A Meticulous Interpretation on a Sanguinary Disease COVID-19

 

Shivom¹*, Shambaditya Goswami¹, Nikita Pal¹, Ravindra Pal Singh¹, Asheesh Singh²,

M V Kumudhavalli³

¹NIMS Institute of Pharmacy, NIMS University, Jaipur, Rajasthan.

²Buddha Institute of Pharmacy, GIDA, Gorakhapur.

³Vinayaka Mission Research Foundation (Deemed University), Salem, Tamilnadu.

 

ABSTRACT:

Today, COVID-19 (Novel corona virus) became a global health threat which is infected approx 3 million people affecting 210 countries across the globe till date which came into view from Wuhan, China rising in people who are linked with the Wuhan’s seafood market, which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome Corona virus-2 (SARS-COV-2) and affects the lower respiratory tract and manifests as pneumonia in humans. Since, bats could be possible primary reservoir for novel corona virus but there is no consistent evidence of intermediate for animal to human transmission. Its tendency of human to human transmission and worldwide reports makes compulsion for World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the novel corona virus as pandemic. Till date, there is no antiviral treatment or vaccine available against COVID-19. In response to this global health emergency, the present article summarized the threat, transmission, spread, biology and preventions.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

In late December 2019, Wuhan a populous business hub of China reported few cases of pneumonia of mysterious etiology which primarily targets the human respiratory system¹. Patients most notably demonstrated with symptoms of dry cough, fever and epidemiologically linked with Wuhan’s sea food wholesale market which trades in fish, bats, and snakes². A virus with Crown like Spikes on outer surface named as Corona virus created a great public health threat from China to all over the world¹. A previous outbreak of corona virus (COVs) involves the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-COV and Middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS)-COV.

 

In Addition, the corona virus study group of the International committee on Taxonomy virus has renamed the virus as severe acute respiratory syndrome Corona virus-2 (SARS-COV-2) however, WHO announced a new name on Feb 11,2020 for epidemic disease: Corona virus Disease (COVID-19)³.

 

Now a global health threat:

According to WHO, Chronology of COVID-19 is as follows: Wuhan Municipal Health Commission, China reported some cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, Hubei. However, a novel corona virus was eventually identified². By Jan 24, 2020 41 admitted hospital patients had been identified as having lab confirmed cases of COVID-19. Commonly they have some diseases like diabetes, hyper tension and cardiovascular diseases¹. As after a brief field visit to Wuhan by WHO experts on Jan 20, 2020 WHO issued a statement on Feb 22, 2020 that there was evidence of human to human transmission in Wuhan⁴. The China National Health Commission reported first 17 deaths up to Jan 22, 2020. On Jan 25, 2020 a total of 1975 cases were confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 in mainland China with total 56 deaths. As of Jan 30, 2020 7734 cases have been confirmed in china and 90 other cases also have been reported from other countries and after this Director General of WHO declared the novel corona virus outbreak [2019-nCOV] a 6^th time PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern)¹. According to the guidelines of WHO In the month of February every country which is getting affected by COVID-19 was taken every possible actions such as social distancing, hygienic activities, wearing face masks and lockdown but unfortunately not able to control this virus. On March 3^rd, 2020; 90,870 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were recognized worldwide, 80,304 of which are confirmed at epicenter of the virus, China. In these cases, 67,217 were confirmed in the Hubei Province. Left 10,566 cases were recognized in 72 countries including Japan, the US, and Australia. On Mar 11, 2020 WHO made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic^2,5.

 

Transmission:

In proportion to that large no. cases was originated from Wuhan and was linked with Wuhan’s Sea food market indicates the novel corona virus has a zoonotic source which normally exists in animals but capable of infecting humans. As per WHO said all available evidences to date suggests that novel corona virus has a natural animal origin, and was not manipulated or constructed virus⁵. On the behalf of some reports two species of snakes could be possible reservoir for COVID-19 but genomic sequence analysis of COVID-19 showed 88% identity with two bat-derived severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) like corona virus which sincerely indicates that mammals are most likely linked between COVID-19 and humans¹. In accordance with the EC (Emergency Commission) after brief visit to Wuhan. WHO declared that human to human transmission is likely route in spread of COVID-19, on the report of China that some patients are not linked with the Wuhan’s Sea food market are also infected with COVID-19⁶.

