Coronaviruses can make humans and animals sick. Some coronaviruses can cause illness similar to the common cold and others can cause more serious diseases, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). This new coronavirus originated in Hubei Province, China and the disease outbreak is named COVID-19.

Shingles, also know as ‘zoster virus’ or ‘herpes zoster’, is caused by the same virus responsible for chicken pox. It is a skin rash than can be very painful, occurring mainly but not exclusively amongst older adults in the population.

As winter approaches the community braces for an onset of infectious illnesses – coughs, colds, flu, gastro, skin complaints, eye infections and now COVID-19.