With information rising rapidly and changing quickly, you might be wondering how worried you should be, and what’s scary about. Here’s what we do (and don’t really know) about this virus and we hope it helps.

What is coronavirus?

Coronaviruses (2019-nCoV) are a large family of viruses that cause colds and other upper respiratory infections. These viruses are zoonoses, which means they are transmitted between animals and people. A coronavirus can potentially spread from humans to humans. Up to now, there is no confirmed cure for this disease. Coronavirus is as severe as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV) which had happened before.

How did the outbreak start?

The new study The Lancet provides more clues to the virus’ origins, and points to bats as the most likely cause. The coronavirus is known to first appear in a wet market in the center of Wuhan city, mainland China, and the market is famous for selling a wide range of dead and living animals without hygiene standards. Some people claim the Wuhan market is the direct cause for outbreak whereas some say bats are not sold at this market but may have infected live animals sold there. This question still remains challenging for us.

What are the symptoms of this virus?

The symptoms can include a cough, fever, shortness of breath, or breathing difficulties. In the meanwhile, there are also some early reports of non-respiratory symptoms. Many people recover within a few days. However, some people, especially children and old people, who tend to have a weak immune system are more likely to get infected. In more severe cases, the infection can cause even deaths.

Why so scary?

Unlike bacterial infections, which can be treated by antibiotics, coronaviruses have no specific treatments. Also, these respiratory viruses can spread more easily from person to person, and potentially lead to an outbreak. The deadly outbreak began in China, and new cases have been reported in 26 countries (updated 2 Feb 2020) including Vietnam with 7 confirmed cases in which 2 of them recovered.  Some countries including the USA, Australia, Russia, and Singapore even closed border to all Chinese arrivals.

People are frightened, recalling the fear of epidemics spanning back to the year of 2003 when SARS happened. However, during the SARS outbreak, China had 5,327 cases and 349 deaths, according to the World Health Organization, whereas China now has over 14,000 Coronavirus cases confirmed, over 300 deaths. The global outbreak of SARS had spread to over 8,000 people worldwide and killed almost 800.

Where to get up-to-date information?

The real-time tracking map from Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering is believed to provide accurate information. Follow the link here. Updated on 2 Feb 2020, there are 14,628 cases confirmed, 305 total deaths, and 348 recovered.

If no cure, then what are the preventions?

There is currently no vaccine to prevent this deadly infection. However, the best way to prevent getting infected is to avoid being exposed to this virus. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends doing the following things.

• “Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Stay home when you are sick.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. “

The Bottom line

We should not panic although we are dealing with a serious and deadly virus. More information available, and preventives well-equipped will help.

The post The new coronavirus and the local fear: What we do and don’t know appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Vietnam – the country of Dusty Travel

“Dusty travel” in a sense of backpacking perfectly fits in the place and context of Vietnam. Vietnam caters everyone’s needs from being known as an oasis of relaxation, famous for epic adventures, to offering all the unique experience, not to mention such delicious feasts for your eyes with a perfect blend or balance of flavors. Vietnam is now a backpacker hub and has become one of the most prominent travel destinations in Asia on account of cheap cost of living, friendly and exciting vibes, a wide selection of off-the-beaten-track spots, and much more. In one word, Vietnam is the “Dusty travel” heaven.

However, (or also) in another sense of “Dusty travel”, its literal meaning is “dusty” or “dust”– “bụi” and “travel” – “du lịch”, which means we travel while breathing the dust in. While a lot of people have been writing about living, working, and traveling in Vietnam regarding all the excellent travel highlights, we rarely get to read articles about one of the most undeniable drawbacks – the air pollution in Vietnam, especially in big cities such as Hanoi, and Saigon (HCMC). The air quality index (AQI) has been very high, normally from 150 – 220, ranking on the top of the world sometimes at over 300.

The air quality gets that worse due to lots of reasons, such as the burning traditions taken from Chinese culture on special lunar days, the breakout of fire in a light warehouse releasing a high amount of fluorescent last year, the excessive amount of pollution resulted from motorbikes (around 7 mill bikes and 500K cars in a big city here!) and cars on the road, the northeastern trade winds carrying all the industrial dirt and dust from China and Hanoi’s neighboring provinces, and much more.

So what’s the solution? 

First of all, it is highly recommended to install AQ tracking apps like Airvisual just so you know on which days the AQI in the city is so high that you can avoid by staying indoors. Especially if you are traveling with a baby, an elderly family member, a pregnant woman or someone that has moderate to severe breathing problems, you should be more careful and well-prepared.

If air pollution does not constitute the number one concern, it is as just moderate as it could be. In Hanoi and Saigon, you may have to learn to wear a mask or have your hand cover your mouth while getting a full exposure to the traffic flow out there. Also, doing some outdoor exercises during the day might not be ideal, either. These tiny particles of pollution can burrow deep into the lungs and cause a range of severe health problems. It may result in occasional coughs, sneeze, sore throat, and even worse, some severe respiratory health problems like bronchitis, or lung inflammation. It’s not a fun reality, but it’s the truth.

If you tend to live here long-term, consider using an air filter indoors. But chances are it is going to take more of a toll on your health. However, just as long as you get out of Vietnam’s two biggest cities, you can see the air quality in Vietnam is getting better. It doesn’t mean you have to head for some remote rice paddy villages to get some fresh air, but you can start thinking about other city options including Da Nang, Hoi An, Da Lat, Can Tho, etc.

Regardless, while air pollution can be a problem in Vietnam, don’t let it hold you back from checking this country.

The post Du lịch Bụi – The joy of backpacking or breathing the dust in appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

If you ask the locals what the hottest news in Vietnam right now is, we would be glad to provide a list of headings! “Summit 2019: America and North Korea”, “Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un are going to encounter at America-North Korea Summit in Vietnam this February” or “Why Vietnam is chosen to be the summit host?” As we and very many others who cannot take the heat, we just want to give a big announcement that the two great leaders Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un are going to meet at the summit which is expected to build upon their agreement to “work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula”in Hanoi, Vietnam from this 27^th – 28^th February 2019.

Before the important event, many big magazines and stations have gathered around, day and night, at different governmental organizations as well as Diplomatic department to get the latest news about the following summit. As information provided on open electronic media, as soon as receiving the notice for becoming the host selected from other countries such as Thailand or Singapore, Vietnam only had about 10 days to get prepared for the official event day!

Mingling with the exciting atmosphere, not only local authorities but also Vietnamese citizens, especially Hanoians have been busy getting everything ready for the summit. Now on the streets, particularly the central ones as the Old Quarter, Huế, Hai Bà Trưng, Hoàn Kiếm or Tràng Tiền, you will see new trees being planted and colorful flower baskets hung over sign poles, light poles or even electronic poles! The city is getting alive!

Not only the streets but the people are becoming busier than ever! In a few clothing stores, white shirts printed with Vietnamese, North Korean and American flags are on display. In a few others, Áo Dài with American and North Korean flag-patterned is also garnered behind the glass windows!

A part from clothing stores, souvenir stores are also taking their chance to bring the latest products to the market from 2019 Summit key chains to caps and shirts along with Vietnamese traditional products such as calligraphy. Besides the summit’s information, what many people will probably ask is “where will Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim stop by to eat?” Well, if you still remember Bún Chả Obama then you should take this chance to discover what Mr. Trump’s and Mr. Kim’s favorite Vietnamese dish is!

So if you are ready, let us “bring the house down” with Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in Vietnam this 27^th!

The post Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un: Vietnam summit approaches – All the latest updates appeared first on Maze Vietnam.