scholarly journals Novel Coronavirus-In the light of Epidemiological Findings

Author(s):  
Yachna Setu ◽  
Anika Sulania ◽  
Shelesh Kumar Goel

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2/Novel Coronavirus (nCov), a newly identified strain in 2019, with different strains (SARS-CoV-1 or SARS-CoV) coronavirus earlier had caused respiratory illnesses like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2012 and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2004. For COVID-19, initially virus was identified in Wuhan city of China when 27 Pneumonia cases of unknown origin were found. The number of confirmed cases was increased up to 9000 in Wuhan city and 98 people were also diagnosed positive in 18 different countries, including United States. On 30 January 2020, World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the Coronavirus outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The case fatality rate is high (2%), as globally 376,320 deaths from 6,194,533 confirmed cases were reported and still it is increasing. This review describes about the current updates with regard to COVID-19 burden, history, transmission agent, host factors, environment, reservoir and source, routes of transmission, pathogenesis and clinical features, laboratory diagnosis and prevention and its management.

Author(s):  
Charles Arvind Sethuraman Vairavan ◽  
Devarani Rameshnathan ◽  
Nagaraja Suryadevara ◽  
Gnanendra Shanmugam

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus had emerged in Wuhan city, China that led to an outbreak resulting in a global pandemic, taking thousands of lives. The infectious virus was later classified as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Individuals infected by this novel virus initially exhibit nonspecific symptoms such as dry cough, fever, dizziness and many more bodily complications. From the “public health emergency of international concern” declaration by the World Health Organisation (WHO), several countries have taken steps in controlling the transmission and many researchers share their knowledge on the SARS-COV-2 characteristics and viral life cycle, that may aid in pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies to develop SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and antiviral drugs that interfere with the viral life cycle. In this literature review the origin, classification, aetiology, life cycle, clinical manifestations, laboratory diagnosis and treatment are all reviewed.


Author(s):  
Yashpal Singh Malik ◽  
Shubhankar Sircar ◽  
Sudipta Bhat ◽  
Obli Rajendran Vinodhkumar ◽  
Ruchi Tiwari ◽  
...  

After the appearance of first cases of ‘pneumonia of unknown origin’ in the Wuhan city, China, during late 2019, the disease progressed fast. Its cause was identified as a novel coronavirus, named provisionally 2019-nCoV. Subsequently, an official name was given as SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2) by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) study group. The World Health Organization (WHO) named the Coronavirus disease-2019 as COVID-19. The epidemics of COVID-2019 have been recorded over 113 countries/territories/areas apart from China and filched more than 4292 humans, affecting severely around 1,18,326 cases in a short span. The status of COVID-2019 emergency revised by the WHO within 42 days from Public Health International Emergency (January 30, 2020) to a pandemic (March 11, 2020). Nonetheless, the case fatality rate (CFR) of the current epidemic is on the rise (between 2-4%), relatively is lower than the previous SARS-CoV (2002/2003) and MERS-CoV (2012) outbreaks. Even though investigations are on its way, the researchers across the globe have assumptions of animal-origin of current SARS-CoV-2. A recent case report provides evidence of mild COVID-2019 infection in a pet dog that acquired COVID-2019 infection from his owner in Hong Kong. The news on travellers associated spread across the globe have also put many countries on alert with the cancellation of tourist visa to all affected countries and postponement of events where international visits were required. A few diagnostic approaches, including quantitative and differential real-time polymerase chain reaction assays, have been recommended for the screening of the individuals at risk. In the absence of any selective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, re-purposed drugs are advocated in many studies. This article discourse the current worldwide situation of COVID-2019 with information on virus, epidemiology, host, the role of animals, effective diagnosis, therapeutics, preventive and control approaches making people aware on the disease outcomes.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Micael Davi Lima de Oliveira ◽  
Kelson Mota Teixeira de Oliveira

According to the World Health Organisation, until 16 June, 2020, the number of confirmed and notified cases of COVID-19 has already exceeded 7.9 million with approximately 434 thousand deaths worldwide. This research aimed to find repurposing antagonists, that may inhibit the activity of the main protease (Mpro) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as partially modulate the ACE2 receptors largely found in lung cells, and reduce viral replication by inhibiting Nsp12 RNA polymerase. Docking molecular simulations were performed among a total of 60 structures, most of all, published in the literature against the novel coronavirus. The theoretical results indicated that, in comparative terms, paritaprevir, ivermectin, ledipasvir, and simeprevir, are among the most theoretical promising drugs in remission of symptoms from the disease. Furthermore, also corroborate indinavir to the high modulation in viral receptors. The second group of promising drugs includes remdesivir and azithromycin. The repurposing drugs HCQ and chloroquine were not effective in comparative terms to other drugs, as monotherapies, against SARS-CoV-2 infection.


