Caroline McGrath

1/22/20

Current Event 14

Christensen, Jen. “Coronavirus Explained: What You Need to Know.” CNN, Cable News 

Network, 21 Jan. 2020, 

www.cnn.com/2020/01/20/health/what-is-coronavirus-explained/index.htm l.

In December, the now deadly coronavirus took its roots in Wuhan, China. The cousin of the SARS virus, is believed to be carried by animals and spread to humans, meaning it was scientists call a zoonotic form of the coronavirus strain. The disease gives pneumonia like symptoms and is immune to antibiotics, thus far the death rate is unknown, but it is expected to intensify. The disease causes cold like symptoms in the upper respiratory tract, but for those more susceptible, like the eldery and the young, it could move into the lower respiratory tract. It is related to the MERS and SARS viruses. The disease is spread through human to human contact, and is very contagious. The average age for containment for the recent coronavirus is around 40. Currently there is not treatment, but research is ongoing. The virus doesn’t have too many deaths (around 20) compared to those infected (540), but scientists compare it to the Spanish flu. The only way to prevent it right now is to avoid those in contact, as there are no vaccines yet. Scientists recommend “Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and disinfect the objects and surfaces you touch.” Those who are pregnant can have stillborn children. The disease can be caught in cats and dogs, but only dogs showed symptoms and fatalities. 

The disease is a very relevant topic in our society right now, as the first case in the United States was reported yesterday, the 21st. This means the disease is spreading, and much like the ebola outbreak, it could cause serious damage in China and panic around the world. There is currently no cure or prevention measures for the disease, making everyone susceptible and really hurting the economy, causing even more hysteria surrounding the disease. 

Overall I found the article to be very well written and informative, as it had different sections based on different questions and concerns surrounding the virus. I do think that in order to improve the article the author could have put a section on the statics about the disease, as it didn’t say who has been affected, how many people, male or female, or anything else that would be interesting to know. I had to do separate research to find this information out and I think that adding these things would improve the overall article.