Coronavirus 2019 & COVID-19

HOW COVID-19 STARTED?

Few cases for pneumonia with unknown cause started to appear in city of Wuhan in Hubei province in December 2019. By 31^st of December there were 27 reported cases with 7 in serious condition. The clinical symptoms included mainly fever, difficulty in breathing and soreness. The patients were being treated symptomatically, pathological reports were still awaited for confirmation related to viral pneumonia.  It was said the disease was preventable and controllable and had no human to human transmission.

The virus was soon identified and named as 2019- novel Coronavirus. 

CORONAVIRUS 

Coronaviruses are large group of viruses, consisting of genetic material and envelop with protein spikes, resembling ‘crown’- hence called coronaviruses.

There are different types of coronaviruses and may causes respiratory and gastrointestinal disease. Respiratory disease usually involves common cold and range to severe pneumonia. The respiratory disease are usually mild and the people  recovers in 3-4 days.

However, some coronaviruses cause severe disease as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome SARS–COV (China 2003), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, MERS-COV (Saudi Arabia 2012), 2019-nCOV (China 2019).

nCOV is seen to be related to sea food and live animal market in city of Wuhan, and have human to human transmission. Thus spread in china and to other countries.

 
Figure reference:www.who.int

EARLY EXPANSION

On 13^th January, Thailand reported first case of lab confirmed 2019-nCoV, imported from Wuhan. Soon, as of 20 January 2020, the disease was exported to Thailand (2 cases), Japan (1 case) and the Republic of Korea (1 case), with 278 confirmed cases in china itself.

Until  January 26, the 2019-nCoV was confirmed in approx. 2000 cases, expanding to 10 other countries from china, majorly involving Japan,  Republic of Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, United States of America, and France.

In India

The First Case of COVID-19 appeared in a Wuhan returned student on January 30. The COVID-19 until 30 Jan, had spread in 18 countries, and WHO declared it as Public Health Emergency of International Concern. 

Feb 11 the nCOV-2019 disease had an official name as COVID-19.

TRANSMISSION

The nCOV-2019 has a tendency of human to human transmission within close contact, with most prone being the family members and the health care providers. The transmission usually  happens from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales or sneezes. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets.

 
The transmission happens with droplets formed from sneezing or coughing of infected person. Most prone are the people in close contact. Figure reference:www.who.int

SYMPTOMS

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are

FEVER

TIREDNESS

DRY COUGH

Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Only some people becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.

PREVENTION

1.      Covering mouth and nose

2.      Avoid close contact

3.      Handwashing

4.      Mask and PPE (personal protective equipment) for healthcare workers

    Reference
   1. https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses