already weak or are quite old in age [or were hospitalized previously].

Coronavirus: Court orders Ministers to visit Wuhan

 

It is the most dangerous virus:

It is not the dangerous virus, there are number of viruses that are more deadly like Ebola virus disease which has a more fatality rate.

  • Many people are recovering from coronavirus

However, it is usually not reported much when someone recovers from treatment and/or rest but, there may be more recoveries on the way.

A mask can protect:

It is commonly thought that a mask can protect entirely from the virus, however, while it provides a sense of security, the protection is not guaranteed. The thing that matters is the proper fitting of a mask and the type of mask you use. There are normal masks, surgical masks and then there are special masks N95, which are used to filter out the air-borne particles with 95% efficacy.

  • Doctors suggest the usage of N95 masks as they can filter out air-borne particles with efficacy.

Safety measures against coronavirus

It came from Bat Soup:

This is not true!

What we know from the sources is that it came from the wet market in Wuhan, China, where there are a number of animals, but it is not confirmed that this virus came from somebody consuming the bat soup.

  • It may or may not have been contracted from a bat or any other ‘wild’ animal.

China virus claimed to be linked to bat soup

A packet from China contains this virus:

This virus feeds on a human body and cannot remain outside for a longer period, so considering the time a package takes to get from China, it is likely that the virus gets killed outside a human body, but the doctors are still trying to find out.

  • Seems unlikely, however, doctors are looking into it for potent evidence.

Closing borders will stop the spread:

These types of viruses do not respect borders and are airborne, effectively getting anywhere in the world. It is not the fault of the government that this virus is spreading, it is just in the nature of the virus itself.

  • Closing the borders and putting travel bans only creates fear and panic among the people and can stop them from reporting to a hospital.

However, unnecessary travel and government official tours should be cut down, specially to the epicenter of China.

Which countries are affected by coronavirus in Europe?

It was deliberately created:

Aren’t we giving too much credit to humans here?

It could be very surprising if someone can create a virus. There have been three coronavirus in three decades, one of them is SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and they look exactly alike. These viruses are caused by:

  • climate change,
  • ecological factors,
  • agricultural factors
  • even human behavior.
  • They occur naturally in the environment and so their out break is inevitable.

Antibiotics treat the virus:

Virus and Bacteria are two different microbes and we use antibiotic for a bacterial disease and an anti-viral for a viral infection. If you have flu, you may use an anti-histamine or an anti-allergy, but taking an antibiotic for it, will not work, unless you have a secondary infection that is bacterial in nature.

We’re still in the early stages of the coronavirus disease, there are a lot of rumors around, so people need to go to the credible sources.

  • Go to public health websites that are credible
  • Go to the World Health Organization’s website 
  • Your local health department’s website
  • Your healthcare provider to get more information.

However, do not rely on the authenticity of posts and tidbits forwarded via social media alone. Verify from multiple sources before believing it to be true, and remember to stay safe and keep hydrated!

Coronavirus: Cause, symptoms and prevention

Stay tuned to Baaghi TV for more updates and information.

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