Let’s talk about the corona virus and how it affects the lives of South Africans at the moment.

Firstly, what is the coronavirus?

The name “coronavirus” is derived from the Latin corona and the Greek κορώνη (korṓnē, “garland, wreath”), meaning crown or halo. The name refers to the characteristic appearance of the virus under an electron microscope creating an image reminiscent of a crown or of a solar corona. 

We have had strains of coronaviruses in South Africa for over a hundred years.

Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans, coronaviruses cause respiratory tract infections or gastrointestinal infections that are usually mild, such as the common cold. 

So what makes this current coronavirus so scary? While a typical infection with the coronavirus results in a common cold, they detected a new strain of the virus in Wuhan City in China last year (Wuhan has a population of 11 million people). This new mutation of the virus was stronger than its counterparts and had the ability to cause death in some patients. They called this virus the 2019 Novel Corona Virus. (COVID-19)

How does a virus mutate? Viruses multiply through replication. This means that the virus uses the host to make clones of itself. During this process, sometimes the building blocks of the virus are re-shuffled. Most of these mutations result in the death of that specific virus because the changes are not compatible with life. Sometimes though, the virus mutates and forms a stronger or more aggressive strain. 

How does coronavirus spread? 

Respiratory viruses are traditionally spread through droplets. These fine droplets spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes or through objects that are contaminated with the virus. These droplets are heavy and can usually only travel one meter from the infected person. They settle of surfaces that they land on. We are currently unaware of how long the virus can stay active outside of the human host. We touch many surfaces with our hands and they are the main vector through which the virus spreads. This is the reason why the virus spreads mainly from people in close contact with others that have the virus.

People who are at most risk are people who have increased contact with animals such as live animal market workers or those who are in constant contact with people treating coronavirus infected individuals: such as family members or health care workers.

How do the symptoms of coronavirus present?

The symptoms are varied. Some people only suffer from a mild cold, whilst others can have a fever, respiratory infections such as pneumonia, kidney failure and death.

How is it treated?

There is currently no known treatment for coronavirus and most of the treatment is based on alleviating the symptoms. Treatment and vaccines are in development, but in the meantime, supportive care is the only option.

How do we stop the spread of this virus?

Standard hygiene measures are paramount to stopping the spread. These include covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing. Alternatively, you can cough into the crook of your elbow. Avoid close contact with people who are ill and wash your hands regularly with sanitising soap or alcohol-based detergents. Masks should only be worn by patients who are ill and coughing to prevent their germs from being spread to others. Except for a specific N-95 respirator mask, none of the other masks including surgical masks are any use in preventing you from contracting coronavirus. 

High-risk areas at the moment are countries with a high incidence of COVID-19 cases such as China, South East Asian countries and Italy. Airports are high-risk areas because of the number of foreign travellers in them, so please be cautious when passing through airports.

People who are the most vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus are people with decreased immune systems. This means:

  1. Children under the age of 5 years or adults older than 65
  2. Smokers
  3. Immune Suppressed patients (HIV, Diabetes, Auto-immune disorders etc.)
  4. Pregnant females and newborn children

Thus far there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in South Africa. 133 people have been tested in South Africa and not one of them have been found to have COVID-19. 

At the moment, there is no need to panic, but caution should be taken when travelling, especially to affected countries. Just to put it into perspective, coronavirus has killed 3102 people globally since its discovery in December 2019, whereas UNICEF reports that malaria kills 3000 children in Africa alone every single day. Although coronavirus is very serious, there are other illnesses that are much deadlier and more relevant to us as everyday South Africans. It is important to seek medical care early if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms. Please share your travel history with your doctor.

For more information on COVID-19, we suggest that you visit the World Health Organisation website for day to day updates.