MERS-CoV in San Pedro Laguna - Read and Be informed

Any contagious virus that has no cure and will eventually kill will definitely make people panic. An OFW nurse who flew back from Saudi Arabia has been diagnosed to carry such disease and admitted here in San Pedro. Right now, hundreds of people from Pacita to San Pedro Laguna, as well as the nearby towns are greatly concerned about the news that the virus is in our area now. 

Picture taken from 
scoopnest.com

I am from San Pedro. I have a baby nephew. I am concerned. I am worried!

A screenshot of the text message from a nurse state it so. The text message sounded quite

Picture taken from
ofwkuwait.net

alarming which makes people like us (with less or no clue about what the virus is) panic immediately. On top of that, news from the media announced that DOH had confirmed that 11 patients are showing MERS-CoV symptoms. These 11 out of the 56 are the people that that Filipina nurse have come in contact with. 

Medical masks are almost sold out too.

So I did a little research about what and how MERS-CoV spreads and how to atleast protect yourself and your family from it. I got this info from cdc.gov. There's a lot to know about Coronavirus but below are the FAQ's I've chosen.

Q:What are coronaviruses?

A: Coronaviruses are common viruses that most people get some time in their life. Human coronaviruses usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses.SARS-CoV was first recognized in China in November 2002. It caused a worldwide outbreak with 8,098 probable cases including 774 deaths from 2002 to 2003. Since 2004, there have not been any known cases of SARS-CoV infection reported anywhere in the world.

Q: Who can get infected?

A: Most people will get infected with one or more of the common human coronaviruses in their lifetime. Young children are most likely to get infected. However, people can have multiple infections in their lifetime. 

Q: How do I get infected?

A: The ways that common human coronaviruses spread have not been studied very much. However, it is likely that human coronaviruses spread from an infected person to others through—

• the air by coughing and sneezing, and 
• close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands.

These viruses may also spread by touching contaminated objects or surfaces then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.

Q: What are the symptoms?

A: Common human coronaviruses usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses of short duration. Symptoms may include runny nose, cough, sore throat, and fever. These viruses can sometimes cause lower-respiratory tract illnesses, such as pneumonia. This is more common in people with cardiopulmonary disease or compromised immune systems, or the elderly.

Q: How can I protect myself?

A: There are currently no vaccines available to protect you against human coronavirus infection.  You may be able to reduce your risk of infection by—

washing your hands often with soap and water,

not touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, and

avoiding close contact with people who are sick.

Unfortunately, there's still no cure for this. Even though DOH said that the virus isn't really airborne and that you need to be close to the person with the disease to acquire it, me and my family won't be taking any chances. Please stay safe, everyone.