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Next version
Version 20 | Version 21 |
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Coronavirus: How dangerous is disease for asthmatics, and other questions | |
(2 days later) | |
There have so far been more than 82,000 global cases of the new coronavirus, 78,000 of them in China. The disease, which has spread to more than 40 countries, has been declared a global health emergency, and almost 2,800 people have died. | |
Here are the BBC News Health team's answers to a range of of readers' questions about the disease. | Here are the BBC News Health team's answers to a range of of readers' questions about the disease. |
How dangerous is coronavirus for people who, like me, have asthma? - Lesley-Anne, Falkirk | |
Respiratory infections, such as coronavirus, can trigger the symptoms of asthma. | |
Asthma UK advises those who are concerned about the virus to follow a series of steps to manage their asthma. | |
These include taking a preventer inhaler daily as prescribed. This helps cut the risk of an asthma attack being triggered by any respiratory virus, including coronavirus. | |
If asthma symptoms become worse at any point, call NHS 111 or make a next-day GP appointment. Anyone having an asthma attack should follow the steps on their asthma action plan and call 999 for an ambulance if needed. | |
Asthma UK's full advice regarding coronavirus can be found here. | |
If my husband and I got the virus, could our pets be infected? - Pat Jackson | |
No. According to the World Health Organization there is no evidence that coronavirus can be transmitted between humans and your family pet. | |
Coronaviruses occur in almost all animal species, including humans. They are usually specific to a single species and transmission between species is very uncommon. | |
But you should still make sure that after touching your pets you wash your hands regularly with soap and water. Pets can carry bacteria like E.coli and salmonella and these bugs can pass between pets and humans. | |
My boss has been in contact with someone who has had to self-quarantine due to coronavirus. Should I also self-quarantine? - Elsie Petherbridge | |
A number of firms have asked staff to work from home as a precaution against coronavirus. This was after some of their employees experienced symptoms following a return from affected countries. | |
But Public Health England (PHE) has said that there is no need to send staff home from work, as most potential cases turn out to be negative. PHE does not recommend closing workplaces, even if there is a confirmed case of coronavirus. | |
UK health authorities are currently advising people to self-isolate if: | |
Detailed advice on coronavirus and the workplace can be found here. | |
Will people who have already had pneumonia experience milder symptoms from coronavirus? - Marje, Montreal, Canada | |
The new coronavirus can, in a small number of cases, lead to pneumonia, most notably in people with pre-existing lung conditions. | |
But as this is a new strain of coronavirus, no-one will have any immunity to it. So having had pneumonia, or any other form of coronavirus like Sars, will not provide immunity from this new coronavirus and the lung illness (Covid-19) it can lead to. | |
The World Health Organization has said it may be 18 months before a vaccine against the coronavirus is publicly available. | |
I am five months pregnant and want to understand the risk to the baby if I get infected with coronavirus. BBC website reader | |
Scientists don't have any reason to believe that pregnant women are more susceptible to coronavirus than anyone else. PHE says the risk of anyone getting it in the UK is low. | |
It's important to follow simple hygiene advice to protect yourself from the virus. This includes washing your hands with soap and water often, not touching your face, eyes or mouth with your unwashed hands and avoiding people who are unwell. | |
If you believe that you may have coronavirus, have been in contact with someone with the virus, or have travelled from certain parts of the world, the advice is to stay indoors and call the NHS 111 phone service. | |
Why are governments going to such extreme measures to combat coronavirus when flu appears to be more deadly? - Lorraine Smith, Harlow | |
These are containment measures to try to stop the virus from becoming a pandemic and spreading freely between people around the world. | |
Quarantining cities and telling people to stay at home may seem extreme - but the alternative is to let the virus spread unrestrained. | |
There is no vaccine for this new virus, as there is for flu, which makes elderly people and those with underlying health conditions very vulnerable to its effects. | |
In China, these measures appear to be working as new daily cases of the virus have now started to decline. | |
