Did you know that 90% of cold and flu symptoms are caused by viruses?
Viruses have been in the news recently, with the emergence of the novel coronavirus that has caused a pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan, China. The novel coronavirus is causing mild to severe respiratory symptoms. These symptoms include: fever, cough and shortness of breath. At this time, it is not clear how easily the virus is spread between people, so it is recommended that people maintain good hand and respiratory hygiene.
Another common virus that causes respiratory symptoms is the influenza virus. We are currently in a period of high influenza activity in Durham Region. Common symptoms of influenza include:
- fever
- headache
- sore throat
- extreme weakness/tiredness
- chills
- runny nose
- muscle aches
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following for the prevention of respiratory viruses:
- wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds
- if soap and water are not available then use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
- avoid close contact with others who have cold or flu-like symptoms
- stay home when you are sick
- cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing/sneezing then throw away the tissue
- an alternative is to cough/sneeze into your flexed elbow
- clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
To reduce the risk of coronavirus, in addition to the above CDC recommendations, the World Health Organization recommends:
- thoroughly cooking meat and eggs
Antibiotics are not useful in treating illnesses caused by viruses. Vaccinations have been created to treat some viral infections. At this time there is no vaccination against the novel coronavirus, but influenza vaccinations are still available at local pharmacies, physician offices, and walk-in clinics.
