Coronavirus

Coronavirus

Question: Consider the following statements:
(1) A new variant of Coronavirus has caused pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan city,China
(2) Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory disease of zoonotic(animal to human transmission) origin
(3) Coronaviruses are a family of ribonucleic acid viruses
Of the above correct statement/s is/are:
(a) only 1&2
(b) only 2&3
(c) only1&3
(d) all of the above
Answer:(d)
Related facts:

  • A new variant of Coronavirus has caused pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan city,China.

What is Coronavirus?

  • Coronaviruses are a family of RNA (ribonucleic acid) viruses. They cause diseases in mammals, including humans, and birds.
  • They are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.
  • Coronaviruses can cause less-severe damage, such as the common cold, and others causing respiratory and intestinal diseases.
  • In severe cases they can cause to human death.

Why the name Coronavirus?

  • As of its biological appearance like an emperor crown,the viruses are termed as Coronavirus.
  • Under an electron microscope the virus particle exhibits a characteristic ‘corona’(crown) of spike proteins around its lipid envelope.

Types of Coronavirus:

  • There are seven strains of Human Coronavirus,the new one being 2019 Novel Coronavirus.

These are:

  • HCoV-229E (alpha Coronavirus)
  • HCoV-NL63, (alpha Coronavirus)
  • HCoV-OC43(beta Coronavirus)
  • HKU1(beta Coronavirus)
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus(SARS-COV)
  • Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)
  • Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

The severe variants SARS & MERS:

  • MERS-CoV is a coronavirus (CoV) which causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a severe respiratory disease, in humans. It was identified in humans in April 2012 in Saudi Arabia.
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory disease of zoonotic(animal to human transmission) origin caused by the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV).The first infected human was reported in the Guangdong province of southern China in 2002.
  • Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans.

The new variant 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV):

  • The new Coronavirus temporarily named “2019-nCoV”( also known as Wuhan pneumonia or Wuhan coronavirus) outbreak has caused 56 deaths across China till now.
  • 2,008 confirmed cases including 23 from abroad,have been reported so far.
  • The virus outbreak is expected to have its linkages with large seafood and animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread.
  • However, it is not clear yet how this virus is spreading between people as a growing number of patients reportedly have not had exposure to animal markets.

Symptoms:

  • For confirmed 2019-nCoV infections,common signs include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
  • In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
  • Symptoms of 2019-nCoV may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure.

Prevention:

  • As there is no vaccine available against human coronavirus infection till now,so prevention is the only passage to be safe.
  • The prescriptions include avoid close contact and maintain safer distance from infected person showing symptoms of respiratory illness.
  • Other measures being do regular hand washing, cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, cook meat and eggs thoroughly.

Links:
https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
https://www.oie.int/en/for-the-media/press-releases/detail/article/update-august-2014-questions-answers-on-middle-east-respiratory-syndrome-coronavirus-mers-cov/
https://www.who.int/ith/diseases/sars/en/