Coronavirus: The virus and its types that may affect Humans

Islamabad (28th Feb, 2020): Coronaviruses are the types of viruses that tend to affect the respiratory tracts of birds and mammals, including human beings.

Coronaviruses refers to all the viruses that may affect the respiratory tract in birds and mammals, respectively. Based on reports, doctors usually associate such viruses with:

1. the common cold,
2. bronchitis,
3. pneumonia,
4. severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), 
5. gut

Most recently however, authorities identified the coronavirus outbreak in China which has spread to other countries including Pakistan, Korea, Japan, India, America and Iran. The virus has been named COVID-19 or the coronavirus diseases 2019, respectively.

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Experts believe that covering your mouth while sneezing and/or coughing may help to contain the spread of this virus, which was initially isolated by researchers back in 1937. They argued that the coronavirus was responsible for an infectious bronchitis virus in birds and could potentially devastate the poultry stocks.

However, first recorded accounts of the coronavirus discovery in human beings was back in the 1960’s [nearly five to six decades ago], in the form of a common cold. Additionally, two forms of the ‘human coronaviruses’ are arguably held responsible for a large proportion of common colds, and they are identified as: OC43 and 229E, respectively.

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The name ‘coronavirus’ allegedly comes from a ‘crown-like projections’ on the surface. ‘Corona’ in Latin is attributed to a halo or a crown. Based on expert opinion, the infections usually occur in humans during the winter month or in early spring. According to researchers, people become ill due to a common cold regularly and may thereby catch the same three to four months later. This is because the coronavirus antibodies do not last for a very long time. Furthermore, scientists argue that the antibodies for one strain of the coronavirus may not be effective against another.

Common causes & symptoms of coronavirus:

Experts suggest that the cold or flu-like symptoms usually start to appear within two to four days of getting infected. While symptoms may vary from person to person, some forms of the virus can be fatal. Moreover, experts cannot easily cultivate human coronaviruses in their laboratories unlike the rhinovirus which is believed to be another cause behind the common cold. Thereby, this makes it difficult to gauge the impact the virus can have on public health and the global economies, respectively.

Doctors can diagnose the virus by taking a sample of the respiratory fluids such as mucus that exists in the nose or blood.

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Types of coronavirus:

According to experts, the coronaviruses belong to the family ‘Coronaviridae’ specifically its subfamily, ‘Coronavirinae’. While its different types can be transmitted to human beings depending on the severity and how far it spreads, commonly doctors identify it in seven types [within humans].

Scientists argue that the rarer strains may include MERS-CoV which causes the Middle East Respiratory syndrome (MERS), and the SARS-CoV which is responsible for the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

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Transmission of coronavirus:

Although, research on its transmission is still limited, scientists believe that the virus infection spreads to humans [HCoV] in three basic ways. Through touch [shaking hands, or even touching objects that may contain droplets], inhaling and coughing and/or sneezing. However, they mostly believe that the virus transmits via fluids in the respiratory symptoms such as the mucus that exists in the nose and blood.

Similarly, animal coronaviruses such as the feline coronavirus (FCoV) may spread through contact with feces, however, it is still unclear if the same principle applies to HCoV’s.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) suggests that there are several groups of people who may have a higher risk of developing complications due to the COVID-19. To ensure that the virus does not spread, experts believe:

1. People should stay indoors and rest while the symptoms are active.
2. Patients should avoid all forms of contact with other people.
3. Cover the mouth and nose areas with a tissue or handkerchief while coughing and/or sneezing. 
4. Use a mask in case you need to go outside.
5. Maintain proper hygiene by washing hands more frequently and keeping your surroundings cleaner. 

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COVID-19 was identified in Wuhan, China in 2019 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) who were monitoring a new coronavirus, namely the SARS-CoV-2. According to reports, more than seventy-four thousand people have so far contracted the virus within China alone. In addition, health authorities have identified people who have contracted the COVID-19 virus in countries other than China, including America, UK, Pakistan, Iran and India, respectively.

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