Question: How did the coronavirus become a big thing and what are the most serious side affects of it?

Hannah Blyth answered on 11 Mar 2020: last edited 11 Mar 2020 11:43 am

Hello Lucy! As a researcher of a plant infecting fungus, human infecting viruses are a bit out of my zone. Because of that, and how easily misinformation spreads, I hope you can understand why I feel nervous answering questions on the coronavirus. What I know from reading information from sources like the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Centre for Disease Control (CDC) this particular coronavirus (COVID-19) seems like it spreads easily (not all viruses are like this) and its spread is sustained (unlike ‘limited’ spread viruses that ‘die’ out after infecting a person or a few people). Because of how easy this virus finds spreading human-to-human, and how connected humans are around the globe, and how mild the symptoms can be this might explain how the virus has made its way to many countries. In terms of the symptoms/side effects, the most common are fever (high temperature), coughing (a dry cough), tiredness and shortness of breath. Those who have certain chronic medical conditions or are elderly are considered the most at-risk groups.

‘Science Made Simple UK’ put out a long youtube video of an interview with a scientist who studies human viruses (“Coronavirus made simple” link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEHg30SlKtM).