What is COVID-19?
The infectious disease caused by getting in contact with the newly discovered novel coronavirus is called COVID-19 or coronavirus disease. The first outbreak of the disease occurred in December 2019 in China's Wuhan Province. Although the virus infects people of all ages, those with low immunity and the elderly are more likely to be severely infected.
Basic Structure :
The outermost part of the virus contains glycoprotein spikes, which allow the virus to attach to living cells and infect them. The second component is ribonucleic acid or RNA. Once inside the living cell, the virus replicates the RNA and reproduces. And the third element is a lipid layer, which traps other parts of the virus.
Types of CoV :
Although there are many species of coronavirus, only seven species can infect humans. Four of them cause very common sneezing and coughing symptoms throughout the year. These are, 229E (alpha coronavirus), NL63 (alpha coronavirus), OC43 (beta coronavirus), HKU1 (beta coronavirus). Previously, MERS-CoV(Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), a beta virus, spreaded in 2012. SARS-CoV, a beta coronavirus that spreaded acute respiratory syndrome. The disease was first reported in 2002 in China. The mortality rate is about 10 per 100 patients, yet the disease was brought under control quickly because of its low rate of human-to-human transmission. In all, the disease affects about 8,000 people and kills about 800. Studies show that the virus entered the human body from an odorless,civet type of species. The third type, SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), is called the novel corona virus. The virus is called a novel because it has never been transmitted to humans before (provisionally named as 2019-nCoV).
Transmission Rate :
The rate of human-to-human transmission is extremely high. About 188 countries around the world are infected with the virus. According to the international news agency, Al-Jazeera, as of May 14, 2020, there are 4.4 million cases worldwide, more than 301,000 deaths, and more than 1.6 million recovery. The number of active cases in India now (15 May, 2020) is more than 51,500. More than 2600 people have died.
Can a coronavirus change its structure ?
Yes, like any RNA virus, SARS COV-2 can easily change its structure. When the virus spreads, it can change the structure of its genes as it pleases. The virus is transmitted from one human body to another with the modified structure of this gene.
So far, about 100 mutations have been observed in coronaviruses. As a result of repeated mutations, the virus can easily spread the infection by adapting to new environments and situations.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Symptoms of the disease are mainly fever, dry cough, fatigue. It can also cause colds, shortness of breath, sore throat, and diarrhoea.
Symptoms are very rare at first after being infected, then gradually increase. Sometimes it can lead to pneumonia and eventually multi-organ failure or paralysis (14%). In some cases the infected person does not have any symptoms or they do not feel sick.
People with low immunity, and the elderly (especially those with high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes) are at higher risk from the virus.
Is it necessary to get tested for corona virus if the body feels uneasy ?
As mentioned earlier, the symptoms of Covid-19 disease are mainly fever, dry cough, fatigue. It can also cause colds, shortness of breath, sore throat, and diarrhoea. There are many similarities with the common flu or cold. So if you have these symptoms, you should go to the doctor and make sure that the patient needs to be tested for corona virus. Although there is no specific treatment for this disease (as of the day this report is written), this does not mean that testing is pointless. Patients can be isolated if they are diagnosed with the disease so that the virus does not spread to other healthy people.
How is the corona virus tested?
It is possible to collect samples for this test anywhere. Usually a cotton swab is inserted into the patient's throat, with which saliva is collected and sent to the laboratory. Blood tests can also be done to detect the presence of antibodies in the rapid test.
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR) is performed with the sample. However, since the corona virus is an RNA virus, in the first step of the test, if the patient has a virus in a sample obtained from the body, his RNA is first converted into DNA. The presence of the virus in the sample can be easily increased from the replication that occurs after countless replications of DNA through PCR method. In that case the affected person is called corona positive. And if there is no virus, no copy is made. In that case the affected person is called corona negative. It takes 24 hours for test results to come. However, in the case of large sample tests, it may take up to 48-62 hours.
What precautions should be taken to prevent COVID-19 or Corona virus?
1. Always try to keep hands clean. Hands should be washed thoroughly with soap at regular intervals.
2. If you have sneezing or coughing, if you have runny nose, you should wear a face mask.
3. At least one meter distance should be maintained from people who have cold-cough or fever.
4. When sneezing or coughing, after using the tissue paper, do not throw the tissue paper here & there,but in the dustbin.
5.Try to stay away from the crowd.
6. If a patient with Covid-19 has been exposed, he should be separated from others for 14 days even if he has no symptoms, that is self-quarantine.
How long can SARS COV-2 survive on a surface or on an object?
It spreads from person to person through droplet transmission. That is, the virus is spread through the very fine water droplets or aerosols that form when an infected person sneezes or coughs. So it is very important to know exactly how long this novel corona virus can live on the surface of something. The virus can survive on cardboard for about 24 hours and on plastic or stainless steel for up to three days.
Why is it important to wash your hands with soap?
The outermost layer contains glycoprotein spines, which allow the virus to attach to living cells and infect them. The second component is ribonucleic acid or RNA. And the third element is a lipid layer, which traps other parts of the virus. Breaking this lipid level can kill the virus.
The molecular structure of soap shows that they have a head and a tail.
Usually the head is hydrophilic, that is, the head is strongly attracted to water molecules. The tail is hydrophobic, meaning the tail does not like water at all. This time by washing your hands with soap and water, the attraction of the tail of the soap molecule in the water towards the lipid level of the virus becomes stronger. The water molecule on the other hand again attracts the soap molecule head. During this tug, the lipid layer of the virus breaks down, causing the virus to become inactive and die.
Why is soap more effective than hand sanitizer?
The main ingredient in sanitizers is alcohol. Alcohol is also capable of breaking down the lipid levels of coronaviruses. But alcohol does not form a rapid bond with the lipid levels of viruses like soap, so it takes time for the virus to become inactive when using a sanitizer. So soap is more effective than hand sanitizer to kill the virus. Hand sanitizer may be an option if soap and water are not available.
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