The Coronavirus has continued to frighten humanity on a global scale. In the past weeks, the spread of the disease has stayed unrelenting while the rescue of a cure remains absent. As of Feb. 10, the virus has killed over 1000 with more than 37,000 infected. These figures are shocking to say the least.
Fortunately, the disease is still of only moderate concern in reference to its immediate effects on the American People. All but one of the fatal cases have occurred within China’s borders (the outlier in the Philippines). However, this is not to take away from the terrible loss of life and well-being that has still debilitated so many and ruefully affected far more.
Added attention and concern was brought to the scene of this virus’ story on Feb. 6 when the first American died from the virus in Wuhan, China. Wuhan, a city of over a million people, is where the disease has originated and been the most prominent.
America’s first sight of the virus began at the embassy in Wuhan. All U.S. citizens there were flown to California and Texas upon finding that the virus had infected several working in the embassy, including the American that passed. The roughly 300 flown to these locations have been in a 14 day quarantine since their arrival back to the states.
Since the events surrounding and including this, there have been 13 reported cases of the virus in the U.S. In addition, all passengers on a cruise ship near Japan were tested for the virus; of the 64 who tested positive, 11 are U.S. citizens as well.
In response, the CDC, after working diligently, has sent out newly approved test labs across the medical centers around the country with the hope of preventing any more spread of Coronavirus.
Additionally, the nation’s seven largest airports (Atlanta, Los Angeles, DFW, O’Hare, Denver, JFK, and San Francisco) have been instructed to extensively screen all passengers arriving from Wuhan and surrounding areas.
The CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) have stated that the risk for Americans is still very low. Exercising general sanitation, in the same way we would act to prevent catching a cold or the flu, should ensure that the disease is not spread further than it has in the U.S. thus far.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom, Director General of the WHO, has said that there is no need to wear face protection or take any major action in defense. He confirmed that 2% of the cases have been fatal, meaning that stopping the virus is still of highest concern among all international health officials.
Ultimately the United States’ medical stability combined with conscientiousness on the part of all of us should be enough to stop the spread within the country. The CDC has continued to assure the public that there is no need for panic or rashness. The fight against Coronavirus must be narrowed to the less developed countries where serious harm is a much closer concern.
