What is Coronavirus
Tips & How to Protect Yourself from Coronavirus
World Health Organization (WHO) describes Coronavirus or viruses as a group of viruses that cause diseases in most higher animals and birds. In humans, coronavirus causes conditions such as severe and sometimes mild respiratory infections, common cold, and fever.
However, rare forms such as MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome) and the Novel Coronavirus that causes the current outbreak can be noxious and life-threatening.
According to the World Health Organization [i], Coronaviruses (CoV) are zoonotic, this means that they are mostly transmitted from person to person and between animals. Other detailed investigations show that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans.
There are several known coronaviruses in circulation in animals that have not yet infected humans.
What is 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
The 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a new strain of coronaviruses which was diagnosed through an investigation into an epidemic in Wuhan City, China. It is important to be aware that the spread of the virus spreads can change. Some viruses are highly contagious, while other viruses are less so.
Tests are ongoing to understand other attributes related to 2019-nCoV, seriousness, and transmissibility, however, there are signs that person-to-person spread is currently happening [ii] in some countries and parts of the world.
What are the Symptoms of Coronavirus
According to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) patients with verified illnesses, that were 2019-nCoV, have reported moderate to severe respiratory disorders with symptoms including:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
CDC believes that symptoms of 2019-nCoV might seem in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days following exposure. This can be based on what has been observed since MERS viruses' phase [iii].
Learn How Coronavirus is Spread
75% of known reported Wuhan Virus (coronavirus) cases are said to have occurred through Person-to-Person transmission. The CDC says [iv]:
- The air from sneezing and coughing
- Close contact, such as shaking or touching hands
- Touching the surface of a contaminated item or an item itself before washing your hands and touching your nose, mouth, or eyes.
- Infrequent, fecal contamination
It's uncertain just how or readily 2019-nCoV is currently spreading between individuals. There is far more to find out regarding the transmissibility and other attributes related to analyses and 2019-nCoV, but thorough investigations are ongoing.
How to Protect Yourself from the Dreaded Coronavirus (Wuhan Virus)
The very best precautionary step is to prevent being exposed to this virus. The CDC suggests [v] simple and concise measures that will help in day-to-day prevention of the disease for persons and their families.
Some of these mandatory tips include:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
- Stay home when you are sick
- Cover your cough or sneeze, with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
As with all diseases, personal hygiene truly plays a vital part in preventing coronavirus. The public health suggests that individuals should report to the nearest health facility should they detect or notice any indicative symptoms of the Coronavirus.
And it is advised that you call the office of your healthcare provider and inform them about your symptoms and your journey so far. This will enable them to provide you directions about the best way to deal with it without exposing it to other people.
Does Dettol kill the Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019 nCoV) is a new strain of coronavirus. It is not yet available for commercial testing.
Specific Dettol products have demonstrated effectiveness (>99.9% inactivation) against coronavirus strains from the same family as the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in third party laboratory testing when used in accordance with the directions for use. These products include:
Dettol Disinfectant Surface Spray
Given the structural similarities of the novel 2019-CoV virus to the coronavirus strain tested previously (Human Coronavirus), and based on the evidence available to us, we would expect our Dettol products (listed above) to be effective against the new strain. Definitive scientific confirmation of this, as with all other commercially available virucides, can only be provided once testing against 2019-nCoV Coronavirus has been conducted, following the release of the strain by relevant health authorities.
The CDC and World Health Organization specifically advises people to wash hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer as a key preventative measure against the spread Coronavirus 2019-nCoV. A good quality disinfectant will help reduce risk to families. Our Dettol Hand Sanitizers use ethanol (alcohol) as the germ disinfectant active ingredient in line with CDC and WHO recommendations.
- Does Dettol kill Viruses?
Dettol is proven to kill 99.9% of Germs which includes Bacteria, Viruses & Fungi. On virus specifically, Dettol is also proven to kill 99.9% viruses such as Influenza, Swine Flu and previous strains of Coronavirus such as SARS, MERS and Human Corona Virus. Viruses are surrounded by an envelope, with receptors that enable them to enter a human cell and cause infection. Dettol products destroy the outer layer of the virus which kills the virus and makes it unable to enter human cells.
- Why are there different active ingredients used in Dettol?
Dettol as a brand focuses on providing a full portfolio of disinfectant and cleaning products across both Personal Care and Surface Care segments, which are focused on ‘breaking the chain of infection’ at all relevant consumer touchpoints whether in the home with surface disinfection, on the hands or out of home. Because of the many different surfaces Dettol treats (skin, hard surface, soft surface etc) – this requires us to use the best possible product / active system most applicable for the particular surface we are disinfecting taking into account safety, regulatory and efficacy requirements.
- Do Dettol products contain alcohol?
Dettol products use a range of active ingredients including alcohol in order to kill viruses and bacteria. All active ingredients used are proven to kill viruses with the same efficacy as alcohol. The choice of which active ingredient is used in each product is dependent on the use of the product. Because Dettol offers product range to disinfect across many different surfaces such as skin, hard surfaces and soft surfaces, this requires us to use the best possible active ingredients most applicable for the particular surface we are disinfecting taking into account safety, regulatory and efficacy requirements.
- Is alcohol more effective than Dettol in killing viruses?
Dettol is as effective as Alcohol in disinfecting and killing bacteria & viruses. Alcohol is one of many active ingredients used in Dettol products use in order to kill viruses and bacteria. All active ingredients used are proven to kill viruses with the same efficacy as alcohol. The choice of which active ingredient is used is dependent on the use of the product. Because Dettol offers product range to disinfect across many different surfaces such as skin, hard surfaces and soft surfaces, this requires us to use the best possible active ingredients most applicable for the particular surface we are disinfecting taking into account safety, regulatory and efficacy requirements.
Please refer to the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/, and/or the WHO website at https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus for additional information.
[i] https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
[ii] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
[iii] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html
[iv] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/about/transmission.html
[v] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html