Coronavirus: what students need to know
The message for students and fellow South Africans about the outbreak of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus that has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is that there is no reason to panic and that the situation is under control.
Suspected cases higher in Africa (Namibia, Botswana, Kenya) did not return positive tests for the virus. Worldwide there have been at least 71 500 cases and 1700 deaths, mostly in China.
However, the Coronavirus is a new virus and what is known about the virus can change every day. It is therefore important for students to stay up to date with global news to be informed about the exact course of the virus
A media briefing was held recently at Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Science where medical experts shared their opinions.
“We are facing quite a tricky situation worldwide, but in South Africa, luckily, we don’t have reason to panic. There are no cases of this new infection here and I believe that should cases arise, and that will happen sooner or later, then we are well set up to diagnose them in time and to care for them under the necessary precautions so that onward transmission is prevented. It is not necessary to be nervous,” said Professor Wolfgang Preiser, head of medical virology, according to IOL.
Another positive reassurance about the virus is the minimal impact on health workers. According to Higher Health, this suggests that the infectivity remains low and the mortality figures further illustrate that the illness is less infectious and less severe than regular flu.
Some of the common symptoms of the virus include fever, sore throat, coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties and headaches. The transmission of the virus can spread from an infected person to others through the air by coughing and sneezing, close personal contact, touching contaminated objects and not washing hands, according to Higher Health.
“If you have been in China recently or if you have contact with someone who has been in China and who is experiencing serious symptoms, then I would recommend you see a medical practitioner. Other than that, I don’t think there is any reason to panic,” said Christien Pretorius, a primary healthcare practitioner at the North-West University Potchefstroom Campus Health Centre.
No vaccine or medication is currently available to protect people against the Coronavirus, but individuals are advised to do the following to prevent the illness: cover your mouth and nose when sneezing, wash your hands with soap and water frequently, avoid contact with people who are sick and wear a mask when traveling via public transport.
For further information, students can visit the website of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP), the World Health Organisation (WHO), or use the CHP hotline: +852 2125 1122.