Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

News

What Does Coronavirus Do To Your Cells?

This illustration reveals the morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
()

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

We’re asking public health officials and experts to answer your questions about the coronavirus outbreak. Keep in mind that our understanding of the virus and the disease it causes, COVID-19, is still evolving. You can submit your own question in the box at the end of this post.

Audience member Riddhi Katore wants to know: “Once a person is infected with the coronavirus, how does it work? What does it do to our cells?”

Here’s an explanation from Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles County Department of Health Director:

“The science behind viruses is that they are attacking healthy cells in people. In this case, it’s a respiratory illness, primarily — so it really affects how your lungs may be working. We sometimes see people who are having shortness of breath, having a hard time breathing and may be coughing. The virus itself tends to live in the nose and the mouth of those who are affected.”

These are the reasons why the coronavirus symptoms mirror the cold and the flu. Ferrer says that for some infected with the coronavirus, it might be more likely to look like the former:
Support for LAist comes from
“We have evidence to suggest it can cause very mild disease for people, having the symptoms we most closely associate with the cold: you might be coughing or sneezing, you might feel congested… but you’re not feeling ill, like if you have influenza.”

And even though there is no vaccine for the coronavirus, in most cases, “should you become ill, we are able to treat the symptoms,” Ferrer says.

LEARN MORE:

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist