新型冠狀病毒感染的肺炎疫情防控工作正在全國有條不紊地進行。它與季節性流感有哪些相似和不同？該如何預防？趕快轉發給身邊的外國朋友，讓我們一起科學防控，抗擊疫情。

　　The novel coronavirus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has now spread to many countries, has much in common with seasonal flu. They are both viral infections, share similar symptoms and - crucially - can spread from human to human. In the midst of flu season in much of the northern hemisphere, telling the difference between the two will be vital in stopping its spread.

　　起源于中國武漢市的新型冠狀病毒已擴散至多個國家，與季節性流感有很多相似之處。它們都是病毒感染，有相似的症狀，最重要的是，可以在人與人之間傳播。北半球大部分地區正處于流感季節，區分兩者對于阻止新型冠狀病毒的傳播至關重要。

　　Medical workers cheer for each other in the ICU (intensive care unit) of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University in Wuhan, central Chinas Hubei Province, Jan. 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi)

　　Are the symptoms similar to that of the flu?新型冠狀病毒感染症狀與流感相似嗎？ Human coronaviruses, of which there are four, can cause respiratory infections similar to flu: while many symptoms are mild, both can lead to pneumonia and become lethal. However, the novel coronavirus is more serious than a typical influenza infection, says Ian Jones, a professor of virology at the University of Reading.

　　人類冠狀病毒（一共有四種）可引起類似流感的呼吸道感染：雖然許多症狀很輕微，但兩者都可導緻肺炎并緻命。然而，雷丁大學的病毒學教授伊恩·瓊斯說，這種新型冠狀病毒比“典型的流感感染”更為嚴重。

　　This virus appears to go further down into the lungs than would generally be the case, therefore giving you symptoms of pneumonia: the lungs becoming flooded, they dont function very well and the patient gets into breathing difficulty.

　　“這種病毒似乎更容易深入肺部，因此會出現肺炎的症狀：肺部積水，肺功能不佳，病人呼吸困難。”

　　A worker checks the body temperature of a passenger at Jianguomen subway station in Beijing, Jan 28, 2020. [Photo by Wang Jing/China Daily]

　　Why is it more feared than the flu?為什麼它比流感更可怕？ While the mortality rates and symptoms of flu and novel coronavirus may end up being similar, humans ability to fight off the viruses differ greatly.

　　雖然流感和新型冠狀病毒的死亡率和症狀可能很相似，但人類抗擊病毒的能力卻有很大不同。

　　Humans have naturally built up antibodies to seasonal flu and scientists have developed annual vaccines to fight it. During a pandemic, which the new coronavirus has the potential to become, there is no immunity in the population so you have potential for a global spread, warns Jones.

　　人類天生就會對季節性流感産生抗體，科學家們每年都會研制出流感疫苗。瓊斯警告說，這種新型冠狀病毒有可能成為流行病，“人們普遍對此沒有免疫力，因此有可能在全球範圍内傳播。”

　　There is also a widespread familiarity with flu, which dampens concern. As with the Ebola epidemic and the Zika virus, both of which peaked in the middle of the last decade, fears around the new coronavirus are compounded due to a lack of knowledge over its nature.

　　人們對流感也很熟悉，這降低了人們的擔憂。正如同在2015年前後達到頂峰的埃博拉病毒和寨卡病毒，由于對其性質缺乏了解，人們對這種新型冠狀病毒的擔憂加劇。

　　Is it as easy to catch as the flu?它和流感一樣容易傳染嗎？ Flu can spread from person to person from up to six feet away, largely caused by liquid emitted when the inflicted cough or sneeze. Those infected are usually contagious for around three days following the beginning of their illness, although this time-frame could stretch to over a week.

　　流感可以在相隔6英尺的人們之間傳播，主要是由患者咳嗽或打噴嚏時的飛沫引起。感染者通常在發病後三天左右具有傳染性，不過傳染期可能會延長至一周以上。

　　All this and more remains a mystery in regards to the new coronavirus. To understand the virility of the outbreak, Jones urges a focus on whether or not international cases lead to secondary infections. If they don he explains, it would suggest that the virus doesnt transmit quite so well: clearly all the people on the airplane (that traveled from an infected zone) didnt get it.

　　而對于新型冠狀病毒來說，所有這些仍然是一個謎。為了了解疫情的嚴重性，瓊斯敦促關注國際病例是否會導緻第二代傳播。他解釋說：“如果沒有，那就意味着病毒傳播力減弱：很明顯，飛機上的所有人（從疫區起飛）都沒有感染。”

　　Passengers wearing masks are seen on Subway Line 5 in Beijing on Jan 28, 2020. [Photo by Wang Jing/China Daily]

　　What you should do if you think you have it?如果你認為患病了，應該怎麼做？ Medical advice is similar across those countries with confirmed cases of the infection. In France, authorities are asking those who think they are infected to call an ambulance rather than visiting a hospital, where they could potentially pass on the virus. Similar advice has been issued in China and Germany.

　　在有确診感染病例的國家，醫囑是類似的。在法國，當局要求那些認為自己被感染的人叫救護車，而不是去醫院，因為他們可能會把病毒傳給其他人。中國和德國也提出了類似的建議。

　　How to keep yourself safe from novel coronavirus?如何預防新型冠狀病毒？

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