TTO - In any crisis there is always false information for various reasons, corona virus disease is no exception. Experts list 10 common misunderstandings today.
- 2019-nCoV spreads faster than other viruses
Not really. Measles, whooping cough ... are much more contagious than 2019-nCoV virus pneumonia (at least so far). The reason the measles virus does not seem to spread quickly in recent outbreaks is that most communities have been vaccinated.
The infection coefficient (R0) of the corona virus is currently unknown due to the lack of data. If the R0 3.8 is temporarily taken (1 person spreads to nearly 4 people) according to an unofficial evaluation posted on medRxiv, the corona virus infection rate is still low compared to the above infectious viruses (R0 from 15) -18).
Information will change as people learn more about the new virus in the coming days.
- 2019-nCoV is more deadly than other viruses
There are insufficient data to conclude that coronavirus mortality because the disease is still contagious and may mutate during this process. The number of new infections per day currently exceeds the number of people cured. So the death toll of 362 (as of February 3) is not the final.
2019-nCoV is not as "toxic" as Ebola (50% mortality rate, according to WHO), but because it does not kill the host immediately, the ability to reproduce, spread ... is also greater.
According to the New York Times, some US experts assess it as having the potential to cause a pandemic (spread on more than two continents) in the world.
- 2019-nCoV is created in the lab, someone deliberately releases it
This is a common type of conspiracy theory whenever the world has a large-scale epidemic, most of which cannot show concrete evidence.
Particularly for corona virus, so far no scientific community has expressed doubts about the possibility of any hand causing this epidemic.
- The vaccine is ready to prevent corona outbreaks
2019-nCoV does not have any specific medicines and vaccines. Developing a new vaccine takes time, money and scientific breakthroughs. New drugs also need to be tested for safety before being widely used.
Decode 10 rumors about corona virus from East to West - Photo 2.
If you do not live in an epidemic area, have a fever, cough ... most likely just a common disease - Photo: Forbes
- Folk, natural methods ... can help prevent viruses
Be careful with "strange" remedies that advertise online to help prevent corona virus. Most ads are "innocuous, innocuous", but some people are always willing to profit on the bewilderment of others.
The best way to prevent disease is to keep personal hygiene, wash hands frequently and avoid close contact with people who have a fever, cough ... Preventing, even if the common cold is always a thing to do .
- Every fever, cough ... is corona virus
Unless you are living or have been to an epidemic in China recently, the symptoms of colds, fevers, respiratory infections ... are most likely just a common illness.
Before 2019-nCoV appeared, many millions of people worldwide were infected with seasonal flu each year, which causes similar symptoms.
- Corona virus is the punishment
Once upon a time the HIV virus was also cited as a punishment for "an unhealthy lifestyle". At present, Chinese people are also stigmatized and shunned in some places due to the corona epidemic.
If people believe in "punishment", perhaps people have to get more "unique" viruses, such as "corruption fever"!
- Can get corona virus from Chinese food and products
This is a vague and unfounded worry, but someone actually asked this question at a corona epidemic information meeting in New York City, USA.
- Chinese and Asians should be avoided ...
Due to the outbreak of corona outbreaks in China, there has been a phenomenon in the rest of the world of concern with Asians in general. Of course, this virus is not spread based on race or skin color.
However, in some countries such as the US and Canada, experts worry that this mentality will lead to conflicts and divisions within communities, and this will only worsen the situation if it is true. disease spread.
- The corona virus outbreak is a hoax
There is probably no need to say much about this rumor.
In any crisis, there are always people who unleash false rumors on their own, whether to sell a product or to discredit others.
The challenge of managers is to help the community distinguish between what is true and what is gossip. And to do this, they need to build trust in "peacetime" before the crisis breaks out.
Said Mary Foote, a New York Health Authority expert, during the chaos "the biggest enemy is bewilderment and fear" when people don't know who to trust.