Why Wuhan, China become an Epiceter of novel Coronavirus Outbreak?

Corona is a Latin word which means “Halo” or Crown. The coronavirus is having crown like projections. Scientist discovered that coronaviruses basically infect mammals like mice, rats, dogs, cats, horses, pigs, cattle, snakes and also humans. It was first discovered in from lungs of birds in 1937. Human coronaviruses (HCoV) were first discovered in 1960s from nose of a patient suffering from common cold.

Currently the deadly novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is suspected to spread from bats or snakes to humans. The coronaviruses affect the respiratory tract and are responsible for 15-30 percent of common cold.

The person suffering from coronavirus infections may have cold or flu like symptoms i.e. running nose, sneezing, cough, fever. The complications of infection may lead to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) similar to pneumonia.

Wuhan city is a capital of Hubei Province of People’s Republic of China. It is ninth most populous city of china having populations about 11 millions. In 1927, Wuhan was capital of China and was wartime Capital of China in 1937. The city is political, cultural, economical, financial, commercial and educational hub of central China. The city is referred as Chicago of China and also declared as Creative City of World by UNISCO in 2017. The city is having nearly 350 research institutes and 1656 enterprises and produced GDP of US 224billion dollars in 2018.

The Huanan Seafood market is the largest live animal and seafood wholesale market in Wuhan and Central China. The market is spread over 50,000 m²area and is near shops & residential area. Beside seafood, nearly 120 wildlife animal species were selling in the market. As reported in media, the market is having unsanitary conditions i.e. narrow lanes, live stokes kept in open with dead animals, wet floors, poor ventilation.

On 31 December, 2019; World Health Organisation (WHO) notified about outbreak of Pneumonia in Wuhan. Out of 41 cases reported initially, 28 patients told that they have recently visited the seafood market. Later on 2th January, 2020; noval Corona Virus (2019-nCoV) infection was confirmed. Animals specimens taken from market, which latter on also confirmed as infected with 2019-nCoV.

As per estimate, nearly five million people left the Wuhan city before the city lockdown. As per media reports, there is anger in masses and are criticizing the government’s late action. The viral infection is spreading in other parts of China and also in other countries including Australia, Europe, North America, France, Several countries of Asia including India. So far, there are more than 550 deaths due to Coronavirus infection in China. Coronavirus infection is declared as global emergency by WHO.

Fig: Structure of Coronavirus

No need to panic, just avoid contact with patient, wash your hands properly, drink lots of fluid and have vegetarian food. Treatment of patient is symptomatic and hopes to defeat this deadly strain (2019-nCoV) of coronavirus again.

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