Interesting and useful facts about Coronaviruses

After the pandemic outbreak of COVID-19, the adrenaline rush in your body sets your mind curious to extract as much knowledge as one can get to understand the widespread and deadly picture of Coronaviruses.

• Before jumping to coronavirus, do you know that the ‘virus’ is a Latin term for slimy liquid or poison also referred to as ‘filterable agents’.
• The name ‘coronavirus’, was recognized in 1968, because of its “corona”-like or crown-like morphology.
• There are 3 groups or genera of coronavirus( I, II, III)
• a) Group I- Animal pathogens, the human coronaviruses HCoV-229E, HKU1
•  that cause respiratory infection.
•  b) Group II- Porcine hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus, equine coronavirus, human coronaviruses viruses OC43 and NL63. Also include viruses that infect mice and rats
• c) Group III- Avian coronaviruses, such as IBV, turkey coronavirus, and pheasant coronavirus
• HCoV-NL63 was first isolated from a 7-month-old child in The Netherlands who was suffering from bronchiolitis and conjunctivitis.
• A total of 7 human coronaviruses are observed: 229E,NL63, OC43, KHU1 are common to cause mild-moderate respiratory infection while SARS- CoV(Severe acute respiratory syndrome, China, 2002) and MERS- CoV(the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus) can cause severe respiratory illness.
• If we date back to 2002- 2003 SARS- CoV outbreak, around 8100 people got infected out of which 800 deaths were reported and covering more than a dozen countries of North America, South America, Asia, Europe.
• SARS- CoV was thought to originate most likely from bats which then got initially transmitted to humans via civet cats.
• 2500 people were found to harbor MERS in 2012 which began spreading from countries in the vicinity of the Arabian Peninsula.
• With the help of efficient health care systems, the situation was controlled by undertaking measures like case isolation, contact tracing, social distancing or quarantine of the infected. 
• The seventh type of coronavirus 2019-nCoV that first hit Wuhan, China has become a matter of serious global health concern as it has infected more than 250, 000 people and 10,000 deaths worldwide.
• Since the coronavirus spreads at a rapid rate, it is crucial to know how it chains from person to person. It usually passes from an infected person through tiny respiratory droplets during coughing, sneezing or close contact with relatives, friends or touching objects, surfaces inhibiting the virus and then carrying it with your hands to your eyes, nose or mouth without prior hand washing. Infected animals contacting people can also be held responsible for the transmission.
• Noticeable symptoms appear 2-14 days after exposure in the form of runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat, and fever that may be followed by life-threatening infections like pneumonia, kidney failure, and death
• To investigate coronavirus, doctors take saliva samples, nasal swabs or throat swabs after enquiring travel history, people contacted and of course the symptoms.
• There is a need to produce effective vaccinations to cure the disease but until then, symptomatic relief( mild analgesics, cough syrup/ medication) along with the supportive care(rest and fluid intake) is the only choice of treatment
• The measure that must be undertaken to cope up with COVID -19 pandemic:
• 1) Maintain good hygiene- washing hands with soap for 20 sec or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer particularly after sneezing or coughing, before cooking, after touching an ill person, animal or object near him.
• 2) Elbow cough/ sneeze or use of a tissue
• 3) Self isolates if you have traveled abroad or if you discover mild cold symptoms until you have a complete one day normal.
• 4) Do not follow rumors but do update yourself by going through esteemed sites like CDC or WHO
• 5) Indulge in productive activities like yoga, cooking, studying, meditation, etc if at home.
• 6) Do not stress out and take good sleep
• 7) Acknowledge the selfless efforts put forth by the health care workers
• 8) Stay connected to your peers and family

It's time to be a little cautious and socially responsible. Stay vigilant and do not panic. We can fight this virus only if we stay apart to care for all. Do not hesitate to volunteer your precious help to the old and compromised people by lending them necessary items for their living. With an appreciable recovery of more than 80,000 cases, we can hope that it will be completely eradicated very soon. I wish you all a happy and safe life.

Content Credits (Kanika Gupta) https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/dr-kanika-gupta-01804b182/