The Novel Corona Virus |

The Corona Virus also known as SARS-CoV-2 is a group/family of viruses that causes respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases such as Common cold, Flu, Pneumonia, Diarrhea which are mild and not critical but some viruses that belong to corona virus family causes severe or critical diseases like:

• SARS-CoV (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) which was spread in China in 2002.
• MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) which was spread in South Arabia in 2012.
• COVID-19 (CO = Corona, VI = Virus, D = Disease, 19 = 2019) Now newly emerged and discovered virus, which was first seen in Wuhan China in December 2019 which is spreading like wildfire in all over the world with increasing number of cases everyday.

It is considered that the corona virus comes from the bats as the novel corona virus comes from a group of viruses that originates or spread in bats, because they are actually a natural reservoir for many viruses, so, the virus can replicate inside the them without making it sick. This bat can now pass the disease to other living organism and so on and because of that the virus was spread in animal market in China from animal to person to person all over the world.

The new COVID-19 shows various Symptoms: 

1. Most Common Symptoms:

• Fever
• Dry Cough
• Tiredness

      2. Less common symptoms:

• aches and pains
• Sore throat
• Diarrhoea
• Headache

      3. Serious Symptoms:

• Difficulty in Breathing
• Chest Pain
• Loss of Speech
• Loss of Movement

If u visit your doctor, he will ask about your travel history and any related symptoms. If u feel any symptoms stated above, don't hesitate to visit a doctor.

How deadly corona virus Transmits ?

• By direct contact: Coronavirus spreads mainly by Droplets produced as a result of coughing or sneezing of a COVID-19 infected person. These droplets than enter human lungs and then in the cells via the blood through alveolar exchange. 1 cough = 3000 droplets.
• By Indirect contact: Touching infected substance or cloth and then touching one’s mouth, nose or eyes can transmit the disease into our body.

How corona virus enters in human body ?

1. This virus can be transmitted through droplets. These droplets enters in the airway passage and reaches lungs. On the virus there are proteins present on its surface (which acts like keys that unlocks the receptors by binding to it) which then binds with the ACE-2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) receptors which are present on the surface of lungs in human airway epithelia as well as lung parenchyma.
2. Once the virus enters, it releases it's genetic material (RNA) and tricks the cell to make various copy of it via replication process within the nucleus which makes multiple copies.
3. When the virus is replicating silently, this period is known as Incubation Period (period between exposure to an infection and the appearance of the first symptoms). 

The severe and critically ill patients can develop Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). It is a serious lung condition that causes low blood oxygen.

When the patient is extreme critical there are some techniques followed in hospital:

• Intubation: It is used when the patient can't be able to breath on their own, so, doctor puts a tube down your throat and into your windpipe to make it easier to get air in and out of your lungs. A machine called a ventilator, pumps in air with extra oxygen. Then it helps you breathe out air that’s full of carbon dioxide (CO2). This is called mechanical ventilation. It helps keep your oxygen and CO2 at healthy levels.
• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO): It is a technique which provides respiratory and cardiac support in patient whose lungs and heart stop functioning. It give support for a short period of time only.
• The machine takes out the deoxygenated blood from the body, oxygen is added to it, now blood becomes oxygenated and goes in side the body to provide oxygen to the body cells to perform basic metabolism.

What is Basic Reproduction Number R₀ ?

The number of people a disease can infect is known as it's Basic Reproduction Number (R_{0). or} How many people can be infected by one person. Eg: If R₀ is equal to 1, than, one infected person will infect exactly one other person. Different disease have different or same BRN. The more severe the disease is, the more is its BRN. 

Is there any difference between Seasonal Flu and COVID-19 ?

Since people get to know about corona virus and its symptoms, they have compared COVID-19 with a exisiting disease known as Flu which is caused by a virus named Influenza. Since both of them spreads via small droplets and shows very common symptoms, people get confused which disease they are having. So, how we will get to know which disease we have if we get one of these ?

We can be contagious and spreading the corona virus without knowing for upto 2 weeks before the symptoms appears while similar Seasonal Flu takes usually maximum 2 days to appear.

In case of Seasonal Flu, we have already got the Flu shots (vaccine against influenza), and the antibodies has been already produced, our body can react to it immediately.
The corona virus is newly discovered and none of us have encountered or has been infected before. There no vaccine discovered so far, so it can spread like wildfire !

How corona virus can be diagnosed ?

