scholarly journals Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-73
Author(s):  
Ernest Kenu ◽  
Joseph Frimpong ◽  
Kwadwo Koram
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Distress ◽  
Distress Syndrome ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
Infected Person ◽  
Wuhan City ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The disease was christened COVID-19 and the pathogen (an RNA virus) identified as SARS-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2).1,2 The virus is primarily spread through contact with small droplets produced from coughing, sneezing, or talking by an infected person. While a substantial proportion of infected individuals may remain asymptomatic, the most common symptoms in clinical cases include, fever, cough, acute respiratory distress, fatigue, and failure to resolve over 3 to 5 days of antibiotic treatment. Complications may include pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome.3 Over five million confirmed cases of COVID-19 has been recorded globally with more than 300,000 deaths as at 25th May 2020. The United States of America has recorded the highest number of cases with more than 1.5 million and over 100,000 deaths.4 In Africa, more than 90,0000 cases have been reported with about 3,000 deaths. South Africa has recorded the highest number of cases with 23,615 cases and 481 deaths. Ghana confirmed its first cases of COVID-19 on 12th March 2020 and had as at 25 May 2020 recorded over 7,000 cases with 34 deaths.5  

scholarly journals Multiorgan Involvement in COVID-19 and Possible Therapies

2020 ◽  
Vol 04 (01) ◽  
pp. 20-24
Author(s):  
Prachee Sathe ◽  
Vijay Sundar Singh
Keyword(s):  
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽  
Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽  
Respiratory Distress ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Distress Syndrome ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
World Health ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

AbstractIn late 2019, China reported cases of respiratory illness in humans, which involved a novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (also known as 2019-nCoV). The World Health Organization (WHO) termed the disease COVID-19 (i.e., Coronavirus disease 2019). Most of the morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 is largely due to acute viral pneumonitis that leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This article will discuss the clinical features of the multiorgan involvement in COVID-19 as well as the management of patients who become critically ill due to COVID-19.

Treatment Options in COVID-19: The Role of Bioavailable Antiviral Ribonucleoside Analog on NHC in vitro

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Bittmann
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Clinical Picture ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
World Health ◽  
Wuhan City ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

On December 31, 2019, WHO was informed of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan City, China. A novel coronavirus was identified as the cause by Chinese authorities on January 7, 2020 and was provisionally named "2019-nCoV". This new Coronavirus causes a clinical picture which has received now the name COVID-19. The virus has spread subsequently worldwide and was explained on the 11th of March, 2020 by the World Health Organization to the pandemic.

scholarly journals An evidence-based systematic review on emerging therapeutic and preventive strategies to treat novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) during an outbreak scenario

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anupama M. Gudadappanavar ◽  
Jyoti Benni
Keyword(s):  
Antiviral Drug ◽  
Drug Repurposing ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
World Health ◽  
Recombinant Vaccines ◽  
Subunit Vaccines ◽  
Coronavirus Infection ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Full Length Genome

AbstractA novel coronavirus infection coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged from Wuhan, Hubei Province of China, in December 2019 caused by SARS-CoV-2 is believed to be originated from bats in the local wet markets. Later, animal to human and human-to-human transmission of the virus began and resulting in widespread respiratory illness worldwide to around more than 180 countries. The World Health Organization declared this disease as a pandemic in March 2020. There is no clinically approved antiviral drug or vaccine available to be used against COVID-19. Nevertheless, few broad-spectrum antiviral drugs have been studied against COVID-19 in clinical trials with clinical recovery. In the current review, we summarize the morphology and pathogenesis of COVID-19 infection. A strong rational groundwork was made keeping the focus on current development of therapeutic agents and vaccines for SARS-CoV-2. Among the proposed therapeutic regimen, hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, remdisevir, azithromycin, toclizumab and cromostat mesylate have shown promising results, and limited benefit was seen with lopinavir–ritonavir treatment in hospitalized adult patients with severe COVID-19. Early development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine started based on the full-length genome analysis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Several subunit vaccines, peptides, nucleic acids, plant-derived, recombinant vaccines are under pipeline. This article concludes and highlights ongoing advances in drug repurposing, therapeutics and vaccines to counter COVID-19, which collectively could enable efforts to halt the pandemic virus infection.

scholarly journals The Pandemic Hits Us Hard, but We Don’t Lose Hope

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Krisna Yuarno Phatama ◽  
Sholahuddin Rhatomy, MD ◽  
Asep Santoso ◽  
Nicolaas C. Budhiparama
Keyword(s):  
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽  
Respiratory Distress ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Distress Syndrome ◽  
World Health ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
New Variant ◽  
Health Organization

At the end of 2019, we faced a new variant of the coronavirus that can cause pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome-like symptoms. It started in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and spread quickly to the whole world.This new virus is called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and can manifest as a disease called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). On March 13th, 2020 World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 as a global pandemic, and the story of frightening pandemic begin.

scholarly journals Coronavirus and Pharmacists

2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-6
Author(s):  
Ken Thai
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Wuhan City ◽  
The World ◽  
High Season ◽  
Health Organization

Pharmacists and our fellow healthcare colleagues typically expect a break from our “high season” of cough, cold, and flu patients that have filled our pharmacies, clinics, and hospitals by this time of the year. Everyone is prepping for the end of the winter and the dawning of spring. This year was unlike many as we have heard loud cries across the globe regarding the outbreak of the novel “new” coronavirus. The virus was first detected from the Wuhan City of China. It has since infected tens of thousands of people in China and across the world. In fact, the World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern.” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declared a public health emergency for the United States to aid the nation's healthcare community in responding. A proclamation was signed on January 31, 2020, by the United States to suspend entry of anyone who poses a risk of transmitting the coronavirus.

