Originally posted 2020-01-27 16:26:24.

Well, 2020 sure is starting off with a bang.

If you haven’t been paying attention to the news lately, I can’t blame you – it’s all pretty negative stuff after all.  However, one developing story you should probably be paying close attention to is the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus, which is quickly spreading from its ground zero in Wuhan, China.   Allegedly appearing from one of the open air meat markets in this Chinese city, the virus has rapidly infected many people and there have been confirmed cases in France, Japan, Australia, Malaysia, Nepal,Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and the United States.  (Source) 

By the time this article is published, it will already be out of date in regards to the official case count. 

Coronavirus Symptoms

Per the CDC’s website:

Common human coronaviruses

Common human coronaviruses, including types 229E, NL63, OC43, and HKU1, usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses, like the common cold. Most people get infected with these viruses at some point in their lives. These illnesses usually only last for a short amount of time. Symptoms may include

• runny nose
• headache
• cough
• sore throat
• fever
• a general feeling of being unwell

Human coronaviruses can sometimes cause lower-respiratory tract illnesses, such as pneumonia or bronchitis. This is more common in people with cardiopulmonary disease, people with weakened immune systems, infants, and older adults.

Other human coronaviruses

Two other human coronaviruses, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV have been known to frequently cause severe symptoms. MERS symptoms usually include fever, cough, and shortness of breath which often progress to pneumonia. About 3 or 4 out of every 10 patients reported with MERS have died. MERS cases continue to occur, primarily in the Arabian Peninsula. SARS symptoms often included fever, chills, and body aches which usually progressed to pneumonia. No human cases of SARS have been reported anywhere in the world since 2004.

Diagnosis

Your healthcare provider may order laboratory tests on respiratory specimens and serum (part of your blood) to detect human coronaviruses. Laboratory testing is more likely to be used if you have severe disease or are suspected of having MERS.

If you are experiencing symptoms, you should tell your healthcare provider about any recent travel or contact with animals. Most MERS-CoV infections have been reported from countries in the Arabian Peninsula. Therefore reporting a travel history or contact with camels or camel products is very important when trying to diagnose MERS.

More information from the Centers of Disease Control available here

Now, while there are two confirmed cases in Washington State and Chicago currently in the US, there have been other potential cases springing up in states such as Colorado. 

Now, it’s not time to panic over this (just yet).

However, it’s probably a good idea to make some common sense preparations in case this viral outbreak becomes bigger, potentially becoming the first pandemic of 2020.   Here are some simple things you need to do and think about.

Coronavirus Preparation gear

As of the writing of this article (1-25-2020) there have only been a few confirmed cases of the Coronavirus in the United States.  Even so, I would expect we will see more popping up as we head into February.  So, there are some things it would be wise to stock up on now (just in case!)

• Respiratory masks (N95 or better)

  • I was looking today on Amazon to pick up a few packs of these, and they are already largely sold out.  If you’re not familiar:

    • The N95 respirator is the most common of the seven types of particulate filtering facepiece respirators. This product filters at least 95% of airborne particles but is not resistant to oil. – CDC

  • While a respirator mask might seem kind of silly to be wearing around now, expect these to sell out really fast if we start seeing more cases of the virus appearing in the US.   Generally you can find masks like these in your local big box store. There are also more re-usable models that can have replaceable filters.

• Sanitary Supplies

  • Obviously one of the best things you can do during any sort of time of sickness (hello, flu season)  is to keep your home and yourself as clean as possible.  Think about picking up some extra Clorox wipes, soaps, and some bleach.    Bleach is the most effective method of sanitizing items from a virus (remember, this is a virus and not a bacteria, so antibacterial items are not going to kill it)
    • Since bleach has a limited shelf life, you should consider buying a new batch of it.  For longer shelf life, you can always look into bleach powder which will store a lot longer than bleach does in its liquid form.
  • Along with your cleaning supplies, consider picking up some sterile throwaway gloves, they might come in handy (pun) as well.