 

Spread:

In Accordance with, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 is instantly spread from person to person usually by dint of close contact. That could be via physical contact, like handshaking or touching contaminated surfaces⁶. Simply being near an infected person who coughs, sneezes, or talks can expose you to their infected respiratory droplets. If those virus containing particles land in your eyes, nose, and mouth or on your face you could possibly acquire the infection and now you have tendency of spreading virus to others since without showing any signs and symptoms. As per the reports it is also determined that corona virus can live on surfaces like metal, glass, or plastic or anywhere from two hours to nine days and also found that the virus can live on copper for upto four hours, on cardboard for 24 hours, and on plastic and stainless steel for two to three days. As per some research on average, one sick person who has COVID-19 infecting between 4.7 and 6.6 others^7,8. Analysis of the period of time up to which Corona Virus present on Different Surfaces Can be seen in Table No.1.

 

Table no.1 Analysis of the period of time up to which Corona Virus present on Different Surfaces.

 

Biology:

It is comprised of a single-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA) structure that belongs to the Coronavirinae subfamily, part of the Coronaviridae family². Sequence analysis of SARS-CoV-2 has shown a structure typical to that of other corona viruses, and its genome has been likened to a previously identified coronavirus strain that caused the SARS outbreak in 2003¹. The genomic variation in SARS-CoV-2 has been proclaimed over 80% identical to the previous human corona virus (SARS-like bat CoV). According to the research, SARS-CoV-2 lies close to the group of SARS-corona viruses. They also specified variations in SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 i.e. absence of 8a protein andalterations in the no. of amino acids in 8b and 3c protein in SARS-CoV-2. The spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 is a combination of bat SARS-CoV and mysterious Beta-CoV. In a study, it is also determined that the SARS-CoV-2 also employed the same ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) cell receptor and mechanism for the entrance to host cell which is earlier used by the SARS-CoV⁹. The sketch of corona virus is given in Fig. 1.

 

 

Fig. 1: The structure of Corona virus

 

Treatment:

Till date, there is no antiviral treatment or vaccine available against COVID-19. At this phase, previous vaccines or strategies are used to develop a vaccine against SARS-CoV can be effective⁹. Up until treatment is given according to the symptoms of COVID-19 such as First-line treatment for fevers include antipyretic therapy such as paracetamol, whilst expectorants such as guaifenesin may be used for a non-productive cough. Patients with severe acute respiratory infection, respiratory distress, hypoxaemia or shock require the administration of immediate oxygen therapy. It is recorded that patients can develop further bacterial and fungal infections during the middle and latter stages of the disease². Therefore, conservative and rational antibiotic regimens must still be followed. The National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China recommends the use of IFN-α and Lopinavir/Ritonavir. This advice is based on prior research showing that these medications lower mortality rates in patients infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)^1,2.

 

Preventions:

Due to non-availability of vaccine for novel corona virus WHO recommended some guidelines to treat or prevent COVID-19 which mainly includes self care or self awareness of the community to control this pandemic⁶. The best thing we can do is practice good hygiene and physical distancing to prevent bacteria and viruses from spreading for instance of good hygiene wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds, don’t touch your face, eyes, nose, or mouth when hands are dirty, don’t go out if you’re feeling sick or having any cold or flu symptoms, cover your mouth with face mask, clean any objects you touch a lot. Use disinfectants on objects like phones, computers, utensils, dishware, and doorknobs^8,10.

 

CONCLUSION:

This review provides you all the information about recent outbreak COVID-19, deemed a global health emergency. Worldwide, the no. of cases are continued to rise, and is currently placed at 27,774,134 confirmed cases and 190,871 confirmed deaths in 213 countries¹¹. The early death cases of COVID-19 outbreak occurred primarily in elderly people, possibly due to a weak immune system that permits faster progression of viral infection but now it is clear that it can affect patients of all ages. It is also clear that quarantine alone may not be sufficient to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and the global impact of this viral infection is one of the high concern².

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

The authors are gratefully acknowledged the Management and Director of NIMS University, Jaipur, for the valuable and immense support to write this review work.

 

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

 

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Received on 06.05.2020          Modified on 23.05.2020

Accepted on 01.06.2020     ©AandV Publications All right reserved