In the midst of global tension around a few parts of the world revolving around the Coronavirus outbreak, it seems the scientist still hasn’t managed to make an antidote to cure this life-taking epidemic.

 So, a generic question remains.

How to stop the prevention and proliferation of Coronaviruses around the globe?

Let’s have a view of where it originated and proliferated and how to prevent it

This outbreak has caused havoc among the people of Wuhan where it was first seen. The strain of coronavirus was later named as the COVID-19(causing severe respiratory illness) which was said to have an adverse impact on animals and humans.

More than 74,000 people in China have been infected by the virus causing deaths and serious illness in people. 

Currently till Mar 4, 2020, according to the report, more than  94,000 cases have been registered worldwide and more than 85 % of the total cases have been reported in mainland China alone.

Origin, Symptoms, and Prevention of Coronavirus

Coronavirus is basically a large family of viruses. Some of them cause mild illness in people and some cause illness in certain animals such as camels, cattle, and bats.

Coronaviruses COVID- 19 is a specific strain of the virus that generally affects the respiratory tracts of mammals and birds, including humans. Doctors recognize them by symptoms like common cold, pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and few others you will come to know later in this article.

This coronavirus is also named as novel coronavirus as it is new and has not been identified before. The unknown strain of the virus known as SARS-CoV-2 that caused the epidemic, is not identical to the coronavirus that usually spreads among humans and causes mild sickness such as low-fever or the common cold.

The strains which were previously known to us were coronavirus NL63, 229E, OC43, or HKU1 and the process of diagnosis is not at all similar to that of novel COVID-19 diagnosis, which is more difficult to treat and prevent.

Origin :

Scientists collected the first proof of human coronaviruses(HCoV) in the 1960s that too in the noses of people detected with a common cold.

The name “Coronavirus” came from the crown-like projections on their external surface. The term Corona is derived from a Latin word which means “halo” or “crown”.

The virus that causes COVID-19 is said to be zoonotic(transmission between animals and humans) that originated in an animal and then spread to humans.

The SARS-CoV-2 is a new strain of the virus that is related to bat coronavirus, SARS- CoV-1 and pangolin coronavirus.

When investigated in detail, authorities found out that SARS-CoV(Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV(Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) spread from dromedary camels to humans.

In late December 2019, several cases of unknown causes of pneumonia were recorded by health authorities in Wuhan, People’s Republic of China. At first, the virus was believed to have a connection to the Huanan seafood wholesale market.

The outbreak was noticed in different parts of the world later.

Symptoms :

The Wuhan coronavirus is fairly mild unlike the MERS  and SARS. It can take a longer time to develop symptoms. The early reported symptoms took place on December 1st, 2019 in a person who has not been in contact with the Huanan seafood market or the first group detected with the new virus.

In the first cluster of patients, 2/3rds were in touch with the market which used to sell live animals.

Symptoms like cold or flu usually take place within 2-4 days after a typically mild coronavirus infection. But still, symptoms have varied from person to person and some forms of the virus have proved to be catastrophic.

Here are a few coronavirus signs and symptoms :

  • Sore Throat
  • Runny Nose
  • Cough
  • Sneezing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Sputum production
  • Exacerbated Asthma

Coronavirus infections are most likely to occur during the winter or early springs in humans. Usually, corona antibodies do not last for a longer period and the antibodies on one strain of the virus may be useless against another one.

The World Health Organization came up with a few testing protocols for SARS-CoV-2 causing the COVID -19. The test is conducted based on a real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRTPCR) and it is mainly done on respiratory or with blood samples. The results are in general available within a few days’ time.

The Prevention of Coronavirus 

As of March 4, 2020, more than 3200 deaths have been documented from COVID-19 according to China’s National Health Commission (NHC). More than 80% of the deceased were from the age of over 60 and more than 75 % of those were said to have pre-existing health criticalities like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Health and medical authorities have suggested individuals maintain good hygiene to prevent transmission of the virus, such as washing hands, avoid touching your mouth and nose without washing your hands, using a tissue while you sneeze and throw it in a dustbin, wearing a surgical mask in public.

Those who are already infected, are advised to be at home, except while going for medical care. Call before visiting a health center, wear masks among the public places, try covering while you cough or sneeze with a tissue or handkerchief, wash your hands with soap or sanitize it, and do not share personal belongings.

These viruses are usually more strong in cold or dry conditions and can affect your immune system immediately, whereas they are less favorable to grow or spread in hot and moist temperature.

As, yet there are no vaccines to prevent SARS-CoV-2, the best possible way is to avoid being exposed to this coronavirus. According to the CDC’S response, we should carry on everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of the destructive virus, including :

  1. Do not touch your mouth, nose or eyes.
  2. Stay away from people who are ill.
  3. While you cough or sneeze, always cover it with a tissue and throw it directly in a dustbin.
  4. Always wash your hand with soap water for at least 20 seconds or more, especially before eating, after blowing your nose or after using the bathroom.
  5. In case of unavailability of water, keep and use alcohol-based sanitizer with a 60 % alcohol ratio.
  6. Those who are infected should use face masks to prevent the virus from spreading to other people.
  7. Clean any frequently touched substance or surfaces with regular household cleaning spray.

There is no antiviral treatment for COVID-19 as of now. Every individual is advised to follow the preventive measures said by health corporations and CDCs. It is critically important for everybody to contribute as much as you can to prevent and stop this life-taking virus.

Take Away

Everything related to the unique strain(SARS-CoV-2) of coronavirus has been discussed above including the origin, symptoms, and prevention of coronavirus. Any individual who doubts being exposed or been infected by COVID-19 should immediately get in touch with respective healthcare services before it gets too late.

Resources:

World Health Organization, Coronavirus

Interim Guidance to Healthcare Professionals

CDCs guidance to risk assessment and management

 

 

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