എം ടി. ഹൈസ്കൂൾ കുറിയന്നൂർ/അക്ഷരവൃക്ഷം/Novel Corona virus outbreak: “A Global Pandemic” phenomenon

Novel Corona virus outbreak: “A Global Pandemic” phenomenon The coronavirus outbreak that started from Wuhan, China has now gripped over 170 nations. On March 11,2020 the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the corona virus outbreak ‘a global pandemic’. But to many terms such as global pandemic/ pandemic Covid-19, and Ncov-19, are still new. As the new coronavirus spreads around the world, a host of new terms are entering the dictionary despite all of them being a group of completely unfamiliar words, some are new while some are old terms but are used in unexpected ways. Understanding these terms becomes essential as the wrong usage of any of the term could lead to conclusion and uncertainty. Here’s a guide to the words, along with some context you need to know to keep informed of the latest developments. COVID-19/ Ncov-19: The disease that started being referred to as the “Wuhan Corona Virus” and China Coronavirus”, and subsequently 2019 Ncov. Eventually on 11 February 2020, the World Health Organization(WHO) gave the disease an official name COVID-19, using letters from Co- rona Vi- rus D-isease 2019. a coronavirus is a group of viruses that got its name from its appearance. The virus resembles the sun’s corona, which crown- like spikes protrude from its surface that are visible during a solar eclipse. it’s a disease caused by one type of corona virus SARS- Cov-2. SARS- Cov- 2: SARS- Cov-2 is the technical name for the novel strain of corona virus and stands for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2. The virus causes illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. SARS elucidates that the illness causes a possibly severe, abrupt but temporary (intense) diseases which affect the respiratory systems. Pandemic: Pandemic is an outbreak that has spread over multiple countries/ continents or across the globe, affected a large number of people. In the case of Covid – 19, it is now defined as a “world wide spread” of this new disease. On March 11, 2020 WHO officially declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic phenomenon. It is noted the Covid- 19 is at alarming levels of spread and security. The last pandemic was the H1N1 or Swine flu outbreak in 2009 that took over 18,000 lives. Quarantine: The word is extensively used by news organizations, governments, and the WHO. Another similar word that has been used is frequently self- quarantine, that means voluntarily or willingly restricting their movement in virus hit regions. According to CDC, those who seem to see Covid- 19 symptoms or had travelled earlier must separate themselves usually for at least 14 days as they may be potentially exposed to the virus. Incubation period: The period from an individual being exposed/ infected with a pathogen, such as a virus, to showing first signs of symptoms related to the disease. The WHO finding confirms that most patients who become Covid-19 symptomatic do so within 11/ 12 days and the vast majority within 14 days. Hence people who are travelling or shows any covid-19 symptoms are advised to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days to avoid further spread of the disease. Social Distancing: The most effective way to control the spread of contagious disease is by cutting off oneself socially. Social distancing here refers to limiting person to person interaction as much as possible. Avoid public places like offices, gym, restaurants, shopping complexes and all sort of public transport where there is a high probability of transmission. At the community level, it is usually means closing schools, work places, cancelling events, concerts or any huge number of gathering. For individuals it means maintaining six feet of distance between each other while in public and avoiding physical contact with people. Prevention: The measures to prevent infection include hand washing, maintaining physical distance from each others (especially those with symptoms), covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or inner elbow, and keeping unwashed hands away from the face. The use of masks is recommended for those who suspect they have the virus and their caregivers currently, there is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for covid- 19. Management involves the treatment of symptoms, supportive care, isolation and experimental measures. അലിഷ മെറിൻ തോമസ് 7 B എം ടി. ഹൈസ്കൂൾ കുറിയന്നൂർ പുല്ലാട് ഉപജില്ല പത്തനംതിട്ട അക്ഷരവൃക്ഷം പദ്ധതി, 2020 ലേഖനം  സാങ്കേതിക പരിശോധന - mtjose തീയ്യതി: 05/ 05/ 2020 >> രചനാവിഭാഗം - ലേഖനം