With an overwhelming dose of bad news at the start of the year (Australian bushfires, Taal volcano eruption, recurrent earthquakes in Mindanao, not to mention the United States airstrike in Iran which may inevitably endanger Filipinos if hostilities escalate), our alarm mechanism or fight-or-flight response has been heightened.

And with this super-activated alarm system, the recent scare about the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) spreading to our country revs it up further and has put many in panic mode. Many who have colds and cough, which are fairly common this time of year, are worried that these might be symptoms of the dreaded virus infection.

We just need to put things in proper perspective. We’re in the flu season, so many will really catch the common influenza virus and develop fever, headache, colds, sometimes accompanied by coughing and muscle pains.

The flu is a self-limiting infection, so one should feel better in a few days, with just bed rest, nutritious food including antioxidants from fruits and vegetables, and symptomatic treatment for the fever and headache.

No antibiotics necessaryAntibiotics are not necessary, and can even do more harm. It should be reserved only for bacterial infections. Some patients have been texting me for antibiotics they may take at the slightest symptom of being feverish. I asked a patient what his temperature was, and he replied that he hadn’t checked with a thermometer yet but he felt feverish. I told him he was probably just imagining it and true enough, checking several times gave normal temperature readings, and he felt better.

Patients have also been asking if it’s true that some patients have already been admitted in some hospitals, diagnosed with nCoV infection. We should not believe these

rumors unless announced by the Department of Health (DOH). Like we said, people being diagnosed with “systemic viral infection” are expected all year round, especially the first three months of the year. They think the DOH is just covering up the news to prevent the public from panicking. We’re better off believing the DOH, and following its advisories.

Our response should be well calibrated. We cannot stop working and just stay at home fearing we might catch nCoV during our commute or at work. Some precautionary measures are called for, as standard precautions any time. These include frequent hand-washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based sanitizer, avoiding people who show symptoms, staying at home if we have mild symptoms, but seeking consultation if there are more alarming symptoms, like shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing, sensorial changes and persistently high temperature.

The public should be made more aware of the proper way to cough or sneeze. Many instinctively cover their nose and mouth with the palm of their hands, but then they later shake the hands of others, which spreads the virus faster. It’s better to cover one’s nose and mouth with the flexed arm, either left or right, pulled over the face.

The front side of the elbow should be the one used to cover one’s nose and mouth, even if one is not wearing long sleeves.

Wearing face masks in public places is also good practice. But one must remember that if we use disposable face masks, they must be replaced daily, as they could harbor germs. It’s like having a Petri dish on your face.

It’s also best to avoid unnecessary travels at this time, especially to China, where it all started. But if one really needs to travel elsewhere, the risk is still fairly minimal. Your reliable face mask may make a good fashion accessory, though, and one should keep it on for the duration of the flight, in case you’re seated next to someone who does not have symptoms yet but is already in the incubation stage of nCoV infection, which may be anywhere from two to 14 days after being exposed to the virus. Again, though, rein in your fears; this is probably a one-in-a-million chance at this point.

No definitive treatmentShould you immediately seek hospitalization if you have flu-like symptoms? Definitely not! You should be admitted only if you have more severe symptoms, including shortness of breath or difficulty of breathing, like you have an asthma attack. There’s no definitive treatment for the virus, just supportive, including hydration, nutrition and assisting breathing with mechanical respirators. Even granting one tests positive for nCoV, it’s not the end of the world for the patient. If we base it on the stats reports from China, and we presume they’re accurate, only around one to two in a hundred infected patients really worsen and die. The far bigger majority, around 98 percent, survive and get well.

Some also ask if the regular flu vaccine can also cover for nCoV infection. I’m afraid not. This is an entirely new and different bug, which seems to keep on mutating. The National Institutes of Health in the US are working on one, and hopefully it could be made available soon.

That may take some time, though, since they have to do preliminary tests to make sure the vaccine is safe, and won’t do more harm than good. I don’t think we’ve recovered from the dengue vaccine panic. Dengvaxia is an effective and safe vaccine, but could be harmful if given to the wrong people. But that’s another story.

So, regarding the nCoV, take usual precautions to prevent it, but don’t let it stop you from getting on with your normal life. INQ