[Q&A about the 2019 Corona virus epidemic] Part 4: How does 2019-nCoV spread? Is it possible to get it from animals or pets?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was translated and synthesized by Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hung - Director of Vinmec Institute of Applied Research and Regenerative Medicine (VIASRM) and consulted with Dr., Doctor Tran Thi Phuong Thuy - Department of General Internal Medicine. - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.

To learn full information about the 2019 corona virus epidemic, you can refer to the sections of the document including:
[Q&A about the 2019 Corona virus epidemic] Part 1: Origin and mode of infection [ Q & A about the 2019 Corona virus epidemic] Part 2: How to protect yourself against the epidemic? [Q & A about the 2019 Corona virus epidemic] Part 3: When to get tested? Instructions for taking care of people suspected of being infected with 2019 nCoV at home

1. How does 2019-nCoV spread?

2019-nCoV is a respiratory virus that is mainly spread by contact with an infected person through droplets produced when an infected person coughs or has a runny nose. So everyone needs to practice good hygiene. For example, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough, sneeze, or have a runny nose, then immediately throw the tissue in the trash. Also wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with concentrations above 60%.
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2. Can 2019-nCoV be transmitted from person to person?

May. 2019-nCoV has been confirmed to be capable of person-to-person transmission, usually through close contact with an infected person.

3. How long does 2019-nCoV have an incubation period?

The incubation period is the time from infection to the onset of symptoms. The estimated incubation period is currently between 2-12 days, and this time will be updated with more accuracy as more data becomes available. Based on information on other coronavirus diseases such as MERS and SARS, the incubation period of 2019-nCoV may be less than 14 days.

4. Can I get 2019-nCoV from animals?

Detailed research shows that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civets to humans in China in 2002 and MERS-CoV from camels to humans in Saudi Arabia in 2012. Some strains of coronavirus exist only in animals has not yet spread to humans.
It is not yet clear from which animal the 2019-nCoV spread to humans. However, this does not mean that you can get 2019-nCoV from any animal or from your pet. The first cases are highly likely to have originated from animals in live animal markets in China. Protect yourself by avoiding live animal markets, and if you must, avoid direct contact with live animals and their contact surfaces.
It is necessary to avoid eating raw or undercooked animal products. Separate utensils for raw and cooked food should be used.

5. Can I get 2019-nCoV from my pet?

No, there is currently no evidence that household pets such as dogs and cats are infected or spread 2019-nCoV.

6. Does the nCoV virus exist on the surface of utensils? If so, for how long?

Have. However, it is still unclear how long 2019-nCoV is capable of living on surfaces, although initial information suggests that the virus can live for several hours on surfaces.

7. Is it safe to receive mail and parcels from China or other endemic areas?

Yes safe. Mail and parcel recipients are not at risk of contracting 2019-nCoV. From experience with corona virus strains, we know that this virus is not capable of living long on objects such as letters and parcels.

8. Can Corona virus "live" in sea water?

No. Although there is currently no research on the viability of nCoV in seawater, 2019-nCoV is a virus that infects humans and it is difficult for them to "live" in seawater for the following reasons:
The virus actually does not Not a living organism, they need to infect host cells in order to survive. WHO has confirmed that nCoV does not live more than a few hours on surfaces and is not transmitted through the air (1), because these places do not have host cells, so after a few hours nCoV will lose its ability to infect due to other factors. Environmental factors such as: Temperature, light, pH .... Sea water too, is not a place where host cells for nCoV can live for more than a few hours. Even if viruses can live for several hours in seawater, they will be immediately diluted in the vast ocean to make it difficult to infect people.
Virus is a small organism that is very sensitive to the conditions of temperature, pH, light, ion concentration, so they do not exist independently in nature but need to live in the host cell. High concentrations of salts and other ions in seawater will alter the proteins on the viral envelope, making them less likely to infect (2). Research also shows that viruses in seawater are prone to clumping leading to loss of infectivity (3). In addition, microorganisms in seawater are also capable of secreting antiviral substances (4). Indeed, research shows that seawater from different locations has the ability to inactivate human viruses (4).

9. Can antibiotics effectively prevent and treat 2019-nCoV?

No, antibiotics can only kill bacteria, not viruses. 2019-nCoV is a virus, so antibiotics have no role in the prevention and treatment of 2019-nCoV.

10. Can I get 2019-nCoV from someone who has no symptoms?

According to recent reports, people infected with 2019-nCoV can shed the virus before they show symptoms. However, current data shows that most infections are from people with symptoms.

11. Who is most likely to become seriously ill with 2019-nCoV infection?

The elderly, people with underlying medical conditions (such as diabetes, heart disease), and immunocompromised people are more susceptible to this virus infection.
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12. How dangerous is 2019-nCoV?

Corona virus causing epidemic in Wuhan is really too scary? As with other respiratory illnesses, infection with 2019-nCoV can cause mild symptoms including a runny nose, sore throat, cough, and fever. Symptoms can be more severe in some people and can lead to pneumonia or difficulty breathing. More rarely, 2019-nCoV can be fatal. The elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions (such as diabetes and heart disease) are more susceptible to severe symptoms from this virus.
Source: CDC, WHO, ECDC
Caption:
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses https://www.quora.com/Can-virus-and- bacteria-survive-in-salt-water?fbclid=IwAR3reyZYqFUNNirHLyZSigptZ838RdLvul2Sppd9BxoMBtOWQ7BRRg6Mhk4 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0043135475900834?via%3Dihub https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0043135475900834? abstracts/18/1/JEQ0180010034?access=0&view=pdf SEE MORE:
[Q&A about the 2019 Corona virus epidemic] Part 1: Origin and mode of infection [Q&A about the 2019 Corona virus epidemic] Part 2: How to protect yourself against disease? [Q&A about the 2019 Corona virus epidemic] Part 3: Instructions for taking care of people suspected of being infected with 2019 nCoV at home visitors to prevent corona virus epidemic 2019