Real time Reverse Transcription–Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) is the primary diagnostic method to diagnose the new COVID-19 as well as also has been used to diagnose/detect SARS in 2002. To diagnose by this method, these steps are followed: 

1. A sample is collected from the virus infected person through oropharynx.
2. Researchers extract nucleic acid from the virus sample.
3. This virus sample is multiplied with the help of RT-PCR technique to increase the number of samples for better results.
4. Two genes can be found within the virus DNA and following cases are studied:

• If both genes found within virus genome - Test is Positive
• If one gene found within the virus genome - Test indecisive
• If neither genes found within the virus genome - Test is Negative

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) released various rapid antibody testing kits from various firms whose kits have been validated and satisfactory.

There have been 42 such antibody based testing kits developed, in which 10 are being manufactured in india. The blood/serum/plasma sample is collected and results are displayed under 30 minutes. These testing kits detect antibody against corona virus in blood of the suspect.

Is there any treatment for this virus ?

As this deadly corona virus is newly emerged and no human have encountered this virus, there is a immediate need for developing a vaccine. To develop an efficient and safe vaccine, it undergoes through a series of human trials. Many developed countries are working day and night as it takes years to develop a new vaccine under Pre-clinical and Clinical trials. The dengue fever virus was identified in 1943, but the first vaccine was approved only last year in 2019 after 73 years by Food and Drug Administration. The fastest vaccine ever developed was for mumps. It took four years to be officialy approved.

Many trials are ongoing around the world at fast pace but there is no licenced drug released for treatment of new virus. Many officials believed that the anti-malarial drug Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) can cure or prevent the virus, many improved results has been found as per the reports, but there are no official cure still yet. Different drugs are under clinical trials and found to show effective results such as:

• Convalescent Plasma therapy: It aims at using antibodies from the blood of a recovered COVID-19 patient to treat those critically affected by the virus.
• Sepsivac [Have been used to treat Leprosy]
• Favilapir [Have been used to treat influenza]
• Remdesivir  [Have been used to treat Ebola]
• Hydroxychloroquine [Have been used to treat or prevent Malaria]

These drugs however found to be somewhat effective but can also cause various side effects. We can say that there is still no official licenced drug approved till now.

How to can we prevent spreading of corona virus ?

• Practice social distancing by maintaining safe distance at least one metre in between you and other people in public places.
• Avoid physical contact like Handshakes.
• Wash your hand frequently using alcohol based sanitizer after coughing, sneezing, before and after preparing/eating food.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow rather than your palms. Use handkerchief.
• Do not touch your sensitive areas such as: eyes, nose and mouth with unclean hands.
• Ensure every surface and object is regularly sanitized specially smartphone/tablet/laptop.

Myths vs Fact:

1. Elder people are more prone to corona virus compared to childrens: The new COVID-19 can infect anyone regardless of their age. However, the elderly people with other co-existing medical conditions such as - Heart disease, Lung disease, Immunosuppresion, Diabetes seems to suffer more and have adverse effects due to their low immunity compared to young childrens.
2. Home remedies can be a cure for this deasly virus: No home remedies which are not tries and testes and approved are useful. Do not try such remedies.
3. A facemask will protect you from getting infected: Mask is useful when u have disease like Seasonal flu/Coughing/Sneezing or around the infected person. Just Keep your hands away from sensitive areas - Mouth, Nose, Eyes.
4. Vaccines against Pneumonia,  Influenza can cure this related disease:  No such vaccines against pneumonia such as Pneumococcal vaccines and Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine do not provide protection against it as the virus is so different that it needs it's own vaccine to be fully effective.
5. Dogs and cats gets infected: However there are no solid evidence that they  can be infected/transmit the corona virus but as per the sources their are some evidence that these pets animal can be infected, that is usually from infected owner to pets rather than from pets to owner. However it is always good to wash your hands with soap and water after contact with your pets, so that, common bacteria such as - E.coli and Salmonella cannot infect the owner.
6. Corona virus spreads from non veg: This is very discussed issue among various vegetarians and non vegetarians. According to AIIMS Director: Corona virus is an infection that spreads mainly from person-to-person and consumption of non-vegetarian food or eggs does not cause the infection. As far as it is concerned their is no evidence that eating non veg causes infection if thoroughly washed and cooked. 
7. Countries with Hot and sunny weather can prevent corona virus: No, a person can have corona virus no matter how hot the climate or weather is there.
8. Will a person die if he/she gets COVID-19: People who are infected with corona can have mild symptoms and can be recovered without seeking medical care, if detected earlier and have strong immunity. 1 in 100 people can die if they being neglectful or they do not provided proper treatment !