• Immune system boosters

  • As with most virulent illnesses, you will always be a greater target to sickness if your immune system is compromised.  There are plenty of vitamins and herbs on the market that can help you keep your immune system up!Some of my favorites include Emergen-C and ZipFizz drink mixes, which taste good and are easy enough to mix in water.  Some studies have shown massive doses of vitamin C help to ward off the common cold and flu.

 

As far as herbs go, there are several you can snag either in a pill form, or just buy the natural form at the grocery store.  Among the most powerful are Garlic, Turmeric, Ginger, and Elderberry.

 

Coronavirus preparation:  best practices

• Maintain good hygiene.

  • Like dealing with any sort of time when illness abounds, such as flu season which we’re already entering into, it’s paramount to be aware of your hygienic practices.  Wash your hands frequently – especially after visiting public places.  Bring a pack of sanitary wipes and wipe down surfaces before you use them, such as shopping carts.  It’s difficult to remember, but any surface you touch can possibly infect you, so think about it when you’re holding the hand rail on a set of stairs, or touching equipment that other people have touched.    It’s a great idea to keep a pack of these sterile wipes handy in your pocket, purse or backpack!

• Reconsider any unnecessary travel plans and avoid mass transit systems if possible.

  • The coronavirus has a an estimated incubation period of anywhere from 3 – 14 days, according to various sources.  Unfortunately, this viral outbreak occurred during the week of the Chinese Spring Festival and New year, which by most accounts is the largest yearly mass migration of human beings.  Since most of the travel restrictions in China were not put into place until Thursday, January 23rd, that means that millions of people could potentially have been infected and traveled around the world.   Thus, it might be in your best interest to postpone any situations where you will be in a mass transit situation – as being in environments with closed air (such as planes, trains and buses) with a lot of other people will increase your potential exposure.
    • Keep an eye out for the number of case increases in the next 7- 14 days.  While of course we hope that this will mostly be contained or burned out, only time will tell.

• If we start seeing more US cases – avoid places where gather en mass.

  • Now, I know this is kind of a tough one to do at this point in time.  We all have to go to work, the grocery store, etc.  But seriously, keep an eye out if we start seeing more cases spring up.  It might be best to avoid public places, especially those where people are using the same equipment and touching the same stuff (places like the gym, movie theater, malls or grocery stores)

• Be prepared to stay home for a while.

  • If things start getting hairy in your local area and cases start appearing, the best coronavirus preparation you can do for yourself is social isolation if the illness comes to your area.  Stay home!  This of course isn’t the case just yet in the US, but if we were seeing similar outbreak levels to what’s occurring now in China, think about what you would need to stay at home comfortably for a month or two.  That includes food, water, toilet paper, and all the other basic necessities of life.  I think it’s a great starting point to have at least 1 month’s worth of food stored away, and really that’s as simple as buying a few 25 lb bags of rice and beans, some canned foods, and other basic items.  Plus, even if there’s no emergency that appears, these foods last quite a long time and you can eat through them as part of your every day routine.  It’s better to have it now, than to have to go out at the 11th hour to try to obtain stuff.

• Keep abreast of new information.

  • Watch the local news and stay informed – especially to see if there are any potential cases that are happening in your area.  While we all hope that this does not become a larger problem outside of China, the best thing you can do is stay knowledgeable about what is going on!   That will help you to make better decisions about what is best for your own situation.

• Don’t Panic

  • The famous phrase from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy applies here.  There’s nothing to freak out about quite yet – and while it is scary to see what’s going on with this virus, in all reality most of the coronavirus preparation steps you need to take are basic common sense.  So, take a deep breath (but not around sick people) and relax.   Will this be the next big world wide pandemic?  Maybe, maybe not.   But being prepared ahead of time will give you some peace of mind knowing that you are ready to tackle whatever potential challenges await!

 

Survivaljunk.com is not a medical practitioner and this article is not to be construed as medical advice.  If you are concerned about your health in any way, please contact your primary care physician.  This article is an opinion piece only and is not meant to be relied on in any way, shape or form. 

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