They were published on HudsonAlpha’s Shareable Science blog. Since this list was last updated on April 27, 2020, some of the details may have changed as the COVID-19 outbreak continues. Get the most recent information from the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID-19
What are SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19?
A respiratory illness known as COVID-19 (coronavirus 2019) was first discovered in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The new virus that causes it is called SARS-CoV-2, short for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus.Many names are used to refer to diseases and the diseases they cause.
Coronaviruses: what are they and where do they come from?
The large virus family known as coronaviruses was so named because the proteins that surround them stand out like hat buttons.
The virus can enter cells more easily thanks to these spikes. They are zoonotic, which means that they can spread from animals to people. SARS-CoV-2 may have originated from one or more animals before transferring to humans, according to a genetic analysis of the virus published in January 2020.
How does the SARS, MERS, cold, and flu virus compare?
Like the flu, the virus typically causes mild pneumonia.
However, in the previous 18 years, coronavirus has been linked to 3 serious illnesses that have spread across the globe: SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in 2002, MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) in 2012, and COVID-19 at the moment. One of the numerous flu strains, each made up of a different family of viruses, is what causes seasonal flu. The WHO has outlined the similarities and distinctions between COVID-19 and the flu. Contrary to COVID-19, seasonal flu has been extensively studied by scientists, who are well-versed in its symptoms, risk of infection, and treatment.
How does genetics influence our knowledge of COVID-19?
The genome of the virus that causes COVID-19 was first sequenced in January 2020 and published by scientists. Within a week, a test to find the virus was created using the sequenced data. It has been demonstrated by additional genomic studies that this virus is related to but distinct from the viruses that cause SARS and MERS. The initial cases in China were remarkably similar, indicating that the virus had only recently spread throughout the populace. Some strains of the virus undergo genetic modification as it spreads.
These genetic alterations can be categorized into disease “families” that can be used to track the dissemination of disease by combining viruses from various patients. The most effective targets for vaccine development have been determined by other researchers using genetics.
According to Shirking and the Centers for Disease Control, how is the virus spread?
the virus is typically spread from person to person through microscopic droplets known as respiratory droplets. When the patient sneezes or coughs, these happen.
In order to come into contact with these droplets and become infected, people typically need to be within 1 point 8 meters of an infected person. According to preliminary research, this virus is affected by factors such as surface type, temperature, humidity, etc. in line with the World Health Organization. demonstrates that it can endure on both hard and soft surfaces for hours or even days, depending on the direction of future research. This indicates that the virus can spread when a person touches a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touches their mouth, nose, or eyes.
When is a person infected?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is unclear when COVID-19 first started to spread. According to some studies, people with coronavirus infections are “contagious” and can spread the disease to others even before they exhibit symptoms. Researchers have also discovered that some individuals carry an infection even after they have recovered. They may have infected a dysfunctional region of the virus genome, but it is unclear whether they were successful in spreading the virus.
Do some groups have a higher risk of COVID-19 infection than others?
The majority of COVID-19 confirmed cases have been in elderly people. All ages of children have reported infections, but data indicate that COVID-19 is more likely to cause serious illness in older people (65 years and older). Due to a possible change in immune function brought on by aging, which makes it more difficult to fight off viruses and infections, this group may be at double the risk. People with certain preexisting medical conditions (like those with chronic lung disease, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney failure, liver disease, or those with immune systems) arealso more susceptible to developing a serious illness from COVID. -19.
Data from the U.S. S. Nearly 90% of individuals who are ill enough to require hospitalization for at least one chronic illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in March 2020, the first month in which WHO declared a pandemic.
When the following diseases manifest, the body has a difficult time healing from the illness. According to additional data, African Americans are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and are more likely to die from the illness or require hospitalization. Race and ethnicity information varies from state to state and isn’t always made public. However, the information at hand points to historical disparities in employment, housing, health risk, and access to healthcare as the cause of high infection rates and poor outcomes.
Leave a Reply