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COVID 19 AND THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS
WHAT IS COVID 19
Corona Virus Disease 19 is a disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS Covid 2), it is a disease that affects the respiratory track making it difficult to breath. The first recorded case was in Wuhan China in December 2019. The disease has gone out of hand and is now a pandemic that is scourging the human race.
SYMPTOMS
The disease is associated with symptoms which include but not restricted to the following;
• Fever
• Cough
• Headache
• Mild Pneumonia
• Fatigue
• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of smell and taste
GESTATION PERIOD
The disease has a gestation period of two weeks or fourteen days. Different levels of symptoms begin to show after this period depending on the age of the patient and medical record. 81% show mild symptoms like pneumonia, 14% develop severe symptoms like hypoxia, dyspnea and 5% suffer acute symptoms like respiratory failure and shock. Older people are at higher risk of damage for their immune system is already weak due to advancement in age.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION
The disease is transmitted when an infected person comes in close contact with an uninfected person. When the infected person sneezes, coughs, speaks or sings the process releases droplets of saliva containing the virus and contaminates surfaces. When an uninfected person comes in contact with the infected surface or droplets (via the nose, hands or mouth) that are sometimes microscopic, the virus migrates and starts damaging the respiratory organs of the infected person.
The virus is also transmitted airborne when droplets remain in the air for a long period of time within places with inadequate ventilation; it comes in contact with the skin. When the skin is rubbed it finds its way into the body via openings like the nose, mouth or eyes.
PREVENTION
It is advisable to do the following to prevent its spread;
• Wash your hand under running water with an alcohol base sanitizer