The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global health emergency over a new coronavirus that has killed more than 1,500 people following an outbreak in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.According to the WHO, coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). These viruses were originally transmitted between animals and people. SARS, for instance, was transmitted from civet cats to humans while MERS moved to humans from a type of camel.
The novel coronavirus, identified by Chinese authorities on January 7 and since named COVID-19, is a new strain that had not been previously identified in humans. Little is known about it, although human-to-human transmission has been confirmed.
According to the WHO, signs of infection include fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.In more severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia, multiple organ failure and even death.
Chinese health authorities are still trying to determine the origin of the virus, which they say likely came from a seafood market in Wuhan where wildlife was also traded illegally. On February 7, Chinese researchers said the virus could have spread from an infected animal species to humans through illegally-trafficked pangolins, which are prized in Asia for food and medicine.Scientists have pointed to either bats or snakes as the source of the virus.
The outbreak now constitutes a global health emergency, the WHO said on January 30. The decision to sound the top-level alarm was made after the first cases of human-to-human transmission outside China were confirmed. The international health alert is a call to countries around the world to coordinate their response under the guidance of the United Nations health agency.
Scientists around the globe are racing to develop a vaccine but have warned that one is unlikely to be available for mass distribution before 2021. Meanwhile, Chinese authorities have effectively sealed off Wuhan and placed restrictions on travel to and from several other cities,in an attempt to contain the rapid spread of the virus.
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