TODAY’S COMMON & SERIOUS CONDITIONS
For the most part, [coronaviruses] cause commoncold type symptoms. —Richard Webby, influenza expert at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
available for large populations, I would say it’s a matter of two years minimum,” said Dr Stanley Plotkin, who has been involved in vaccine research since 1958 and played a big role in developing the rubella vaccine in the 1960s. Research on a coronavirus vaccine has a lot of value for public health, but it won’t yield a quick cure. And this may not be enough of an incentive for pharmaceutical companies that will have to commit large amounts of money to research that could fall short, or that might only yield a vaccine after the current outbreak has ended. Governments and non-profit groups will open their wallets when outbreaks dominate headlines, but that funding has historically withered when attention dies down. Such was the case in previous coronavirus outbreaks, including SARS in 2002-03 and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) in 2012. In those cases, funding and resources for a vaccine ran out after the viruses were contained. Continuing such research could have helped fight the current outbreak. However, if coronaviruses begin to infect enough people regularly, there will be a greater business incentive to develop a vaccine and other countermeasures.
SEASONAL
It’s possible that COVID-19 becomes a fifth community-acquired coronavirus, eventually settling down to something like the other four already circulating. However, the other possibility is that it follows the pattern of the seasonal flu. Viruses can’t tolerate high heat and humidity, which is why infections are less 44 DEAR DOCTOR WITH DR CHRIS STEELE
42, 43, 44, 45 CS09 Coronavirus.indd 44
NHS advice
If you are worried about coronavirus, here’s the NHS advice. If you have travelled from China, Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau, Italy or Iran to the UK in the last 14 days you should immediately:
1
Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with the flu.
6
Where possible, contact a friend, family member or delivery services to carry out errands on your behalf or to take children to school.
7
Follow this advice even if you do not have symptoms of the virus.
2 3
Call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the area.
In Scotland phone your GP or NHS 24 on 111 out of hours. If you are in Northern Ireland, call 0300 200 7885.
4
Report any symptoms such as cough, fever or shortness of breath.
5
Do not use public transport or taxis until 14 days after your return.
celebrityangels.co.uk
06/03/2020 14:51