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, therefore infected areas can be sterilised with boiling water or steam
easily killed by most disinfectants, especially bleach (sodium
hypochlorite)
How to avoid catching SARS coronaviruses
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, touch screens or computer keyboards, 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, as you leave you may touch a door handle after a person who has not washed his hands.
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 fabric gloves get wet, the virus will be able to travel through the gloves.
Symptoms of SARS in humans
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
in addition, an early sign of SARS-CoV2 infection is loss of your sense of smell (anosmia)
List of SARS-CoV2 treatment publications
Data on COVID-19 cases and mortality: Worldometer.info and Centre for Evidence Based Medicine
World Health Organisation advises governments to stop doing lockdowns
Lockdown facts: Tom Woods
SARS-CoV2 in domestic animals
SARS-CoV2 and cats ABCD guideline
Donate to Dr Addie’s
coronavirus research
2 May 2003 and Nov 2020