Tags
coronavirus, covid-19, droplet-spread, H1N1, invasion, major viruses, planet, SARS, vaccine, viruses, world upside down
There is no longer a corner of our beautiful planet that has not been impacted by Coronavirus. Out of the dust rose a virus that has impacted thousands of people around the world in various ways from their travel plans to families having to deal with death.
We have seen these nasty bugs before and we will prevail against this one too, just as China has finally managed. Most of us will escape unscathed but the impact will remain.
As an RN for 25 years I look back on the history of major viruses. I wasn’t actively involved with anything to do with SARS but I do recall getting into family practice in 2006 and not long after receiving a box from the Ministry of Health. They had put together an “action pack” to “protect us against something similar when or if it ever happened again. The box held boxes of masks for both the office staff and to give to a potentially infected patient, boxes of gloves, gowns eye protection, antibacterial wipes to disinfect after someone had been to the office and, lastly, the nasopharyngeal swabs required for testing.
As expected, most of the items eventually expired over time and had done so before H1N1 raided the plane and created similar havoc to SARS. The difference between H1N1 and what we are experiencing now is that a vaccine was quickly created and we were able to vaccinate against it. The concern at that time was around travel and catching H1N1 easily from being on a plane with an infected person.
Now we have Coronavirus, a droplet-spread bug that has no vaccine. It is viral and it has to run its course and there is no treatment. The impact to most of us is minimal but, like influenza, it can be deadly to the frail.
The challenge is how do we shut it down? Places, events, etc. are being shut down for two weeks where I am and for a large part of Ontario. We are, I think, doing our best but sometimes that’s still not enough.
Only time will tell and hopefully this is all correct and we will shut it down with all the effort we’ve put into it all.
I have to admit that, as an RN, it has taken its toll on me… mentally it’s been constant and I am in great need of a break… I need to remove Coronavirus from my brain at this time and let the cells rest for a while!
Hopefully soon!
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