The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared novel Coronavirus (nCoV) as a Global Health Emergency. Here’s a quick guide to knowing all about the deadly virus.

Let’s begin with the obvious, what is Coronavirus?

The coronavirus is a family of viruses that are known to cause illnesses like the common cold to more critical diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new force of coronavirus that has not been identified before in humans. This particular virus is called ‘2019-nCoV’.

Now that we understood what Coronavirus is, so let us understand the Symptoms:

While it depends on the kind of virus, common symptoms are respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing. In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), kidney failure and even death. Some coronaviruses can be carried from person to person. This normally happens after close contact with an infected patient.

Now that we have a better idea about the Coronavirus and the symptoms. Let's discuss the dos and don’ts for keeping the disease at bay.

• Observe good personal hygiene.
• Avoid close contact with people who are unwell or showing symptoms of illness.
• Frequent hand-washing, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment.
• People with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette, which includes maintaining one's distance while coughing, covering coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, and washing one's hands after coughing and sneezing.
• Avoiding unprotected contact with farm or wild animals.
• Avoid contact with live animals and consumption of raw or undercooked meat.
• Avoid travel to farms, live animal markets or where animals are slaughtered.
• Indian government has advised citizens to avoid all "non-essential travel to China".

(Based on World Health Organization’s situation report)