If you’ve been keeping track of the news, then you probably would have heard of the Wuhan virus outbreak that has now begun to spark fears across the world for its high-rate of transmission, more so after it has been confirmed in a report by SCMP that human-to-human infection is possible, after medical staff treating patients with the virus fell ill themselves. At its current count early this morning (23rd January 2020), 548 cases of the Wuhan virus have been confirmed, and 17 people have died from it, according to Sin Chew Daily.
Source: Straits Times
However, not all hope is lost, as Chinese director of the State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Li Lanjuan, who claims to have studied on the Wuhan virus with Zhong Nanshan, the first scientist to discover the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus that seized the world in 2002, and his team of six other experts, have produced some of the most vital insights into the outbreak so far. This was reported in a separate piece by Sin Chew Daily.
Source: Dentistry Today
According to Li Lanjuan, who is herself a highly seasoned epidemiologist, the Wuhan virus that is currently spreading across the world has a literal Achilles Heel, and it can actually be killed.
Based on the team’s studies, it is revealed that the Wuhan virus, which is in itself a coronavirus, cannot survive temperatures of above 57 °C and will die in such environments in 30 minutes.
A mixture of ether, 75% ethanol, chlorine-containing disinfectant and peroxyacetic acid has also proven highly effective in eradicating the virus!
Source: SCMP
While the death toll of the virus is certainly rising and the number of patients are increasing at an alarming pace, the actual mortality rate (chances of you actually dying from the disease) is only around 40% to 50%, which is much lower in comparison to the H7N9 avian influenza.
Regardless of which, its probably safer to travel around with an N95 mask for the time being to avoid catching diseases of any sort! We are nonetheless glad to hear that the Wuhan virus isn’t invincible, and that measures are being taken to protect it from spreading further.
Also read: Wuhan Virus Feared To Be New ‘Super-Spreader’ Disease After Spreading To The U.S
