Symptoms, Transmission And Prevention Of Deadly Virus COVID-19

COVID-19

COVID-19 aka coronavirus is a new type of infectious disease that appeared in mainland China in late 2019. It is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2). This disease first appeared in Wuhan, the capital of China’s Hubei province. There are many different types of coronaviruses. Some of them cause colds or other mild respiratory illness. The new type of coronavirus is COVID-19. They are named coronavirus because of their appearance which looks like they are covered with pointed structures that surround them like a corona.

Transmission

Generally, all respiratory diseases are transmitted via physical contact and different kinds of discharge from our body such as droplets during sneezing. They are also found in some animals like cats and dogs.

Transmission Of Virus

Generally, the basic reproduction number of COVID-19 is 2 to 3 persons which seems less but it can cause severe infections in people. 
The following image depicts how fast the disease transmits. 

Some other types of coronavirus previously appeared in the world such as MERS and SARS. They were less dangerous than the COVID-19 because of their mode of transmission and basic reproduction number and they were less fatal. If we look back at the data produced by John Hopkins University, the death caused as per Apr. 8, 2020 is 83,149 and expected to grow. However, 307,982 people have been recovered from the illness.

Symptoms:

It appears that the symptoms are showing up in people within 14 days of exposure to the virus. The symptoms are common to other coronavirus diseases. Fever and cough are most common and other symptoms include shortness of breath, muscle aches, sore throat and unexplained loss of taste or smell. In rare cases, COVID-19 can lead to severe respiratory problems, kidney failure or death. Medics say that this disease is mainly fatal to the old age group and they have to go to the hospital immediately. The majority of people with coronavirus will recover after rest and pain relief(such as paracetamol). You have to go to the hospital only if you have difficulty breathing.

Prevention:

If the patients have mild symptoms of COVID-19 they have to self-isolate for at least seven days. Social distancing and stay-at-home are the best measures to stop coronavirus from spreading. To protect yourself, the best thing is regular and thorough hand washing, preferably with soap and water. Coronavirus spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes small droplets, packed with a virus into the air.

Reported By:

Tilak Bhusal

IOE Student