scholarly journals Combating the Coronavirus Pandemic: Early Detection, Medical Treatment, and a Concerted Effort by the Global Community

Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zichao Luo ◽  
Melgious Jin Yan Ang ◽  
Siew Yin Chan ◽  
Zhigao Yi ◽  
Yi Yiing Goh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
Viral Disease ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
World Health ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Sudden Loss ◽  
Difficulty Breathing ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus, known as 2019-nCoV, a pandemic, as the coronavirus has now infected over 2.6 million people globally and caused more than 185,000 fatalities as of April 23, 2020. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes a respiratory illness with symptoms such as dry cough, fever, sudden loss of smell, and, in more severe cases, difficulty breathing. To date, there is no specific vaccine or treatment proven effective against this viral disease. Early and accurate diagnosis of COVID-19 is thus critical to curbing its spread and improving health outcomes. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is commonly used to detect the presence of COVID-19. Other techniques, such as recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), and microfluidics, have allowed better disease diagnosis. Here, as part of the effort to expand screening capacity, we review advances and challenges in the rapid detection of COVID-19 by targeting nucleic acids, antigens, or antibodies. We also summarize potential treatments and vaccines against COVID-19 and discuss ongoing clinical trials of interventions to reduce viral progression.

SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosalind Hollingsworth
Keyword(s):  
Distress Syndrome ◽  
Multiorgan Failure ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
Infected Person ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Asymptomatic Infections ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Inflammatory Syndrome ◽  
Respiratory Droplets

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel coronavirus which emerged in Wuhan, China in 2019, and from there spread to other parts of mainland China and around the world. The virus spreads mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. On average, the time from exposure to SARS-CoV-2 to the appearance of symptoms is 5–6 days but can range from 1–14 days. Asymptomatic infections with SARS-CoV-2 can occur. In those with symptoms, most people (approx. 80%) will experience a mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without hospital management. Adults 65 years of age and older, and individuals of any age with underlying medical conditions, are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 and death. Complications include respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis/septic shock, thromboembolism, multiorgan failure and death. In rare cases, children and adults can develop a severe inflammatory syndrome a few weeks after SARS-COV-2 infection. Vaccines are available to help prevent COVID-19 disease; by August 2021, 7 vaccines had been authorized for use by the WHO to prevent COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2, with others approved by country regulatory authorities.

Global Pandemic of a Century: A Review on the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 17-26
Author(s):  
Jitendra Mehta ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Disease ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
Chronic Respiratory Disease ◽  
World Health ◽  
Director General ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in December 2019 in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, China. While the outbreak in China is almost over, this highly contagious disease is currently spreading across the world with a daily increase in the number of affected countries, confirmed cases, and infection-related deaths. In January, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the outbreak of COVID-19 constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Based on the high levels of global spread and the severity of COVID-19, on 11 March 2020, the Director-General of the WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. COVID-19 is an acute respiratory disease caused by a newly emerged zoonotic coronavirus. A positive-sense enveloped single-stranded RNA virus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been isolated from a patient with pneumonia and connected to the cluster of acute respiratory illness cases from Wuhan. The virus is transmitted from human to human via droplets coughed or exhaled by infected persons and by touching droplet-contaminated surfaces or objects and then touching the eyes, nose, or mouth. Population groups that have been more frequently reported as having severe disease and a higher mortality rate include people aged over 60 years, males, people with underlying conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer. Current estimates suggest a median incubation period of five to six days for COVID-19, with a range of one to 14 days. Disease-specific pharmaceuticals and vaccines are still under research and development. The therapeutic use of convalescent plasma donated by patients recovered from COVID-19 might play a role in the efforts to find a possible treatment for COVID-19. Keywords: Coronavirus, COVID-19, WHO, SARS-Cov-2, Zoonotic.

scholarly journals Between “Essential Services” and Culpable Homicide

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 129-151
Author(s):  
Danielle N. Boaz
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
Religious Communities ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Essential Services ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared covid-19—the disease caused by the novel coronavirus—a global pandemic. As this coronavirus spread throughout the world, most countries implemented restrictions on public gatherings that greatly limited religious communities’ ability to engage in collective worship. Some religious leaders objected to these regulations, opining that faith would spare their congregants from illness or that their religious freedom is paramount to public health. Meanwhile, growing numbers of covid-19 infections were being traced back to religious leaders or gatherings. This article explores how governments have balanced freedom of worship and public health during the 2020 pandemic. Through the comparison of controversies in South Korea, India, Brazil and the United States, it highlights the paradoxes in debates about whether to hold religious communities accountable for the spread of this highly contagious and deadly disease.

scholarly journals COVID–19: Guidance Outlines on Infection Prevention and Control for Health Care Workers

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-14
Author(s):  
Suresh Kumar Sharma ◽  
Shiv Mudgal ◽  
Prasan Panda ◽  
Pratima Gupta ◽  
Pradeep Aggarwal
Keyword(s):  
Severe Disease ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
World Health ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
The People ◽  
Moderate Disease ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
And Control

Coronavirus are a common family of viruses and there are seven different types of coronaviruses including this new member of coronavirus i.e. 2019 novel coronavirus, which can make the people infected and sick. Some strains of this family of virus cause mild to moderate disease symptoms like common cold while other strains cause very severe disease like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).(1,2) In late December, in Wuhan Hubei Province, China a number of people suffered with severe respiratory illness including a cluster of pneumonia cases. On 31 December 2019, China notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about cluster of patient with symptoms of respiratory illness of unknown cause, which were connected to an open seafood and animal market of Wuhan city, China.(3)

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