Like hurricanes, volcanoes, floods, fires, and extreme temperatures (in both directions) weren't enough, we now have a new epidemic. The Wuhan coronavirus, officially classified as 2019-nCoV by the World Health Organization, has already claimed the lives of 26 people in China, with more than 800 confirmed cases. All relevant authorities are sharing their data as quickly as possible, and a new portal designed by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University displays it all on a world map.
The Outbreak Begins
The arrows point to the Wuhan wholesale market in Hubei province. There, all kinds of animals are sold, from fish to wolf cubs, along with civets, chickens, snakes, bats, rabbits, and much more. Hundreds of vendors concentrate in one place, trading live animals and ready-to-eat meat under conditions we can unquestionably call questionable.
The first instances of 2019-nCoV emerged in early December 2019, but it was on the 31st of that same month that the World Health Organization received preliminary reports about an "unknown pneumonia". On January 1, the entire market was closed, and everyone showing symptoms was isolated. More than 700 people (400 being health workers) were placed under observation, but the snowball had already begun to roll. The first confirmed death occurred on January 9, and at the time of writing, the death toll stands at 26.
The Chinese government ordered the quarantine of 20 million people in the affected region. From a technical point of view, it's too late: the virus has already left China, with confirmed cases in South Korea, Japan, and the United States. However, authorities must also contend with another factor: Tomorrow (January 25) Chinese New Year begins, and despite restrictions, millions of people are expected to try to move.
The Interactive Map
Some online media are doing impressive coverage, with updates just minutes apart, but if you're thinking about a 'global core' of information, you should visit the interactive map published by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The map combines reports from the World Health Organization, the U.S. CDC, the Chinese NHC, and the online physician community DingXiangYuan. While some of the reports are updated in real time, this site works with a 24-hour interval.
The general interface reminds us of a certain game focused on creating epidemics, with the huge difference that this one is real. If you plan not to miss anything regarding the Wuhan coronavirus, we recommend you add this map to your bookmarks.
Official site: Click here
