Corona virus - A Review

Introduction

                              As we all know, the whole world at this time is in the grip of global epidemic Covid- 19 and the cause behind this pandemic is the newly discovered type of corona virus called SARS- COV-2.

                              Many people who get infect from this virus develop a light to average respiratory illness and recover with out any special medical treatment after a certain period of time. But the older one's or the persons who have already some disease or medical problem like diabetes , cancer , cardiovascular disease develop a serious illness ( in danger zone ).

                              In this article , i'm going to write down some generic information about the corona virus and i hope it will help in getting awareness to some extent.

Family

                 Corona virus is actually a big family of different viruses.The International Committee for the Taxonomy of Viruses ( ICTV ) has approved the name of forty corona viruses. Those who infect humans belongs to the family of Coronaviridae , sub family Ortho coronavirinae. 

  

Images of new corona virus

Source: Department of Microbiology, The Uni. of Hong Kong and the Government virus unit.
Web source: who.int

History

                   Covid - 19 disease appeared in Wuhan , a city of China in December 2019. Early rumors and hypotheses were that it is linked with a seafood market " Wet Market" of Wuhan , where people buy fresh fish and meat of every kind . Some illegally sale banned species like Cobras , wild Pigs and Dogs . People visited there in normal routine and got the viral infection . Later on , a study came out on Jan 25 2020 during the examination of infected individual that he became ill on Dec 1st 2019 and never visited the seafood market. However investigations are still going on to find out the origin and source of this virus.

                   Majority of c.o viruses infect animals including camels , cattle , bats and some infect humans. Scientists have recognized human corona viruses since 1960's. There are seven c.o viruses which infect humans. Four of them are circulating through human population from the past half century ( community acquired) typically cause common flu. Two of these 4 are responsible for almost 30% of common cold in humans HCOV-OC43 & HCOV-229E. The remaining three are SARS-COV , MERS-COV , and SARS-COV-2 , the lethal ones.

                   SARS-COV was responsible for the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in south China and Hong Kong in 2002 , further spread to 28 other countries. By July 2003 , number of infected people  were more than 8,000 and 774 died. Fever , headache , cough and shortness of breath caused by this virus.

                  MERS-COV was to be blamed for the outbreak of middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS) in Saudi Arabia , United Arab Emirates and among other countries in 2012. Nearly 2500 people who live in or travel to middle east infected from this virus. 858 persons were killed by this more deadly virus than SARS because it caused kidney failure as well.

                  SARS-COV-2 cousin of (SARS-COV) is currently behind the disease Covid-19 , 'primarily respiratory illness', again appeared in China. It spread both inside and outside of China , infected people who had no directly contact with animals. The most dangerous aspect about this virus is the human to human transmission.Even it is spreading now in Pakistan along all around the world.

How C.O.V spread?

                                             Until now , the researchers know that it spread through the droplets of saliva or discharge from nose of infected person when he sneeze and cough. These droplets release in to the air and falls to ground after a few seconds. Thats why physical distancing is much more effective in preventing the spread. Prior to that , people should also practice respiratory manners by covering mouth with left hand.

Symptoms     

• Headache
• Dry cough
• Tiredness
• Shortness of breath
• Muscle aches
• Loss of taste or smell

Precautions

• Physical distance of at least one meter should be in between two persons.
• Wash hands regularly with soap and avoid touching your face.
• Avoid unnecessary travel and try to stay away from group of people.

A light of hope  

                                Now , there is a lock down situation in almost all the continents including America , Australia , Europe. Humans are dying in huge numbers everyday. Don't know how long it will remain , but one thing to remember , 'there is an opportunity in every crisis' to do something for humanity because fundamentally 'human being is created to make someone else life better'.