What is a coronavirus?

什么是冠状病毒？

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses found in both animals and humans. Some infect people and are known to cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

冠状病毒是在动物和人类身上发现的一个大类病毒。有些感染者会导致疾病，从普通感冒到更严重的疾病，就像中东呼吸综合征（MERS）和严重急性呼吸综合征（SARS）。

What is a "novel" coronavirus?

什么是“新”冠状病毒？

A novel coronavirus (CoV) is a new strain of coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans. The new, or "novel" coronavirus, now called 2019-nCoV, had not previously detected before the outbreak was reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019.

新冠状病毒（CoV）是先前在人类中尚未发现的一种新型冠状病毒株。新的或者“新型”冠状病毒，现在称为2019-nCoV，在2019年中国武汉报道暴发之前没有检测到。

How dangerous is it?

它有多危险？

As with other respiratory illnesses, infection with 2019-nCoV can cause mild symptoms including a  runny nose, sore throat, cough, and fever. It can be more severe for some persons and can lead to pneumonia or breathing difficulties. More rarely, the disease can be fatal. Older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as, diabetes and heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.

与其他的呼吸性疾病一样，感染2019-nCoV会导致流鼻涕，喉咙痛，咳嗽和发热这些轻度症状。对一些人来说会更严重，可以导致肺炎和呼吸困难。这个病很少致命。老人和有过往病史的人们（例如糖尿病和心脏病）似乎更容易感染该病毒。

How long is the incubation period?

它的潜伏期有多长？

The incubation period is the time between infection and the onset of clinical symptoms of disease. Current estimates of the incubation period range from 1-12.5 days with median estimates of 5-6 days. These estimates will be refined as more data become available. Based on information from other coronavirus diseases, such as MERS and SARS, the incubation period of 2019-nCoV could be up to 14 days. WHO recommends that the follow-up of contacts of confirmed cases (确诊病例) is 14 days.

潜伏期是感染和疾病临床症状发作之间的时期。目前潜伏期的范围估计为从1-12.5天，中位数估计为5-6天。随着更多可用数据的获得，这些估算都会更精确。在其他冠状病毒，像中东呼吸综合征和严重急性呼吸综合征的信息基础上，2019-nCoV的潜伏期会高达14天。世界卫生组织建议，确诊病例的接触者应跟踪14天。

What can I do to protect myself?

我可以做什么保护自己？

Wash your hands frequently

勤洗手

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub if your hands are not visibly dirty.

如果你的手没有明显的污渍，用肥皂和水或者含有酒精的洗手液勤洗手。

Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub eliminates the virus if it is on your hands.

为什么呢？如果病毒在你的手上，使用肥皂和水或者含有酒精的洗手液洗手可以清洗掉它。

Practice respiratory hygiene

养成呼吸卫生

When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue - discard tissue immediately into a closed bin and clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.

当咳嗽和打喷嚏的时候，用弯曲的肘部或者面巾纸遮盖口鼻，立马将面巾纸丢进密闭的垃圾桶里，之后用含有酒精的洗手液或者水和香皂洗手。

Why? Covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing prevent the spread of germs and viruses. If you sneeze or cough into your hands, you may contaminate objects or people that you touch.

为什么呢？当咳嗽或者打喷嚏的时候，遮盖口鼻会防止细菌和病毒的传播。如果对着你的手打喷嚏或者咳嗽，那么可能会传染给你触碰的物体或者人。

Maintain social distancing

保持社交距离

Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance between yourself and other people, particularly those who are coughing, sneezing and have a fever.

你和其他人之间至少保持一米（三英尺）的距离，尤其是咳嗽，打喷嚏和发热的人们。

Why? When someone who is infected with a respiratory disease, like 2019-nCoV, coughs or sneezes they project small droplets containing the virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the virus.

为什么呢？当感染了类似2019-nCoV的呼吸道疾病的人咳嗽或者打喷嚏时，他们会喷射一些含有病毒的飞沫。如果你距离这些人群过近，你可能吸入病毒。

Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth

避免触碰眼睛，鼻子和嘴

Why? Hands touch many surfaces which can be contaminated with the virus. If you touch your eyes, nose or mouth with your contaminated hands, you can transfer the virus from the surface to yourself.

为什么呢？手接触到很多可能被病毒污染的表面。如果你用被污染的手触碰你的眼睛，鼻子和嘴巴，则可以将表面的病毒传播到你自己身上。

If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early.

如果你有发热，咳嗽和呼吸困难，尽早就医。

Tell your health care provider if you have traveled in an area in China where 2019-nCoV has been reported, or if you have been in close contact with someone with who has traveled from China and has respiratory symptoms.

如果你曾经在中国报道过有2019-nCoV的地区旅游过，或者你曾与在中国旅过游并出现呼吸道症状的人保持过密切联系，请告知医护人员。

Why? Whenever you have fever, cough and difficult breathing it's important to seek medical attention promptly as this may be due to a respiratory infection or other serious condition. Respiratory symptoms with fever can have a range of causes, and depending on your personal travel history and circumstances, 2019-nCoV could be one of them.

为什么呢？无论你何时有发热，咳嗽和呼吸困难，及时就医是非常重要的。因为这些症状可能是由于呼吸道感染，或者其他严重状况引起的。伴有发热的呼吸道症状可能由多种原因引起，根据你的个人旅行史和情况，2019-nCoV可能是其中之一。

If you have mild respiratory symptoms and no travel history to or within China, carefully practice basic respiratory and hand hygiene and stay home until you are recovered, if possible.

如果你有轻微的呼吸道症状，并且没有在中国境内的旅行史或者在中国境内，尽可能的注意基本的呼吸道卫生和手部卫生，并在家隔离直至痊愈。

As a general precaution, practice general hygiene measures when visiting live animal markets, wet markets or animal product markets

作为一般预防措施，在参观活体动物市场、潮湿的市场或者畜产品市场时，应采取全面的卫生防护措施。

Ensure regular hand washing with soap and potable water after touching animals and animal products; avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with hands; and avoid contact with sick animals or spoiled animal products. Strictly avoid any contact with other animals in the market (e.g., stray cats and dogs, rodents, birds, bats). Avoid contact with potentially contaminated animal waste or fluids on the soil or structures of shops and market facilities.

确保在触碰过动物和动物产品之后，定期用香皂和饮用水清洗手。避免用手去触碰眼睛鼻子或者嘴巴。避免接触患病的动物或者过期的动物产品。严格避免与市场上的其他动物接触（例如流浪猫和狗、啮齿动物、鸟类、蝙蝠）。避免与商店和市场设施的土壤或者结构上可能潜在的受污染的动物废物或者液体接触。

Avoid consumption of raw or undercooked animal products

避免食用生的或者未煮熟的动物产品

Handle raw meat, milk or animal organs with care, to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods, as per good food safety practices.

按照完善的食品安全规范，要妥善处理生肉、牛奶或者动物器官，避免与未煮熟的食物发生交叉污染。