CORONAVIRUS
WHAT IS COVID-19?
Covid-19 is a severe respiratory illness that is caused by a coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2). It is transmitted by the contact of infectious material that may include respiratory droplets. It is mainly characterized by fever, cough and shortness of breath and may progress to pneumonia and respiratory failure.
The coronavirus pandemic is an ongoing pandemic (a pandemic is a disease epidemic that has spread across a large region). COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-COV-2) previously known by the provisional name 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-NCOV). It was first identified in Wuhan/China in December 2019; the outbreak was recognized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 2020. Till 5 May 2020, more than 3.5 million cases of Covid-19 have been reported in over 190 countries, and almost 251,000 deaths. And more than 1.16 million people recovered.
HOW DOES THIS VIRUS SPREAD?
The virus typically spreads from one person to another via respiratory droplets produced during coughing and breathing. It spreads more when the people are in close contact but may also spread when one touches the contaminated or infected surface and then there face. It is most infectious when people are symptomatic, although spread may be possible before symptoms appear. The time between exposure and symptom onset is typically around five days, but may range from two to fourteen days.COMMON SYMPTOMS
1. FEVER.2. COUGH.
3. SHORTNESS OF BREATH.
COMPLICATIONS
Complications may include pneumonia (inflammatory condition of the lungs) and acute respiratory distress syndrome ((ARDS) is a type of respiratory failure characterized by the rapid onset of widespread inflammation in the lungs). There is currently no vaccine or antiviral treatment.TREATMENT
Primary treatment is symptomatic (any medical therapy of a disease that only affects its symptoms) and supportive therapy (attempted remediation of a health problem).PREVENTIVE MEASURES
Recommended preventive measures include hand washing, covering mouth when coughing, maintaining distance from people, and monitoring and self-isolation for people who suspect they are infected.EFFORTS TO PREVENT THE VIRUS FROM SPREADING
Efforts to prevent the virus spreading include travel restrictions, quarantines, curfews, event postponements and cancellations, and facility closures. These include a quarantine of Hubei, nationwide quarantines in Italy and elsewhere in Europe, curfew measures in China and South Korea, various border closures or incoming passenger restrictions, screening at airports and train stations, and travel advisories regarding regions with community transmission. Schools and universities have closed either on a nationwide or local basis in over 124 countries and affecting more than 1.2 billion students.PAKISTAN’S CONDITION
Till 5 May there are 21,501 cases reported in Pakistan and 486 deaths and 5782 recoveries from this virus. There are many preventive measures taken by the government. Sindh, where there are the most cases reported, is lockdown completely only general stores and shops of fruits and vegetables are opened. Pak army is also with the local police. Rangers are also helping the police. Police are helping the localities and also trying to restrict them in homes to precise the chance of being infected. Another preventive measure is that the shops or general stores that are opened must be closed at 5 pm. This is also the responsibility of localities to stay in homes so that they will be safe.TECHNOLOGY
The big blue IBM machine has been very help full for the coronavirus.BIOLOGICAL WAR
Biological warfare is also known as germ warfare is the use of biological toxins or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, insects, and fungi with the intent to kill or incapacitate humans, animals or plants as an act of war. Biological weapons are living organisms or replicating entities (viruses, which are not universally considered “alive”).This is a theory that the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) is bio weapon has realistic evidence to back it. However, politicians in some countries have suggested that the virus could be made by humans. For example, Senator Tom Cotton(R-Arkansas) tweeted on January 30, 2020 in which he said that one of the American scientists Steve Mosher wrote in the New York Times that the virus (COVID-19) could have leaked from the Chinese lab. The only evidence that he said this was that there was a BSL-4 lab in Wuhan, China. And in BSL-4 lab they work with dangerous viruses but to say that Covid-19 is a biological weapon just because of that lab is not proper evidence.
In the place of one US have six BSL-4 labs in Atlanta. And seven others are planned to be constructed. A BSL-4 lab is a highly sensitive place and to be qualified as a BSL-4, a proper ventilation system, reinforced walls and security systems are required.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF PEOPLE
The responsibilities of people include:1. Wash your hands frequently.
2. Maintain social distancing.
3. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
4. Practice respiratory hygiene.
5. If you have fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing, seeks early medical care.
6. Stays informed and follow the advice given by the health care provider.
If any person had visited the Covid-19 affected areas in the last fourteen days he should isolate him/herself for some days and if possible he/she should conduct a test.
DURATION
According to WHO the virus can be controlled. Till now the duration of this virus can’t be predicted. A Chinese senior medical officer says that it could be over by June if all countries follow WHO’s advice on stopping the spread of this virus. Adam Kucharski said that the coronavirus will keep infecting people for a year or two. Neil Ferguson said that Physical distancing is important until a vaccine is prepared which may take 18 or more months. William Schaffner says that it is nearly impossible that the coronavirus will disappear completely.Whether it is finished or not we should keep implementing the preventive measures so that we could be safe and also save others from infecting.