What is a coronavirus? Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that most commonly affect animals. Some have the ability to transmit from animals to people.

They produce a large variety of clinical symptoms since a common cold to severe infections. The coronavirus may caused the acute respiratory syndrome severe (SARS-CoV) and coronavirus-causing respiratory syndrome in the East Medium (MERS-CoV).

What is 2019-nCoV virus?

It is a new type of coronavirus that can affect people and is detected for the first time in December 2019 in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, in China.

Do animals transmit the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) to humans?

The source of the infection is being investigated. There is a possibility that the initial source can be some animal, since the first cases were detected in people who they worked in a market where there was an animal presence. Some coronaviruses are zoonotic viruses, which means they can be transmitted from animals to beings human.

What are the symptoms of 2019-nCoV?

Common symptoms include cough, sore throat, fever, and shortness of breath. In more severe cases, the infection may cause pneumonia, a significant difficulty in breathing, kidney failure and even death. The most severe cases, generally they occur in the elderly or suffer from comorbidity, such as one heart, lung disease or immunity problems.

How can I get the infection?

The way to get the infection is unknown. By analogy to others infections caused by similar viruses, it seems that the transmission would be through contact with infected animals or through close contact with respiratory secretions that are produced by the cough or sneezing of a sick person. These secretions would infect another person if they came in contact with the nose, eyes or mouth of a new person.

Is necessary to be in contact directly with the secretions from sick persons, to get infected. The virus come in our boby by the mucosa (nose, mouth, eyes). Airborne transmission seems unlikely distances greater than two meters.

Is there a treatment for 2019-nCoV?

There is no specific treatment for the new coronavirus. There are, however, many treatments to control their symptoms, so healthcare may improve their prognosis.

What can I do to protect myself?

At present, there are not cases of the new coronavirus in Catalonia (Barcelone), but there is a probability of importing cases from travelers from Hubei province to China.

Generic measures of individual protection against respiratory diseases. These include frequent hand hygiene (washing with soap and water or alcoholic solutions), especially after direct contact with people sick or their environment; Avoid close contact with people who show signs of respiratory infections, such as coughing or sneezing; keep a distance higher of two meters with people with respiratory infection, cover the mouth and nose with disposable handkerchiefs or with the inner face of the elbow when coughing or sneezing and washing hands.

No special precautions should be taken with animals in Spain or with animals food, to prevent this infection.

If I travel to China, am I at risk?

Since the WHO has declared the outbreak of the new coronavirus a Health Emergency Of International Importance (HEII), it is advisable to avoid trips unnecessary in the affected areas of China.
Chinese authorities have taken measures that restrict mobility and mobility circulation of people in Hubei province in China.

To reduce the risk of infection in areas where the new coronavirus is present, we recommend that:

1. Avoid close contact (at least two meters) with the people suffering from acute respiratory infections and having a cough, sneezing or expectoration, as well as not sharing their belongings personal.
2. Wash your hands frequently, especially after direct contact with sick people or their environment.
3. Avoid close contact with live or dead animals or wild and their secretions or excrement in markets or farms.
4. Avoid consuming animal products (meat or poorly cooked foods or raw).
5. Elderly people and those with underlying health problems may be at high risk for more serious illnesses, which is why they must evaluate the trip with a healthcare professional in trip medicine.

What should I do if I have returned from China and I am feeling sick?

If in the two weeks following the return from Hubei province, if you have respiratory symptoms (cough, sore throat, fever, shortness of breath), stay home and call your healthcare provider's background about Stay in this province or call 061. It is important that you inform them about it the journey you just made and the symptoms you have, because they can assess whether you should stay home with home insulation or not, and they will give it to you directions to follow.