Can coronavirus be transmitted by things like door handles and how long does it survive? - Jean Jimenez, Panama | Can coronavirus be transmitted by things like door handles and how long does it survive? - Jean Jimenez, Panama |
If someone infected with the virus coughs on to their hand and then touches something, that surface may become contaminated. Door handles are a good example of a surface that might pose a risk. | If someone infected with the virus coughs on to their hand and then touches something, that surface may become contaminated. Door handles are a good example of a surface that might pose a risk. |
It's not yet known how long the new coronavirus might be able to live on such surfaces. Experts suspect it is hours rather than days but it is best to wash your hands regularly to help reduce the risk of infection and spread of the virus. | It's not yet known how long the new coronavirus might be able to live on such surfaces. Experts suspect it is hours rather than days but it is best to wash your hands regularly to help reduce the risk of infection and spread of the virus. |
Can you catch the virus from food prepared by an infected individual? - Sean McIntyre, Brisbane, Australia | Can you catch the virus from food prepared by an infected individual? - Sean McIntyre, Brisbane, Australia |
Someone infected with coronavirus could potentially pass it on to someone else if the food they prepare has not been handled hygienically. Coronavirus can be spread by cough droplets on hands. Washing your hands before touching and eating food is good advice for anyone, to stop the spread of germs. | Someone infected with coronavirus could potentially pass it on to someone else if the food they prepare has not been handled hygienically. Coronavirus can be spread by cough droplets on hands. Washing your hands before touching and eating food is good advice for anyone, to stop the spread of germs. |
Once you've had coronavirus, will you then be immune? - Denise Mitchell, Bicester, Oxfordshire | Once you've had coronavirus, will you then be immune? - Denise Mitchell, Bicester, Oxfordshire |
When people recover from an infection, their body is left with some memory of how to fight it should they encounter it again. This immunity is not always long-lasting or totally efficient, however, and can decrease over time. It is not known how long immunity might last after being infected. | When people recover from an infection, their body is left with some memory of how to fight it should they encounter it again. This immunity is not always long-lasting or totally efficient, however, and can decrease over time. It is not known how long immunity might last after being infected. |
Is a face mask useful against the virus and how often does it have to be replaced? - Tom Lim, Bali, Indonesia | Is a face mask useful against the virus and how often does it have to be replaced? - Tom Lim, Bali, Indonesia |
There is very little evidence wearing face masks makes a difference. Experts say good hygiene - such as regularly washing your hands and certainly before putting them near your mouth - is vastly more effective. | There is very little evidence wearing face masks makes a difference. Experts say good hygiene - such as regularly washing your hands and certainly before putting them near your mouth - is vastly more effective. |
Do people who have contracted coronavirus return to full health? - Chris Stepney, Milton Keynes | Do people who have contracted coronavirus return to full health? - Chris Stepney, Milton Keynes |
Yes. Many of those who contract coronavirus will experience only mild symptoms and most people are expected to make a full recovery. | Yes. Many of those who contract coronavirus will experience only mild symptoms and most people are expected to make a full recovery. |
However, it can pose a particular risk for elderly people and those with pre-existing problems such as diabetes or cancer, or weak immune systems. | However, it can pose a particular risk for elderly people and those with pre-existing problems such as diabetes or cancer, or weak immune systems. |
An expert at China's National Health Commission has said it can take a week to recover from mild coronavirus symptoms. | An expert at China's National Health Commission has said it can take a week to recover from mild coronavirus symptoms. |
What questions do you have about the coronavirus? | What questions do you have about the coronavirus? |
In some cases, your question will be published, displaying your name, age and location as you provide it, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. Please ensure you have read our terms & conditions and privacy policy. | In some cases, your question will be published, displaying your name, age and location as you provide it, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. Please ensure you have read our terms & conditions and privacy policy. |
Use this form to ask your question: | Use this form to ask your question: |