The Coronavirus in Sri Lanka
The first case of the coronavirus from Sri Lanka was reported on the 27th of January as officials found an infected 43-year-old female chines national. In quarantine at the national institute of infectious diseases. While the numbers continue to grow as the coronavirus outbreak spreads the globe.
The reality of the situation still doesn’t call for a reason for Lankans to panic. A report by CNN specifies that though the number of confirmed cases today has topped 9,800, almost 9,700 of them are limited to china. With only one death being reported outside of China, in the Philippines.
Further, the mortality rate of this virus is still much lower than the 2003 SARS outbreak. Which claimed 774 lives in 8 months. While the local government continues to do everything in their power, to ensure that this epidemic does not take hold in Sri Lanka.
It is pivotal for us as citizens to be aware of the protocol for a situation such as these and not be alarmed with misinformation.
Here are a few steps you can follow to ensure your safety during this time:
1- Avoid going into public places as much possible, but if you do, make sure to wear a face mask.
2- Proper protocol is to wear your face mask with color side out.
3- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or an alcohol-based rub.
4- If you are showing symptoms of a cold/fever, see to a doctor immediately.
Sri Lanka is on alert about the new coronavirus 2019, which was initially reported at Wuhan city in China. Then spread into several other towns and provinces in China as well as some Asian countries and some other distant countries and some other distant countries like the United States of America, Japan, and France.
But anyway, that in Sri Lanka that maximum alert is imposed and the leading trust this central imitation hub is one Bandaranaike International Airport and here that we have imposed thermal scanners that we that install to detect if any person is having running a temperature any passengers.
As a last at all, the planes will onboard people be passengers will be informed about the disease and if somebody has run a fever, cough, and cold to report to the help desk at the Airport.
And the help desk is gone into it around the clock 24 hours per day, and they’re the doctors, and public health inspectors will examine the people. If any suspicious person is coming passengers come into Sri Lanka, they will be investigated and treated at the national infectious disease hospital at angoda.
In addition to that the public will be aware, and other necessary precautionary measures, as well as preparedness, has been taken by the minister of health.
If any such cases are reported in the country to investigate treat and also to prevent dissemination of the infection in the country.
Information from the International
Two years scientists have been on high alert for disease eggs, a novel pathogen for which there isn’t yet any treatment or vaccine as a mysterious virus strain takes hold in Southeast Asia.
Could this be it an unidentified lung infection was found in more than 40 people in Wuhan China in December now it’s been found in Thailand and Japan. Two people have since died tests have shown that patients were infected with a novel coronavirus.
These viruses are widespread in animals they live and spread in pigs domestic and wild birds dogs cats and camels for some reasons that we don’t yet understand the virus mutates and makes the leap from animals into humans only seven coronaviruses including this new one has made the jump into humans the majority cause a common cold type illness.
But two virus’s severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS and Middle East respiratory syndrome or MERS have been much more deadly between them they have infected 10,000 people and killed 800.
Worldwide the first people to be infected with coronaviruses are usually humans who have close contact with animals, for example, in MERS, the virus jumped into camel workers coronaviruses spread through droplets when a person coughs or sneezes.
They can also spread when a person touches something such as a door handle which is contaminated with droplets and then touches their mouth nose or eyes if a super spreader catches the disease, they can spread it to a disproportionately large number of people.
Once it’s on the broader population, health workers are most at risk because its symptoms are like that of any other respiratory illness. Such as pneumonia sufferers will have a cough, a runny nose, a headache, a fever, a sore throat, and a feeling of being generally unwell scientists don’t yet know why the corona.
Viruses mutate there are still no treatments or vaccines for them in a world where people are more mobile and connected than ever, and we cannot rule out the possibility of further spread the fear is that if the virus mutates. It could suddenly race around the world infecting thousands.
The best course of action is to always exercise caution. Always be on the lookout. We hope that we can defeat this virus.