Advertisement

Coronavirus symptoms: What is it and which areas in China and around the world have been affected?

Jeremy Selwyn
Jeremy Selwyn

An outbreak of a new pneumonia-like strain of coronavirus, called Covid-19, was first detected in China at the end of 2019.

The World Health Organisation declared a Public Health Emergency in January 2020.

Scientists have said it has similarities to two viruses, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), both of which turned into global killers.

SARS first emerged in China in 2002 and killed 774 people as it spread to Asian countries, the UK and Canada. MERS originated in the Middle East and killed 787 people.​

How many people have been affected?

As of March 2, the number of people killed by the virus is 3,069 and 89, 779 people have contracted the infection.

On January 31, the UK's first cases confirmed by Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty.

There are now 36 coronavirus cases in the UK. The first British person to die from coronavirus was reported to be a man on a cruise ship in Japan on Friday, February 29.

Italy has the most coronavirus cases of any country outside Asia and has seen another surge in cases with the country reporting a 50 per cent increase in cases on Sunday, March 1 bringing the total number suffering from the illness to 1, 704 and 34 people have died.

The majority of cases remain in the Lombardy region. The situation in Italy has been affecting schools in the UK, as pupils return after half-term holidays from virus-affected areas of the country.

Towards the end of February, two London offices sent their workers home over coroanvirus fears, after employees returned from countries abroad reporting flu-like symptoms.

Chevron, based in Canary Wharf, was the first to tell staff to work from home while the offices were put on lockdown so tests could be carried out, after a worker who had travelled to a Covid-19 infected country reported having symptoms.

Just a day later, media advertising firm OMD UK temporarily shut its Fitzrovia office when an employee reported symptoms after returning from a trip to Australia via Singapore, with employees told to work from home.

The virus has been having an impact on the global economy with factories in Europe and the UK suffering delays because of a difficulty in getting hold of raw materials from Asia.

The Bank of England has now pledged to do what is necessary to keep the financial markets stable, following the actions of national banks in Japan and the US.

Meanwhile, 160 Brits remain in quarantine at a four-star hotel in Tenerife after guests were diagnosed with coronavirus, with around 1,000 people affected in general. It is thought the Brits will stay in lockdown until March 10.

Some schools across the UK have been forced to shut indefinitely and others have sent pupils home temporarily while they await assessments.

Wimbledon College has closed after a staff member contracted coronavirus, it will remain closed until March 10 to undergo a deep clean.

Britons who have been in lockdown regions of Italy – including Lombardy and Veneto – were told they should self-isolate at home for 14 days even if they have no symptoms.

Large parts of China, including the epicentre of Wuhan, have been placed on lockdown with millions thought to have been affected by the shutoffs.

Donald Trump has announced he would be appointing Vice President Mike Pence to head up the country's response to the virus.

A number of sporting events have also been cancelled worldwide. Find out more here.

What is coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause the common cold as well as more serious illnesses such as the SARS outbreak.

Scientists have confirmed that bats, camels and other animals carry coronavirus strains.

Like SARS and MERS, the new coronavirus appears to have originated with animals.

Experts believe the pangolin, native to Asia and Africa, could have been the intermediary transmitter between bats and humans.

Traces of the disease were found at a food market in Wuhan, China, which has been identified at the epicentre of the outbreak.

Items available to buy at the food market include seafood, chicken and exotic animals.

What are the causes and symptoms?

According to the Deputy Director of the National Health Commission Li Bin, evidence has shown the disease has been transmitted through the respiratory tract and there is the possibility of viral mutation.

This means the virus is contagious and can spread from person to person by inhaling, coughing or sneezing via droplets.

Symptoms include fever, coughs, chest tightness, runny nose, headaches, shortness of breath, chills and body aches.

Serious cases can lead to pneumonia, kidney failure and even death.

So far there isn’t a treatment for the new virus however scientists have identified markers, allowing health care professionals to make a quicker diagnosis of those infected.

Other doctors have had success fighting the infection using powerful antiviral medicines used to treat HIV.

Coronaviruses are named after the spikes that protrude from their membranes, like the sun’s corona.

Because SARS and MERS proved deadly, the emergence of a new coronavirus has been treated with caution.

Which areas in China have been affected by coronavirus?

Many provinces in China are now affected by Covid-19, although the vast majority of cases remain in the Hubei area.

There are 19 other districts with patients now including Beijing and Shanghai.

Authorities in Wuhan, within Hubei, central China, first confirmed that hospitals were treating dozens of patients for pneumonia on December 31.

Many of the cases were connected to the Huanan Seafood Market which sold live poultry and exotic animal meats.

Thought to be a likely source of the virus, the market was closed and disinfected.

However, Wuhan's health commission later revealed that the illness was also present in people who had not been exposed to the market, raising the possibility that the virus could be present at other locations in the city.

Cases reported outside China

Reported cases have been confirmed across Asia, Australasia, Canada, Europe, UAE and the US.

Italy is the worst affected country in Europe, and the third-worst in the world after China and South Korea.

The WHO said in late February that more new cases of the disease were being reported outside China than inside, with infections on every continent but Antarctica.

Outbreaks have hit the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia banning foreigners from entering the country and Iran banning public gatherings and travellers from nine countries.

Iran now has the most cases out of Middle East nations with 1,501 ill and 66 deaths.

Brazil has confirmed its first case, making it the first county in Latin America to do so, while Denmark and Estonia have also confirmed cases.

There are now a total of 70 countries which have documented coronavirus cases.

Read more

Trump downplays coronavirus risk as Pence is put in charge of response