It was not created in a lab in China and spread to humans to curb the population. It was not created by the US to harm China because of the trade wars. It was not created by the US to attack some sects in Iran. Despite what the Russians say, the US and/or the CIA did not create and spread the coronavirus.

Gargling saltwater and vinegar will not cure you nor protect you from the virus. There is no vaccine for the coronavirus.

Since there is no vaccine, no one is hiding a vaccine anywhere from anyone. Healthy people aren’t required to wear a facemask unless specifically told to do so by a health care practitioner.

The spread of misinformation is deadly in instances such as these. The Ebola outbreak led to widespread panic and people insisting that everyone should bathe in saltwater to be protected. Lassa fever saw people eating (or not eating) properly cooked bush rats and developing mysterious fevers and dying, then resurrecting afterward.

Misinformation makes it difficult to pinpoint what is truth and how to actually deal with such diseases when they crop up, and that is why we have written this blog post for you about the coronavirus. Yes, it is something to be wary of, and something that we all need to take protective measures against, but it isn’t as conspiratorial as the Internet wants you to think.

What is Coronavirus?

The coronavirus is actually a group of viruses that come from animals and affect humans. The well-known coronaviruses are the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which comes from dromedary camels (camels with two humps); and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) which came from civet cats.

The novel coronavirus which started in Wuhan, China, and has now spread across the world, has been named the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus-2, or SARS-CoV-2, and the disease it causes is called COVID-19.

Where does it come from?

It is unsure where the disease originated from, but reports state that all the first cases were of people who frequent a seafood wholesale market in Wuhan, China.

How Does It Spread?

Yes, animals are the source of the coronavirus, but it is spreading through human-to-human contact. The virus has never been encountered before (which is why it is called ‘novel’), and, as such, information about it is limited. It is known, however, that COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets, or saliva, from an infected person to a healthy person.

What are the Symptoms? Symptoms are similar to those of the flu, such as:

• Fever

• Coughs

• Breathing difficulties

• Muscular pain

• Fatigue

In more serious cases, you have:

• Pneumonia

• Sepsis

• Acute respiratory distress syndrome

• Septic shock, which leads to death

What is the Cure?

There is no cure or vaccine for COVID-19. It does not respond to antibiotics, and as yet no vaccine has been developed. The best way to treat this disease is to treat the symptoms, such as fever and breathing difficulties. Offering supportive care, such as fluid management, oxygen therapy, and antivirals, also works well for those who are infected.

Who are the Most at Risk?

The only people who have died from COVID-19 are people with existing health issues, such as hypertension, diabetes, liver disorders, and respiratory problems, and mostly elderly people. For a healthy individual, your immune system should be able to fight the disease on its own.

How do You Stay Safe?

• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water

• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer

• Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze

• Avoid touching your face if your hands are unclean

• Stay away from anyone who is sick, even if it is the flu

• Clean all surfaces that you touch regularly

• If you are sick, stay home from work and school and all public areas, and call your doctor

• Avoid eating meat that is raw or undercooked

• When visiting live animal markets in areas where the virus has been reported, avoid touching the animals and the surfaces they may have touched.

Check the World Health Organization website before you travel for updates on the disease and advice.

Stay clean, stay safe.