It is important to understand that different types of related viruses can cause chickenpox, smallpox, and monkeypox. Further, different coronaviruses cause different diseases in people.
The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus causes SARS and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus causes MERS. The novel coronavirus, COVID-19 is one of seven types of known human coronaviruses.
COVID-19, like the MERS and SARS coronaviruses, likely evolved from a virus previously found in animals. The remaining known coronaviruses cause a significant percentage of colds in adults and children, and these are not a serious threat for otherwise healthy adults.
All viruses accumulate mutations over time and the virus that causes Covid-19 is no different. Therefore mutations, now changed, are harder to identify and control.
Is Covid-19 more deadly than the flu?
Some claim Covid-19 is no more deadly than the flu. However, there are some very new reports indicating there may be two separate strains, one being a more aggressive type of the coronavirus that had accounted for roughly 70% of analyzed strains, which they called “L” type, while 30% had been linked to a less aggressive type, which they labeled “S”.
Moreover, a WHO expert recently suggested that if borne out by further testing, current estimates of a roughly 1% fatality rate are accurate. This would make Covid-19 about 10 times more deadly than seasonal flu, which is estimated to kill between 290,000 and 650,000 people a year globally.
Incidentally, regarding influenza, in 2019, it is estimated that more than 12,000 people died from the virus in the United States.
How is it spread?
This coronavirus Covid-19 is spread in large droplets by coughing and sneezing.
This means that the air will not infect you, but all the surfaces where these droplets land is infectious for about a week on average. Everything that is associated with infected people will be contaminated and potentially infectious.
The virus is on surfaces and you will not be infected unless your unprotected face is directly coughed or sneezed upon. This virus only has cell receptors for lung cells (it only infects your lungs).
The only way for the virus to infect you is through your nose or mouth via your hands or an infected cough or sneeze onto or into your nose or mouth.
What are the testing guidelines?
With Covid-19, current CDC guidelines suggest testing for those who are symptomatic (fevers, cough, shortness of breath, most commonly), and for those who have had KNOWN contact with an individual who has tested positive for virus strain, symptomatic travelers from the highest risk countries, and those who are severely ill with respiratory illnesses who do not have an alternative diagnosis.
What You Should Not Do
Obviously, we all are affected by the mass hysteria created with consistent media coverage. However, perhaps more hysteria should be placed on both how our immune systems can be strengthened to avoid/fight off this and other viruses and why immune systems are compromised, thereby rendered more defenseless.
It is no secret that immunocompromised persons are more likely to have serious effects from any virus. On the other hand, those with younger and more robust immune systems generally get sick less, have less severe symptoms, and recover faster.
So how does a person get immunocompromised? Here are some definite contributors:
- Consistent consumption of the standard American diet consists of highly processed and refined foods which contain little to no nutrients while at the same time containing likely toxic carcinogens. Specific examples include bread, grains, sugars, MSG, soda, fried foods, and soy.
- Multiple drug therapies, including chemotherapy.
- Lack of adequate sleep
- Uncontrolled stress
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Sedentary lifestyle
On the flip side, how does one go about improving the immune system, creating an amazing war machine, which is able to defend your body with effective and appropriate aggressiveness?
Virus Protection Checklist
Our bodies are unique, strong, and amazing in their ability to protect us from the many dangers we face simply existing as a human. Let’s do all we can NOW to NOT be weak and become victims of anything.
Take action and be confident in the miracle of you.
