Don't eat bat soup!
It's not clear if the Coronavirus out of China, started because of bat soup, but it's a theory/myth circulating out in the World Wide Web. Bats do in fact carry the deadly virus that can be passed on to humans. In some parts of the world, bats are well used, as food, even considered a delicacy, to using their dung as fertilizer. It's not just about bats, if you think about it, viruses are everywhere and to get caught up in which animal of the many, Coronavirus was initiated from is merely a distraction and fuels our fears and upsets our sense of safety.
We want to provide you with facts, the things we know. There are many things we don't know and will not be dwelling on those details in this article. So, here is a run down of what we do know as reported by the CDC for this country.
- There are several common strains of Coronavirus that many people, even in the US get every year and probably don't even know they have it. It acts much like the common cold.
- There is a new strain of Coronavirus; it is the SARS-CoV-2. The disease it causes is referred to as COVID-19
- Initially, officials assumed it was spread from animal to human, though, now we are seeing human to human transmission.
- As of February 25, 2020, the virus is not spreading in the community of the United States.
- When there is sustained spreading of a virus in a community, it means that people are getting it who have no idea how they came in contact with the disease.
- The threat of a pandemic is high but individual risk is dependent on exposure.
- If you are a typical American who just goes about living a regular life, your risk of getting COVID 19 are very low. If you are an international traveler or caregiver in the healthcare industry, your risk may be slightly higher.
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Symptoms can range from mild to severe. In severe cases, pneumonia and other complications are seen.
- Exposure is 2-14 days
- It is spread through respiratory droplets from someone within 6' of you. It could possibly be spread through infected surfaces, though this does not seem to be the case.
- It is contagious at the first sign of symptoms
- It spreads easily and is sustainable
What is the best treatment? There is not a 'treatment' yet, though the CDC and other entities are working on that. The absolute best treatment is prevention. We say it again and again, yet, as we see with Influenza, few people make much of an effort to contain their germs when they are sick. We insist on going to work, grocery shopping and even hang out at the movies or other activities when we have a sore throat, a cough and even an upset stomach or fever. We send our sick kids to school in hopes that nobody notices. We need to stop doing this!
All of our attention is on the Coronavirus but Influenza is still in full swing and claims many more lives than the Coronavirus has yet.
Let's run through the list of preventative measures you can take today to protect yourself and your family, even our community from any virus.
- Stay home if you are sick...with anything, even minor things.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Discard the tissue in the trash.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Disinfect touched objects in your home frequently
- Wash your hands frequently and for at least 20 seconds
- Use an alcohol based sanitizer if hand washing isn't available. Make sure it contains more than 60% alcohol.
- If you must leave your home, including to go to a doctor's appointment, wear a mask. Many doctor's offices offer you one at no charge when you walk in. It's FREE! Who doesn't love free things?
- Be careful treating yourself with natural things such as oils. Some oils and herbs can actually cause a virus to replicate itself so make sure you know what you're doing before indulging in alternative medicine.
- Contact your provider at Madison Women's Clinic...we can help you get back to good health.
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