The Earth's 'Corona' virus.

CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19)

COVID-19 is a disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The SARS-CoV-2 which causes Coronavirus Disease ( COVID-19) is a new strain of Coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans. It initially started in bats and later mutated to infect pangolins and then to humans.

This virus was first identified in a group of people with pneumonia which was associated with seafood and live animal market in Wuhan, China in December 2019. The virus has since spread to other countries including South Korea, the United States, Italy, Australia, France, Egypt, Tanzania, Ghana, forcing the World Health Organization to declare it a pandemic.

According to http://www.worldometers.info, as at 18th March, 2020, about 198,770 cases had been recorded with 7,990 deaths and 82,779 recoveries, with fatality rate of about 3.5% but the case fatality rate differs from country to country.

The virus can infect everybody but those who are likely to develop severe disease and probably die from it includes:

• Individuals over 60 years
• Individuals with preexisting conditions including, diabetes, hypertension, HIV/AIDS, those on chemotherapy, those on immunosuppressant( for organ transplant and autoimmune diseases)
• Smokers

The case fatality rate in developed countries such as Italy is higher compared to the case fatality rate in third world countries. The mystery behind this may be explained by comparing their population structures. Those countries have more of an older population and the third world countries have more of a youthful population. Also the comorbidities are common in ages from 40 and above which constitute a greater proportion of the population in most developed countries.For instance, comparing the population structures of Italy and Ghana:

Population pyramid for Italy

Population pyramid for Ghana.

Coronaviruses are group of viruses that can be found both in animals and humans. They cause diseases including less severe ones such as common cold and more severe ones such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome(MERS) which was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), first identified in China in 2003, and now coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

They are called coronaviruses because they have spike proteins on their membranes which they use to invade lung cells by interacting with a receptor on the lung cells called ACE-2. After entering the lung cells, the virus hijacks the protein manufacturing machinery of the lung cells. It then assembles the protein into more viruses which destroys the lung cells and infect more cells. This sets off the inflammatory response. This is responsible for the cascade of events that happens to a person who contracts the disease.

The virus is believed to be transmitted through droplets when a person coughs or sneezes and contact with infected objects.

Signs and symptoms of COVID-19 are non- specific. About 80% of the symptoms are mild, some may not show symptoms at all. Less severe symptoms includes;

• Fever
• Dry cough
• Shortness of breath.
• Sore throat

There are also records of more severe infections like pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome

The incubation period (the time it takes for an infected person to show signs and symptoms) is believed to be 2-14 days. However, the infected person can still transmit the virus to other people.
Real time Polymerase Chain Reaction is used to confirm COVID-19 infection. Chest CT scan is done when severe pulmonary disease is suspected to detect the presence of viral pneumonia

Remdesivir and Chloroquine can be used to manage the disease. Supportive care includes providing fluids sparingly for management of shock and oxygen therapy and ventilatory support if needed. It also includes management of superimposed bacterial infections and underlying comorbidities.

Preventive measures for COVID -19 includes;

• Washing your hands regularly with soap under running water or using alcohol based hand sanitizer. This will kill the virus when it gets on your hand.
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• Covering your nose and mouth when you sneezing or coughing into a flexed elbow, tissue or handkerchief to prevent the spread of the virus through droplets. The used tissue or handkerchief has to be discarded immediately and hands washed with soap and under running water. It is not hygienic to sneeze or cough into your hands since the virus can get on your hands and you can contaminate objects and people when you touch them.
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  Credit: http://www.moph.gov.qa
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth because the virus can enter your body through these areas
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• The use of face masks and other personal protective equipments, especially by healthcare providers and those infected. The use of face masks and hand gloves by healthy people who are not healthcare providers does not stop the spread of the disease so people should leave them for health workers and those infected.
• Cooking food thoroughly especially meat
• Disinfecting frequently touched surfaces regularly
• Staying home if you are unwell
• Calling or seeing a doctor early when you’re experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough or difficulty in breathing. In Ghana, one can call 0509497700 or 0558439868.
• Avoiding unnecessary travels, especially to areas or countries who have recorded cases of the disease.

As Black Panther’s King T’challa said, in times of crises, the foolish builds walls but the wise builds bridges, quarantining and banning on travels is not the best option. Strengthening our global health systems is the best in dealing with global outbreaks such as this.

There has been several conspiracy theories and myths concerning the outbreak of COVID-19 which includes the following;

• The virus was a biological weapon engineered by the Chinese which got out by mistake and infected people.
• ‘The Eyes of Darkness’ a fiction novel by Dean Koontz talks about a virus called Wuhan 400, which was also a biological weapon made by the Chinese that also started in Wuhan.

A lot of information have been circulating on the internet these days concerning COVID-19 , some of which spread only fear among people. Get the right information from the right sources such as the World Health Organization’s website or Ghana Health Service’s website:

• https://www.who.int

• https://www.ghanahealthservice.org

During pandemics such as this, health care providers are those whose lives are at risk most because they care for those infected. They are our true heroes. They should therefore take very good care of themselves as well, observing infection prevention protocols meticulously.

Let us not spread rumors and fear, let’s spread facts.

Ms_Seidu

Sources:

• http://www.cdc.gov
• http://www.osmosis.org
• http://www.who.int
• http://www.moph.gov.qa
• http://www.nih.gov