WhatweknowabouttheWuhanvirus新型冠状病毒是个什么“毒

　　国家卫健委消息，截至1月20日18时，境内累计报告新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎病例224例，其中确诊病例217例（武汉市198例，北京市5例，广东省14例）；疑似病例7例（四川省2例，云南省1例，上海市2例，广西壮族自治区1例，山东省1例）。日本通报确诊病例1例，泰国通报确诊病例2例，韩国通报确诊病例1例。

　　国家卫健委高级别专家组20日表示，新型冠状病毒传染已确认存在人传人和医务人员感染。

　　Basic information about coronavirus pneumonia:

　　How common are coronaviruses?

　　These viruses are common throughout the world, infecting both humans and animals. Before the emergence of the newest strain in Wuhan, Hubei province, six strains were known to affect humans, with four of them causing mild respiratory symptoms. The other two strains, SARS(severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS(Middle East respiratory syndrome), are potentially lethal, having together killed about 1,600 people worldwide.

　　Is the new strain discovered in Wuhan linked to SARS or MERS?

　　They all come from the same large family of coronaviruses,but the new strain belongs to a different subgroup.It also demonstrates marked differences in genome sequence from the SARS and MERS-related viruses and appears to be less deadly. However, scientists are cautious of possible mutations of the new strain that could raise the level of risk.

　　What are the symptoms of the new strain?

　　Most patients experiencemild symptoms, including fever, fatigue, dry cough and difficulty in breathing.They can fully recover with effective treatment. In some cases, patients suffer severe respiratory failure, extremely low blood pressure and other life-threatening conditions.

　　How do you protect yourself against the new coronavirus?

　　Due to a lack of knowledge of the new strain, the World Health Organization has so far suggested general protective measures targeting other regular respiratory infections, includingavoiding contact with people infected with respiratory illnesses, washing hands regularly and refraining from touching livestock or wild animals.Medical institutions should step up protection and control measures in their emergency departments.

　　Source: China Daily

　　Editor: Becky Lin