關(guān)于那個神秘的中國病毒，你需要了解什么

關(guān)于那個神秘的中國病毒，你需要了解什么

A mysterious pneumonia outbreak in China may be linked to a virus that has never been seen before. Chinese scientists have identified the virus as a new type of coronavirus, reports the World Health Organization (WHO).

中國一場神秘的肺炎爆發(fā)可能與一種以前從未見過的病毒有關(guān)。據(jù)世界衛(wèi)生組織報道，中國科學(xué)家已經(jīng)確認(rèn)該病毒為一種新型冠狀病毒。

A woman wears a face mask as she waits for a ferry on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong on Jan. 7, 2020. (Photo: Philip Fong/AFP via Getty Images)

Most coronaviruses cause mild to moderate symptoms like the common cold, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But coronaviruses are the same family of viruses that include severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). SARS was first recognized in China in November 2002. It killed 774 of the 8,098 people infected, according to the CDC. It spread to more than two dozen countries including the U.S. and Canada before it was contained.

根據(jù)美國疾病控制與預(yù)防中心(CDC)的說法，大多數(shù)冠狀病毒會引起輕微到中度的癥狀，比如普通感冒。但是冠狀病毒與包括嚴(yán)重急性呼吸道綜合征(SARS)和中東呼吸綜合征(MERS)在內(nèi)的病毒屬相同。SARS于2002年11月在中國首次得到確認(rèn)。根據(jù)CDC的數(shù)據(jù)，在8098名感染者中，有774人死亡。在疫情得到控制之前，它已經(jīng)蔓延到包括美國和加拿大在內(nèi)的二十多個國家。

"There is a strong memory of SARS, that's where a lot of fear comes from, but we're a lot more prepared to deal with those types of diseases," Dr. Josie Golding, from the Wellcome Trust, a London-based research charity, tells the BBC.

來自倫敦慈善研究機構(gòu)威康信托基金會的喬西·戈爾丁博士告訴BBC:“人們對非典有著強烈的記憶，這是很多恐懼的來源，但我們在應(yīng)對這類疾病方面準(zhǔn)備得更充分。”

Chinese scientists say the new virus is a never-before-discovered coronavirus, which is in the same family as the one illustrated here. (Photo: Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock)

Researchers are still working to learn more about the mysterious illness. Here's what we know so far.

研究人員仍在努力了解更多關(guān)于這種神秘疾病的信息。這是我們目前所知道的。

Where did it come from?

它從何而來?

The strain has been linked to a seafood market in Wuhan, China, that has been closed for sanitation since Jan. 1. Local media outlets have reported that the market also sold snakes, marmots, monkeys and other animals. This sparked concerns that the virus was transmitted from animals to humans.

該菌株與中國武漢的一個海鮮市場有關(guān)，該市場自1月1日起因衛(wèi)生原因關(guān)閉。當(dāng)?shù)孛襟w報道稱，該市場還出售蛇、土撥鼠、猴子和其他動物。這引發(fā)了人們對病毒從動物傳播給人類的擔(dān)憂。

Is it serious?

它很嚴(yán)重嗎?

On Jan. 9, the first death from the outbreak was reported. The fatal case involved a 61-year-old man who died after being admitted to the hospital with respiratory failure and severe pneumonia, according to Wuhan's health department. The man also had other health issues including abdominal tumors and chronic liver disease, according to the statement.

1月9日，第一例死亡病例被報道。據(jù)武漢市衛(wèi)生局介紹，該致命病例涉及一名61歲的男子，他因呼吸衰竭和嚴(yán)重肺炎入院后死亡。根據(jù)聲明，這名男子還有其他健康問題，包括腹部腫瘤和慢性肝病。

Since the virus was first detected on Dec. 12, 41 cases of the virus have been diagnosed, according to an earlier statement. Two patients have been discharged from hospitals, with seven in critical condition. An additional 739 people who have been in close contact with the patients have undergone medical observation with no related cases found. Some of the patients operated booths at the market.

根據(jù)早前的一份聲明，自12月12日首次發(fā)現(xiàn)該病毒以來，已確診41例。兩名患者已經(jīng)出院，其中七人情況危急。另有739名與患者有密切接觸的人接受了醫(yī)學(xué)觀察，未發(fā)現(xiàn)相關(guān)病例。有些病人在市場上經(jīng)營攤位。

The main symptom, according to the WHO, with some patients reporting difficulty breathing and X-rays showing some lung lesions.

據(jù)世界衛(wèi)生組織稱，主要癥狀是呼吸困難和肺部病變。

How fast is it spreading?

它傳播的速度有多快?

Apparently, not very fast. All patients reported symptoms starting between Dec. 12 and Dec. 29 and there have been no new cases since then.

顯然，不是很快。所有患者均報告在12月12日至12月29日期間出現(xiàn)癥狀，此后再無新病例。

So far, there is no evidence that the illness is spreading from person to person. No medical personnel who have been caring for the patients have become ill.

到目前為止，沒有證據(jù)表明這種疾病正在人與人之間傳播。一直在照顧病人的醫(yī)務(wù)人員沒有生病。

"It's positive that we've not seen an expansion in cases," Golding tells the BBC. "China is taking it seriously and it could be contained, we have to wait and see."

戈爾丁在接受BBC采訪時表示:“我們沒有看到病例的增加，這是很好的。”“中國正在認(rèn)真對待這件事，它可能會得到遏制，我們必須拭目以待。”

How worried are people?

人們有多擔(dān)心?

In Hong Kong, authorities are urging people with fever and any respiratory symptoms to wear a mask. There has been an increase in demand for the N95 mask made by 3M, which was worn during the SARS outbreak, Time reports. Many commuters have been seen wearing the masks on public transportation, just to be safe.

香港當(dāng)局敦促發(fā)燒和有呼吸道癥狀的人戴上口罩。據(jù)《時代周刊》報道，3M公司生產(chǎn)的N95口罩需求量有所增加，該口罩是在SARS爆發(fā)期間佩戴的。為了安全起見，很多乘客在公共交通工具上都戴著口罩。

At this point, health officials are optimistic.

在這一點上，衛(wèi)生官員是樂觀的。

"More than a decade has passed," Xu Jianguo, a former top Chinese public health official, told The Washington Post. "It's impossible for something like SARS to happen again."

“十多年過去了，”前中國公共衛(wèi)生高官徐建國告訴《華盛頓郵報》。“像非典這樣的事情不可能再發(fā)生了。”