Coronaviruses were first identified in the
mid-1960s. They can infect both humans and animals - there have already been cases in
domestic dogs.
Coronaviruses cause various diseases. They can
be particularly dangerous when pneumonia develops.
Researchers are currently aware of around 3,200
coronaviruses worldwide. 95 percent of them identified them in
bats. The genetic makeup of coronaviruses can change quickly, which means
that they can easily cross species boundaries. This happened around
2002/2003 with the closely related Sars virus: Originally it only infected
bats, then jumped over to a crawling cat species and finally got into humans.
The hosts of the coronavirus (Mers for short),
discovered in 2012 on the Arabian Peninsula, were originally probably also
bats, while the intermediate hosts were dromedaries.
Coronavirus: transmission to humans
It is not yet certain where
the currently rampant corona virus comes from . Genetically, it is
most closely related to two coronaviruses that researchers identified in bats
years ago.
In addition, its DNA is 79.5 percent identical to
that of the Sars virus from 2002/2003. The starting point is a market in
the Chinese city of 11 million Wuhan, where meat from wild animals was also
traded. Markets of this type, where humans and animals come into
particularly close contact, have long been considered potential breeding
grounds for new pathogens.
How dangerous is the coronavirus?
The majority of infections are mild. But
around 15 to 20 percent of those infected so far suffered serious consequences
such as pneumonia. Most of the dead were elderly patients with previous
illnesses. Mortality is currently estimated at one to two percent - the uncertainty factor is the
unknown number of those actually infected.
This makes Sars-CoV-2 much more dangerous than the
causative agent of seasonal flu , influenza, in
which the mortality rate is usually 0.1 percent. In the Sars epidemic of
2002/2003, around ten percent of those infected died.
Coronavirus: symptoms
The first symptoms of an illness (it has the
abbreviation Covid-19) are almost the same as with influenza - headache , fatigue , fever , possibly cough and chills .
Doctors, wringing their hands, appeal at least to
those who do not suffer from an underlying disease not to go straight to a
doctor's practice or to go to an ambulance with symptoms like this. It is
much better to stays at home and seek advice over the phone. In any case,
those affected should take a fever beforehand.
For an initial assessment, the family doctor, the
health department and the medical on-call service are available - initially by
telephone - as well as the nationwide patient service
telephone number 116 117 .
“If necessary”, “the further clarification will be
carried out under 116 117”, says Andreas Gassen ,
the chairman of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance
Physicians (KBV), and adds: “The clarifying tests in the form of a throat swab
can be carried out in the practices if the Doctor assesses this to be medically
necessary. "
Coronavirus: treatment
Antibiotics do not help
with viruses , and there are still no specific antiviral therapies for
coronaviruses. Several existing antiviral substances are being tested and
administered, including a combination of lopinavir and
ritonavir (previously used as an HIV drug).
Studies are also ongoing with Remdesivir, which was
developed against the much more aggressive Ebola and
Marburg viruses. The Hamburg virologist Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit also places
hope in the old malaria active ingredient chloroquine.
In the meantime, doctors recommend bed rest and plenty of fluids . Breathing
can be supported as required.
Coronavirus: vaccine
Researchers have been working on a vaccines against
both Sars and Mers for years. The development of a vaccine against the new
coronavirus can build on this. The US biotech company Moderna is currently
reporting that it has delivered the first units of a vaccine it has developed
to the relevant US authorities.
The agency's director, Anthony Fauci, estimates the
vaccine will be ready to be tested on volunteers from late April. Due to
the necessary safety and efficacy tests, however, a vaccine is
unlikely to be available globally until 2021 . Like
the Tübingen-based company Curevac, Moderna uses an innovative technology that
is intended to significantly accelerate vaccine production. The body
receives the building instructions for the protein to
which the immune system should react.
Coronavirus: protection by face masks?
Anyone who has an acute respiratory infection and
moves around in public can protect others by
wearing mouth and nose protection themselves. Such simple (surgical) masks
do not protect the wearer himself. The clinic staff use special
respirators with a valve.
