What is Covid, read full details

 What is Covid, read full details

COVID-19

COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by a recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and the disease were unknown before the outbreak in Wuhan, China in December 2019. COVID-19 is now a pandemic affecting many countries globally.

Where did the virus come from: It is not from drinking bat soup. When food products are boiled, the virus is destroyed. Initially, it was speculated that the SARS-CoV-2 virus spread from bats to humans. But, recent genome studies suggest that it must have passed through an intermediary species before reaching humans. Another study indicates that a lineage of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was present in humans before the disease spread.

WHAT IS A CORONAVIRUS?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that may cause disease in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is the coronavirus. The image of a coronavirus is easily recognizable due to its bumpy topped spikes. These spikes earned the family of viruses their name, which comes from the corona, or crown, that encircles the sun.

Coronaviruses are zoonotic, which means they can be transmitted from animals to humans. Coronaviruses have been found in birds and in numerous mammals, including bats, camels, cows, civet cats, and even domestic cats and dogs. In fact, researchers have identified several coronaviruses circulating in animal populations that haven’t made the leap to humans.

What’s known as a “cold” is a respiratory viral infection that can be caused by any number of viruses. Most of these respiratory viruses are familiar to scientists, but some have yet to be identified. Four coronaviruses are prevalent in humans, causing 10–15% of all common colds

Most people (about 80%) recover from the illness without needing hospital treatment. About 1 out of every 5 people who get COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and people with underlying medical problems such as high blood pressure, heart and lung problems, diabetes, or cancer, are at higher risk of developing severe illness. However, anyone can catch COVID-19 and become seriously ill. People of all ages who develop fever and/or cough associated with difficulty breathing/shortness of breath, chest pain/pressure, or loss of speech or movement should seek medical help immediately. If possible, it is recommended to call a health care provider or facility first, so the patient can be directed to the right clinic.

Coronavirus Types

There are four Trusted Source  subtypes of coronavirus —

•  Alpha

•  Beta

• Gamma

•  Delta

and scientists use these classifications to categorize the various species.

Coronavirus Infection

The virus infects epithelial cells in the throat and lungs. SARS-CoV-2 binds to ACE2 receptors on contact with human cells, which are often found in the throat and lungs. However, despite sticking to the skin, the virus does not cause harm because it does not come in contact with ACE2 on the outer skin. This virus enters the body through the nose, eyes and mouth. Our hands can be the main means, which can carry the virus to our mouth, nose and eyes. Washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds as often as possible helps prevent infection.

Coronavirus Infectious dose

A dose of 700,000 PFU is required to infect a macaque monkey. PFU (plaque forming unit) is a unit of measurement of sample infectivity. Though the monkey did not show any clinical symptoms, the nasal and saliva fluid particles had viral load. Humans would need a dose of more than 700,000 PFU to get infected with this virus. A study on genetically modified mice with ACE2 receptors showed that they could get infected with SARS with just 240 PFU dose. In comparison, mice would need 70,000 PFU to get infected with the new coronavirus.

Coronavirus Infectious period

It is not yet fully known how long a person can transmit the infection to others, but it is believed to be as long as 14 days. Artificially shortening the infectious period could be an important way to reduce overall transmission. Hospitalizing the infected person in an isolation room, separation from other people, and lockdown could be effective ways to prevent infection.

Who can get infected by corona virus

Anyone infected with the virus can infect others even before symptoms appear. Covering our mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing can help reduce the spread of infection. The virus remains present in the saliva, sputum and stool of the infected person throughout the infectious period.

How do we get infected: Infection usually occurs through fluid particles. For this, close contact of less than six feet is required. This is why it is recommended that we stay 1.5 meters away from each other in public places like vegetable market or supermarket. A study conducted in Hong Kong has shown that maintaining social distance can prevent the spread of infection by up to 44%. Phones, doorknobs and other surfaces can be potential sources of virus transmission, but not much is known about this. Sanitizing hands after touching doorknobs, elevator buttons and counters in public places can be a safe option of prevention.

How many people we infect: The average number of new infections caused by a typical infectious person is between 2.2 and 3.1 per human infectivity range. In simple terms, an infected person infects about 2.2 to 3.1 people on average. By maintaining distance from each other we can artificially reduce the actual transmission capacity, thus slowing down the rate of infection.

What is the cause of death

Most deaths are due to respiratory failure or the combined effects of respiratory failure and cardiovascular problems. Fluid leaks into the lungs, which impedes breathing and leads to morbidity. Currently, treatment for COVID-19 is primarily supportive care, with ventilation used if necessary. Currently, several clinical trials are ongoing, and results are awaited.