The Uninvited Guest

It was the 31^st day of December, 2019. The world was gearing up to celebrate the New Year’s Eve. However, the situation was quite different in the Wuhan region of China. The hospitals were flooded with patients suffering from an unknown disease. The doctors were clueless about the nature of the disease along with its cause. However, it was certain that it was a viral infection and what was even more certain was that it was spreading fast.

By the end of 2019, the WHO China Country Office was informed of a pneumonia of unknown cause, detected in the city of Wuhan in Hubei province. The first known case of this disease may be traced back to the 1^st of December 2019 in Wuhan. Within a month, the number of patients in Hubei gradually increased. It was said that the source of the novel coronavirus could be a seafood or an animal meat market in Wuhan. Experts dived in to postulate that the virus came from bats and entered humans through a yet-to-be-identified intermediary animal (most probably, snake). On 30 December, a group of doctors at Wuhan Central Hospital alerted their colleagues of a "SARS-like coronavirus". However, eight of these doctors, including Dr. Li Wenliang (who first raised this issue to the public), were admonished by the police for spreading false rumours. This disease, soon started spreading to other provinces of China. By January, 2020, this disease resulted to be an epidemic and over 6000 people were infected.

WHAT IS THIS DISEASE AFTER ALL?

The disease is pneumonia like, affecting the respiratory system caused by a highly infectious virus called severe acute respiratory syndrome-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Some common symptoms that have been specifically linked to COVID-19 include:

● shortness of breath

● having a dry cough that gets more severe over time

● a low-grade fever that gradually increases in temperature

Other symptoms may include muscle pain, sputum production, diarrhoea, sore throat, loss of smell, and abdominal pain. While the majority of cases result in mild symptoms, some progress to viral pneumonia and multi organ failure. According to current evidence, COVID-19 virus is primarily transmitted between people during close contact through respiratory droplets and contact routes. These small droplets may be produced during breathing but the virus is not generally airborne. It has been found that older people and people with certain health conditions (like diabetes, heart problems, etc.) have a higher risk for severe complications if they contract the virus.

DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENTS AND PREVENTION

COVID-19 can be diagnosed in a way that is similar to other conditions caused by viral infections: using a blood, saliva, or tissue sample. Tests are conducted by the Centres for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) in India, some state health departments, and some commercial companies. At present, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19. However, there are many ongoing clinical trials evaluating potential treatments. The best way to prevent the spread of infection is to avoid or limit contact with people who are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or any respiratory infection. Here are some WHO recommended guidelines for prevention of the disease --

● Wash your hands frequently.

● Maintain social distancing.

● Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.

● Practice respiratory hygiene.

● If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early.

EXTENT AND EFFECT OF THE DISEASE

The virus which was first diagnosed in China, eventually resulting in an epidemic, started to spread out to the other countries as well. It started to increase exponentially. It took a toll on the lives of the people worldwide. The outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020 by the World Health Organisation(WHO).

Eventually, it resulted into a pandemic creating worldwide horror among the masses. Till now (April 4, 2020) 205 Countries and Territories around the world have reported a total of 1,153,047 confirmed cases and a death toll of 61,649 deaths, USA and Italy, being the maximum affected areas. The number of infected and deaths are still rising.

To counteract this disease, many countries have undergone complete lockdown and in order to maintain proper social distancing. Quarantine camps are being set and many temporary hospitals are constructed in order to give proper treatment to all the infected. Government agencies and many voluntary organisations have devoted themselves in providing the basic necessities and to create awareness among the people. By now, some countries like China and South Korea have already begun to stabilise the spread through proper testing, social distancing and treatment. Others still go infected with the curve increasing.

WHAT NEXT........

COVID 19 is a very infectious disease with a death rate of about 2%. At present, there is no vaccine or medicine to prevent this disease. The only way is through social distancing and maintaining proper hygiene. However, many people are violating these norms which results in the spread of the disease. Due to lockdown, the economy of the countries is drastically affected. It has created enormous financial instability among the poor people, especially the daily wage labourers which hinders them in fulfilling their basic needs. Schools, colleges and universities have come to a standstill. But this may not be the best time to complain, instead it should be utilised to do something creative. It will eventually pass. Let’s do something during these hard times which will help us as well as the society.

Stay home! Stay safe!!

References:

1) https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019%E2%80%9320_coronavirus_pandemic

3) https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus

4) https://www.healthline.com/health/coronavirus-covid-19