After first CoV-2-cases have occurred in Austria the international office wants to inform its students with some general facts about the so called “corona” virus. Detailed information can be found at the website of the world health organization (WHO).
General Information about CoV-2
Who can transfer the virus: Birds, fish, mammals.
Transmission path: The transmission takes place from person to person and can also take place via direct contact from animal to person. People with underlying diseases have a higher risk of infection.
Incubation period: 2-14 days
Symptoms: Infections of people with common coronaviruses are usually mild and asymptomatic. Common signs of infection with the novel corona virus may include: a. Fever, cough, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death. There are also mild forms (symptoms of a cold) and infections without symptoms.
It is currently assumed that the course of the disease is less severe in coronavirus than in SARS and MERS
Therapy: There is no vaccine. Treatment is symptomatic.
Prevention: As with seasonal flu, the following measures are recommended:
• Wash hands several times a day with soap and water or an alcohol-based disinfectant
• When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, not with your hands
• Avoid direct contact with sick people
Which disinfectants are recommendable? Basically, the use of disinfectants with an effectiveness against enveloped viruses is sufficient for disinfection measures in connection with corona viruses.
How are hospitals prepared? With regard to hospital hygiene measures in suspected and disease cases, the same procedure as for SARS and MERS currently applies to the specifications of the local hospital hygiene team. Due to the novelty of this infectious disease, patients would likely be treated at one of the designated centers for highly infectious / exotic diseases.
From a medical point of view, for the treatment of suspected or confirmed cases with SARS-CoV-2 infections, hospital hygiene measures such as those with influenza would be sufficient and would not require patients to be transferred to special facilities.
Where in Graz can a laboratory diagnostic be applied?
Institut für Hygiene, Mikrobiologie und Umweltmedizin der Medizinischen Universität Graz
Stiftingtalstraße 6/III, 8010 Graz
Contact person: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Harald H. Kessler / Michael Bozic, Mo-Fr 8.00 – 16.00, Sa/So/Feiertag 8.00 – 12.00