Author(s):  
Lara Bittmann

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.


Author(s):  
Sholly. CK

Novel corona virus (COVID-19) is an infectious condition, which can be spread directly or indirectly from one person to another and causes respiratory illnesses, range from common cold to acute respiratory syndrome. The first cases of this virus were found in Wuhan, China. According to the World Health Organization, COVID-19 is serious health concern and has higher risk for severe illness and spreading rapidly all over the world.This novel coronavirus was named Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by WHO in February 2020. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the coronavirus disease 2019 a pandemic, in the year2020 March. A global coordinated effort is needed to stop the further spread of the virus. Among all cases about 92% of the confirmed cases were recorded from China. Initial reports suggest that death rate ranges from 1% to 2% which varies in the study and country. The most of the death have occurred in patients over 50 years of age followed by young children. For the confirmed cases which included both laboratory and clinically diagnosed till now there is no specific antiviral treatment recommended but there is vaccine currently available. Once the virus develops in people, corona viruses can be spread from person to person through respiratory droplets. The viral material hangs out in these droplets and can be breathed into the respiratory tract, where the virus can then lead to an infection. Repercussions of Covid -19 on individuals, families and on front line warriors are countless1.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-37
Author(s):  
Andrew Camilleri ◽  
Samantha Pace Gasan ◽  
Andrew Azzopardi

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a global health pandemic, due to the spread of a novel coronavirus, later named “Covid-19”. The spread of Covid-19 led to social isolation, distancing and a number of restrictive measures in Malta.  The aim of this paper is to analyse the impact of Covid-19 and the subsequent restrictive measures on persons with disability and their caregivers and families in Malta. Using thematic analysis, the study found that a variety of impacts ranging from a sense of isolation, lack of essential services being provided, additional difficulties encountered at the place of work and education and measures that were not sufficiently tailored for persons with disability issued by public health authorities. Underlying the additional difficulties brought about by Covid-19, structural difficulties to access essential services as well as ignorance from policy makers and politicians and the added “vulnerable-ization” of persons with disabilities were found to be highly impacting factors that pervade the experience of persons with disabilities and their caregivers.


Author(s):  
Xiaonan Zhang ◽  
Yun Tan ◽  
Yun Ling ◽  
Gang Lu ◽  
Feng Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract At least three months have been passed since the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory disease, COVID-19 in Wuhan city, China in December 2019, caused by the infection of a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.1,2. Due to its rapid spread throughout China and abroad, knowledge sharing for both its epidemiology and clinic manifestations is urgently need. Here we analyzed the clinical, molecular and immunological data from 326 confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Shanghai. Genomic sequences assembled from 112 quality samples together with uploaded sequences in Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) showed a stable evolution and suggested two major lineages with differential exposure history during the earliest outbreak in Wuhan. Nevertheless, they exhibited similar virulence and clinical outcomes. Lymphocytopenia, especially the reduced CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts upon admission, was predictive of disease progression. High level of IL-6 and IL-8 during treatment was observed in severe and critical patients and correlated with decreased lymphocyte count. The determinants of disease severity seemed to stem mostly from host factors such age, lymphocytopenia and its associated cytokine storm whereas viral genetic variation did not significantly affect the outcomes. This comprehensive analysis on the molecular, immunological and clinical data provides a panorama of the key determinants related to the disease outcomes which should be helpful for improving the current combat against this extremely aggressive pandemic.Authors Xiaonan Zhang, Yun Tan, Yun Ling, Gang Lu, Feng Liu, and Zhigang Yi contributed equally to this work.


PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tingting Hu ◽  
Ying Liu ◽  
Mingyi Zhao ◽  
Quan Zhuang ◽  
Linyong Xu ◽  
...  

