COVID-19 is a pandemic the whole world is panic of nowadays and made a worldwide lockdown. The official name of COVID-19 is Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV)-2.
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| Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV)-2. |
The First SARS-CoV was noticed in 2003 in Guangdong, China which caused an outbreak of serious disease in 26 countries and resulted in more than 8000 cases in that year. Since then a few numbers of cases have been noticed as a result of accidents of laboratory or through animal to human transmission.
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| Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). |
SARS-CoV killed 10% of infected individuals. Older people, whose immune defences have declined with age, as well as those with underlying health conditions, are much more vulnerable than the young.
Spanish flu (H1N1 virus) was also a Pandemic during 1918-19. This virus had caused severe respiratory disease in about 20% of patients and killed more than 3% of confirmed cases. The virus infected an estimated 500m people and killed 50m worldwide in 1918-19. This was one of the most dangerous pandemics of all time yet.
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| Spanish flu (H1N1 Virus) |
Now as per the current report of infected and dead people due to COVID-19 the best current estimate is that COVID-19 will kill around 1% of those infected in a population with good healthcare.
Hypothetically, if COVID-19 will affect half the world’s current population during the course of a year with a 1% fatality rate, the death toll might be 35m substantially increasing the number of deaths worldwide, which is around 60m for all causes in a typical year then COVID-19 will surpass the fatality of Spanish flu during 1918-19.
What is the process of Treatment of a COVID-19 affected person?
Currently, there is no vaccine against developing COVID-19. Antibiotics are also ineffective because COVID-19 is a viral infection and not bacterial.
If the symptoms are more severe, supportive treatments may be given by the doctors at the hospital. This type of treatment involves the following methods:
- Fluids to reduce the risk of dehydration.
- Medication to reduce a fever.
- Supplemental oxygen in more severe cases.
- People who have a hard time breathing on their own due to COVID-19 may need a respirator.
According to the World Health Organisation, the incubation period is about 5 days most commonly. It also can range from 2 to 14 days between infection and symptoms appearing.
A study of hospital patients during the original Wuhan outbreak showed that they were potentially infectious for up to five weeks after first symptoms appeared.
The most common symptoms fo COVID-19 are as followed:
- Cough
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Shortness of Breath
Keep reading to learn more about the current information about COVID-19, what types of treatments are being explored? and what to do if you develop symptoms?.
How to avoid infection from the coronavirus?
The novel coronavirus is originally transmitted from person to person. At this point, the best way to prevent getting infected is to keep physical distancing from the people who have whether been exposed to the virus or not.
People are advised to take the following precautions to lower your risk of infection:
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap or hand wash and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap not available.
- Avoid touching your face unless you’ve recently washed your hands.
- Avoid crowded areas as much as possible.
- Older adults are at the highest risk of infection and may want to take extra precautions to avoid coming into contact with the virus.
- Stay clear of people who are coughing and sneezing. The CDC recommends standing at least 6 feet away from anyone who appears to be sick.
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| Wash hands and sanitise |
COVID-19 is not the most fatal virus known yet, but it is getting an outbreak gradually as the vaccine is not developed against the development of the coronavirus.
However, researchers around the world are working hard to develop dormant vaccines and treatments.
Some viruses known yet and their fatality:
COVID-19(low): Generally affects 2 people and can affect up to 15 people.COVID-19(high): Generally affects 3 people and can affect up to 40 people.
Influenza(Spanish flu): Generally affects 1.8 people and can affect up to 7 people.
Ebola(high): Generally affects 2 people and can affect up to 15 people.
Sars: Generally affects 3 people and can affect up to 40 people.
Smallpox(high): Generally affects 6 people and can affect up to 259 people.
Chickenpox: Generally affects 10 people and can affect up to 1,111 people.
Measles: Generally affects 15 people and can affect up to 3,616 people.
The bottom line
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