Giant Microbes Plush - Coronavirus COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2)

COVID-19 has arrived and quickly spread globally along with confusion, rumors, and fear. Scientists investigate therapies and vaccines as nations “go medieval” by quarantining citizens. What should you do when a mysterious microbe comes knocking? Start by staying calm and learning the facts.

COVID-19 is respiratory, spreading mainly in coughs and sneezes. Symptoms can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. To prevent illness wash your hands and do not panic. And for all of humanity, let's fight this plague with decency.

FACTS:

Cities are locked down, schools and businesses are closed, cruise ships are floating Petri dishes, economies quiver, and thousands of people are quarantined. The World Health Organization warns of the threat of a global pandemic. This is the face of the coronavirus disease named COVID-19.

Identified in 2019 in China, COVID-19 quickly spread around the world. Spreading along with it: confusion, rumors, and fear. As of early 2020, much about this virus remains unclear. Compared to the seasonal flu, COVID-19 seems to be more contagious and has a higher fatality rate. Scientists and public health experts scramble to confront it with 21st-century therapies and vaccines. Meanwhile, governments “go medieval” by closing borders and isolating terrified citizens inside their tainted towns. What should you do when a mysterious microbe comes knocking and the threat of a modern-day plague is in the air? Start by staying calm and learning the facts.

The name COVID-19 stands for coronavirus and disease. Corona is for its crown-like protein spikes. Coronaviruses are zoonotic, jumping from animals to humans. Many originate in bats. SARS was transmitted by civets, MERS by camels, and COVID-19 perhaps by pangolins sold in wildlife food markets. With contagious microbes, you are often at the mercy of nature and the interconnectedness of our world.

COVID-19 spreads from person-to-person through respiratory droplets carried in coughs or sneezes. It may also be transmitted by touching your mouth, eyes, or nose after touching contaminated metal, plastic, and other hard surfaces on which a virus can survive the longest. People are most contagious when showing signs of sickness, yet the virus may spread before symptoms occur. Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure and can include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Some have no symptoms at all. The best way to prevent illness is to minimize exposure to common-sense measures. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Do not touch your eyes, nose, and mouth. Stay home when sick. Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue. Disinfect frequently touched surfaces. Wash your hands often with soap and water. Face masks are for healthcare workers and those who are already sick.

Microbes are remarkable and mostly good - vital to our bodies and our planet. However, when it comes to the struggle against black death, malaria, flu, and other diseases such as COVID-19, it is human wits versus microbe genes. If we want to triumph, we must think clearly, learn, prepare, and respect the microbe world.