In mid-December 2019, a novel atypical pneumonia broke out in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China and was caused by a newly identified coronavirus, initially termed 2019 Novel Coronavirus and subsequently severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). As of 19 May 2020, a total of 4,731,458 individuals were reported as infected with SARS-CoV-2 among 213 countries, areas or territories with recorded cases, and the overall case-fatality rate was 6.6% (316,169 deaths among 4,731,458 recorded cases), according to the World Health Organization. Studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 is notably similar to (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus) SARS-CoV that emerged in 2002–2003 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) that spread during 2012, and these viruses all contributed to global pandemics. The ability of SARS-CoV-2 to rapidly spread a pneumonia-like disease from Hubei Province, China, throughout the world has provoked widespread concern. The main symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) include fever, cough, myalgia, fatigue and lower respiratory signs. At present, nucleic acid tests are widely recommended as the optimal method for detecting SARS-CoV-2. However, obstacles remain, including the global shortage of testing kits and the presentation of false negatives. Experts suggest that almost everyone in China is susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and to date, there are no effective treatments. In light of the references published, this review demonstrates the biological features, spread, diagnosis and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 as a whole and aims to analyse the similarities and differences among SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV to provide new ideas and suggestions for prevention, diagnosis and clinical treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-135
Author(s):  
Princy Louis Palatty ◽  
Rosme David ◽  
Belinda Mangalath Philip ◽  
Clint Sunny ◽  
Mamatha J ◽  
...  

: A series of an acute atypical respiratory disease occurred during December 2019 in Wuhan, China, that quickly metamorphosed as a pandemic, spreading across the globe, leaving more than 104,911,186 infected and more than 2,278,579 dead, in its wake within a year. This Novel Coronavirus, was also called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the disease was called Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19). On 30 January 2020, The World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General, declared the novel coronavirus outbreak, a public health emergency of international concern and flagged off WHO's highest level of alarm.: To elaborate the various drug therapies used in trials and vaccines available for COVID-19 across the globe.: We compiled the literature searches under a single heading and scrutinized over 154 articles, for extracting data on the various pharmacotherapeutic approaches available to treat COVID-19.: Despite wide and varied treatment guidelines being available, the cure or prevention is still elusive for COVID-19. The categoric efficacy of vaccines must be proved to tackle the fast-mutating coronavirus.: Current medical management is largely supportive with no targeted therapy available. Several drugs including lopinavir-ritonavir, remdesivir, antibiotics, hydroxychloroquine, steroids, anticoagulants, and antidiabetic drugs like metformin have been tried in clinical trials. Vaccines targeting the three different components of SARS-CoV-2 viruses, in different phases of clinical trials world-wide, have been made available.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Modeline N. Longjohn ◽  
Olivia S. Egbule ◽  
Samuel O. Danso ◽  
Eugene E. Akujuru ◽  
Victor T. Ibubeleye ◽  
...  

AbstractSARS-CoV-2 is a betacoronavirus, the etiologic agent of the novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 as a pandemic in March 2020 after the outbreak in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. Across the continents and specifically in Africa, all index cases were travel-related. Understanding how the virus’s transportation across continents and different climatic conditions affect the genetic composition and the consequent effects on transmissibility, infectivity, and virulence of the virus is critical. Thus, it is crucial to compare COVID-19 genome sequences from the African continent with sequences from selected COVID-19 hotspots/countries in Asia, Europe, North and South America and Oceania.To identify possible distinguishing mutations in the African SARS-CoV-2 genomes compared to those from these selected countries, we conducted in silico analyses and comparisons. Complete African SARS-CoV-2 genomes deposited in GISAID and NCBI databases as of June 2020 were downloaded and aligned with genomes from Wuhan, China and other SARS-CoV-2 hotspots. Using phylogenetic analysis and amino acid sequence alignments of the spike and replicase (NSP12) proteins, we searched for possible vaccine coverage targets or potential therapeutic agents. Identity plots for the alignments were created with BioEdit software and the phylogenetic analyses with the MEGA X software.Our results showed mutations in the spike and replicate proteins of the SARS-Cov-2 virus. Phylogenetic tree analyses demonstrated variability across the various regions/countries in Africa as there were different clades in the viral proteins. However, a substantial proportion of these mutations (90%) were similar to those described in all the other settings, including the Wuhan strain. There were, however, novel mutations in the genomes of the circulating strains of the virus in African. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting these findings from Africa. However, these findings’ implications on symptomatic or asymptomatic manifestations, progression to severe disease and case fatality for those affected, and the cross efficacy of vaccines developed from other settings when applied in Africa are unknown.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document