The United States and the rest of the world are on edge regarding the threat of the next major global disease: the coronavirus.
The virus began in wild animals such as bats, but now multiple strands have started to affect people. A disease that started spreading rapidly through China has begun to move around the globe, spreading to places like Australia, France, Cambodia and Canada. It has now reached the United States, concerning not only government officials but the general public as well - especially UofM students.
As of Jan. 30, the World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. WHO defines this as “an extraordinary event which is determined to constitute a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response.” This declaration compels all countries involved to coordinate a response to contain, prevent and control the spread of the coronavirus.
As of now, according to the CDC, the only states to have cases of coronavirus are Calif., Wash., Ariz. and Ill. The first human-to-human transmission was confirmed in Chicago. Students and faculty are beginning to fear that the virus could soon move to Tenn. - and eventually Memphis. Many are alarmed at the news of the coronavirus, especially with how fast it has been spreading.
Health Studies major Kiara Amador said it is concerning because people can pass the virus along and not know they are. She said most people cannot even identify if they have it.
“I think it’s very concerning that it has spread this far, especially because people can spread it without knowing they have it or showing symptoms,” Amador said.
In terms of some precautions, Amador said there are numerous things people can do to keep up with the disease on their end. “I think it’s very important we all wash our hands, stay hydrated and active, and visit our healthcare providers for regular checkups.”
Chemistry major and Ill. native Brandon Flowers said it is imperative that people cover their mouths when they cough and sneeze, stressing how quickly this and other diseases can spread airborne.
“People have to cover their mouths when coughing and sneezing,” Flowers said. “A disease can spread very fast through the air. We have to practice covering our mouths, washing our hands and using hand sanitizer more often to limit the spreading of the coronavirus.”
Sophomore Tobias Hillis said what worries him the most regarding the coronavirus was the fact that people unknowingly have the illness until it is almost too late, pointing out how the some of the symptoms of the virus are similar to that of a cold.
“What scares me the most regarding the coronavirus is that a lot of the symptoms are not eye-popping symptoms,” Hillis said. “They aren’t coughing up an insane amount of mucus or anything like that. Most of the time, people don’t know they even have it.”
Symptoms of the coronavirus include but are not limited to a fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
