They are first identified in the 1960s, but there is no evidence of their origin. Their name is due to the crown-like shape. It can infect both animals and humans. It is believed to have started from Wet market where fish, poultry and other animals are slaughtered on the premises. Types There are seven strains of coronaviruses found: 1. HCoV-229E 2. HCoV-OC43 3. SARS-CoV 4. HCoV-NL63 5. HKU1 6. MERS-CoV 7. 2019-nCoV The Corona Virus HCoV229, NL63, OC43 and HKU1 continually present in the human population and cause respiratory infections in adults and children worldwide. The recent China pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan was traced to a novel coronavirus, which is labeled as 2019-nCoV by World Health Organization. It is less severe than their other virus partners SARS and MERS. Previous outbreaks of Corona Virus MERS Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), caused by the MERS-CoV coronavirus, was first recognized in 2012. This severe respiratory illness was first observed in Saudi Arabia and since then spread to other countries. The virus reached the US, and the largest outbreak outside the Arabian Peninsula occurred in South Korea in 2015. MERS is fatal in 30 to 40 percent of people who contracted it. SARS Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was a contagious disease caused by the SARS-CoV Coronavirus. The virus started in the Guangdong Province in southern China in November 2002, eventually reaching Hong Kong. From there, it rapidly spread around the world, infecting 37 countries. It can cause both upper and lower respiratory tracts and can also cause gastroenteritis. Pneumonia, a severe lung infection, may develop afterward. At its most advanced stage, SARS causes failure of the lungs, heart or liver. During the epidemic, there were 8,098 confirmed cases of SARS with 774 fatalities. This is equal to a mortality rate of 9.6 percent. How does it spread Most Coronaviruses spreads the same way as the other cold-causing viruses do. They spread through coughing and sneezing, by touching an infected persona's hand or face, or by touching things such as doorknobs that infected people have touched. Common Symptoms The common symptoms of coronaviruses are similar to any other upper respiratory infection, including running nose, coughing, sore throat and sometimes fever. Prevention There is no vaccine for the coronavirus. To prevent coronavirus infection one must take the following steps: Your Health in Your Hand 1. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 2. Keep your hands away from eyes, nose, and mouth. 3. Avoid close contact with infected people. 4. Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue and throw the same in the dustbin. 5. Avoid visit to China where the viral infection is most severe.

Treatment The coronavirus infection can be treated the same as the other cold is treated: 1. Take plenty of rest. 2. Drink fluids. 3. Take over-the-counter medicines for sore throat and fever. Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen. 4. A steamy shower can help to ease a sore and scratchy throat. Can wearing a face mask reduce your risk of coronavirus? According to infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, MD, Senior Scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security says, "Face masks can help protect against many respiratory infections that are spread through the droplet route, and that includes coronavirus and the flu." This illness can spread from an infected person to a normal person through the air by coughing and sneezing or by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your mouth, nose, and eyes before washing your hands. One major caution: Doctors are trained to use masks properly and the general public isn't, says William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. When masks are not used correctly people often put their hands under them and would not be protected from getting sick. Wearing a mask can also be uncomfortable and depleting to use over time, he says, adding that "they are not designed to be worn for long durations. Wearing masks can prevent you from touching your mouth and nose with your hands directly. Does Mask Quality Matters? Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) doesn't recommend that the general public wear face masks to prevent viral infections. It says that people who have been confirmed to have the 2019-nCoV infection should wear a mask when they are in the same room as other people. CDC says that if a person suffering from infection cannot wear a mask, then people who live with him should wear one. Dr. Sachffner says an N95 respiratory, which is much thicker than a surgical mask could be more effective. Painter's masks are worthless when it comes to protecting against respiratory infections. Surgical masks are designed to keep the surgical field protected from the surgeon's mouth and nose in the event of coughing and sneezing. It is not air-tight around the edges, so when you breathe through and around them, it doesn't provide respiratory protection. Recent Updates The Guardian report said, "The outbreak of deadly Coronavirus has claimed first life in Beijing." Further, the US has issued a new china travel warning. The CGTN tweet reportedly informed 100 deaths confirmed in Hubei province, where Wuhan is the epicenter and added that 2714 confirmed cases in the province with a population of about 60 million. People's Daily, China tweeted that 4193 cases have been confirmed in China, 106 deaths, while 58 people have recovered. The Guardian report added "yesterday toll was 82, which showed an increase of 23% today," in addition to this "Infections are up from 2887 to 4193, an increase of 31%." It further said these are still a relatively small number of people affected relative to the population size. The Indian government has started preparing a plan for evacuation of Indian nationals living in the Wuhan area of China, over the rising number of coronavirus infection cases in its neighboring country. The Ministry of External Affair (MEA) would also seek help from the Chinese authorities in evacuating Indians from Wuhan and other regions of China. According to the PTI report, an official from India and China met to discuss plans to evacuate over 250 Indians from Wuhan city and Hubei province, which are the worst hit by coronavirus outbreak. Air India and Indigo have suspended their flights to China. There have been 3 suspected cases of coronavirus in Ram Manohar Lohiya Hospital.