This website is primarily about feline coronavirus, which is completely different from human coronaviruses. However, this page is in response to recent questions in the guestbook, which show that the site is being accessed by people worried about SARS.
SARS is not the first Human Coronavirus – we’ve been living for years with Human Coronavirus 229E (HCV 229E) and HCV OC43 – both of which are causes of the common cold.
Facts about the SARS virus
excreted
in the saliva, nasal secretions and faeces
virus survival – hours
to weeks in protein (i.e. mucus, faeces)
resistant to freezing,
but not heat
easily killed by most disinfectants, especially bleach (sodium
hypochlorite)
How to avoid catching SARS
The coronavirus needs to enter your body somehow in order to infect you. Your skin protects you (unless broken), but your vulnerable areas are your mucous membranes (the lining of your mouth, eyelids, nose and urogenital tracts) and your eyes.
Masks may help prevent you from inhaling droplets of virus sneezed or coughed out by another person, but it is far more likely that you would inadvertently let the virus into your body via your own hands. People infected with SARS are likely to have virus on their hands and will leave it on everything they touch, such as door handles, money, lift buttons and your hand when greeting each other by shaking hands. Remember that when you use a public toilet, even though you have washed your hands, you may touch a door handle after a person who has not washed his hands as you leave.
Disinfect YOUR hands before
eating and drinking, especially if
you touch the food directly
preparing food for yourself or your family
touching
your mouth
touching your eyes
blowing your nose
applying sanitary protection
handling
your baby or children
You might consider wearing gloves in public places and removing them before touching your own face or food, however do remember that if they get wet, the virus will be able to travel through the gloves.
Clinical signs of SARS
fever
(the normal human temperature is 37oC)
aching muscles or headache
loss of energy
loss of appetite
dry
cough (dry means no sputum comes up) 2-7 days after initial signs
pneumonia
diarrhoea
Donate to Dr Addie’s
coronavirus research
SARS article by Laurie Garrett, author of “The Coming Plague”
2 May 2003