In spite of advancement in modern medicine, to the extent that kidney, heart transplants have become a routine affair, still, medical science has been unable to contain and stop infectious diseases from occurring in totality. The outbreak of a new coronavirus that began in the Chinese city of Wuhan has already killed thousands of people around the world. Infections have been confirmed in many other countries. It is alarming because with people travelling globally across countries, there is a real threat of the outbreak spreading. In underdeveloped, resource-poor countries, it can play havoc. This illness is caused by a new strain of coronavirus, called 2010-nCov. It is from the same family as the coronavirus that had caused SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) which began in November 2002 and affected more than 8000 people, across 19 countries. There were more than 700 deaths. Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that cause diseases in mammals, including humans, other animals and birds. In humans, the virus causes respiratory infections which are typically mild but, in rare cases, can be lethal. New coronavirus can infect both animals and humans, spreading from animals to humans. In China, cases have occurred in places where animals are sold or slaughtered. Most coronaviruses spread the same way as other cold-causing viruses do, i.e., through infected people coughing and sneezing, by touching an infected person’s hands or face, or by touching things such as, phones, doorknobs, and et cetera, that have been contaminated by an infected person touching it. The infected person has respiratory symptoms like cough, fever, chest pain, and breathing difficulty. The infection may subside in a week or so. In severe cases, organ failure can occur, which is fatal. The severity of symptoms depends on a load of infecting microbes to which one is exposed and immunity of the body. Since it is a viral infection, antibiotics are not of any use. The existing antiviral drugs may not work against it. Treatment is mainly supportive and palliative. The virus causes pneumonia. Those who are affected suffer from cough, fever and breathing difficulties. Those with reduced immunity, like elderly or small children, persons with HIV/AIDS, are much more vulnerable to acquire the infection and that too in a severe form. A person is already infected, before developing any symptoms and is capable of spreading the infection to others. Prevention is much more useful in such situations. Good handwashing, avoiding direct physical contact with an infected person like a handshake, kissing on the mouth, keeping nose and mouth covered while coughing, and avoiding the use of shared handkerchiefs, are measures that can prevent transmission of the virus from one person to another. Avoid consuming uncooked meat. Keeping the throat well hydrated by drinking an adequate amount of water is useful as it prevents entry of the virus. As for any other infection, a strong immune system of an individual helps to contain the microbe, thus preventing infection. Taking a high protein diet, adequate relaxation, avoiding stress, avoiding addicting substances, are some of the ways, in which the body’s immunity can be strengthened. As such, one does not need to panic about coronavirus disease on just having some cough. But if there is a sudden onset of cough with chest pain, breathing difficulty, then one needs to be screened for it. In Rwanda, the Ministry of Health has issued an advisory to travellers regarding COVID-19. It has also urged personnel involved in the travel industry, both air and road, to provide travellers with protective gear like face masks to prevent acquiring or transmitting infection. These measures will surely be as effective, as entry of Ebola virus has been prevented in the country, though it prevails in immediate neighbourhood. Dr. Rachna Pande, specialist in internal medicine
