Everything you need to know about the new COVID-19 virus

From WhatsApp chains to well-thought-out image captures and uploads to Instagram, the world has been filled with Fake News And real information has taken a backseat. To combat this, today we bring you a post with everything you need to know about COVID-19, sourced from reliable sources.

He COVID-19 originated in China at the end of 2019, and has already infected tens of thousands of people around the world. The virus, an infection with symptoms similar to pneumonia, has already claimed thousands of lives. On March 11, The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Coronavirus a pandemic.

The coronavirus explained by Dr. Manuel Elkin Patarroyo

Dr. Manuel Elkin Patarroyo He is a Colombian immunologist who has been working for years in the development of the malaria vaccineHis research has been the reason why 12 universities around the world have awarded him the distinction of Doctorate Honoris Causa.

The Coronavirus

Its scientific name is COVID-19 and I grant it The World Health Organization February 11, 2020. This is given according to a acronym for coronavirus disease 2019To avoid stigmatizing any group, care was taken to avoid any references to any place, animal species, or group of people.

The new virus is a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and although it is known among the population only by the name “Coronavirus” is really just one variant of this family.

The coronavirus They are a large family of viruses that normally only affect animals. However, some have mutated and acquired the ability to spread from animals to humans. The symptoms they can cause range from the common cold to more serious illnesses such as pneumonia.

Symptoms of COVID-19

The symptoms of coronavirus are usually mild, appear gradually, and often They are confused with those of the common flu, which is why it's important to differentiate them. The big difference between the two diseases is the cough: in one, the cough is mucus-filled, while in COVID-19, it's completely dry.

The coronavirus can begin to manifest itself as soon as 2 days or up to 14 days after exposure to it. The most common symptoms are:

– Very high fever.
– Trouble breathing and shortness of breath.
– Secretion of nasal fluids.
– Sore throat, headache and general malaise.
– Dry cough

New studies have noted other, less common symptoms. According to The New England Journal of Medicine, patients have also presented

– Conjunctivitis
– Dizziness
– Discharge of nasal fluids with blood
- Diarrhea
– Nausea or vomiting
– Chills
– Muscle or joint pain
- Fatigue

In the most severe cases, coronavirus infection causes pneumonia and severe acute respiratory failure, resulting in death.

How to prevent COVID-19

We should not take what is happening with COVID-19 lightly, which is why it is essential that we all comply with the necessary measures to stop the spread of this new virus:

• Wash your hands frequently
• avoid touching your face, especially your mouth and eyes
• Avoid close or prolonged contact with people with symptoms of the infection
• Comply with the measures dictated in our countries and stay home

The vaccine is still in process

Another fake news that has been making the rounds is, "China claims it has successfully developed a coronavirus vaccine" or “China says it has “successfully” developed a coronavirus vaccine.” But unfortunately, this is not yet true.

The truth is that China has not successfully developed a vaccine against the coronavirus, but Phase I is going to begin of human trials. This phase will last until the end of the year and will tell us if it's safe.

Once the first phase is complete, three more remain to confirm its effectiveness, which are the best alternatives, and whether they cause side effects. While all scientists are making every effort due to the circumstances, It is virtually impossible for a useful and safe vaccine to be available in China before next year.

The United States is also working on a vaccine and an effective treatment, which has generated a scientific competition between the two countries. However, it has also become a communications race, so There will be announcements that can be misinterpreted in addition to new Fake News

While social media and communication apps have allowed us to connect with literally everyone, they've also opened a window for the creation of fake news. That's why it's important to consider before believing everything you read on them., look for information from reliable sources, so you don't fall for their tricks. Tell us in the comments. What are your reliable sources?

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