COVID-19

Covid 19

(Coronavirus)

Introduction

Coronaviruses were discovered in the 1960s as important human pathogens and animals, causing different diseases that can range from a cold to a pneumonia.Six types of coronaviruses had been identified that could generate disease in humans, including those causing the two epidemic outbreaks previous: the SARS coronavirus that first appeared in 2002 and the MERS-CoV, which First identified in 2012 in the Middle East. 

At the end of December 2019, identified a new coronavirus as the causative agent of a group of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, capital of China's Hubei province, calling it the World Organization of the Health (WHO) in February 2020, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

(SARS-CoV-2) and the disease that causes COVID-19, which means coronavirus disease 2019. Since Wuhan it spread rapidly, initially resulting in an epidemic throughout China, followed by a growing number of cases worldwide, generated the pandemic and current health emergency.

What is a coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are an extensive family of viruses that can cause disease in both animals and humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections that can range from the common cold to more serious illnesses such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.

How many types of coronaviruses are there? 

Seven coronaviruses have been identified that can infect people. Types 229E (coronavirus alpha), NL63 (coronavirus alpha), OC43 (coronavirus beta), and HKU1 (coronavirus beta) commonly cause mild to moderate respiratory disease, whereas the coronavirus MERS-CoV (coronavirus of respiratory syndrome in the Middle East) and SARS- CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus) often causes severe illness.

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is the most recently discovered infectious disease caused by coronavirus. Both this new virus and the disease it causes were unknown before the outbreak in Wuhan, China in December 2019. COVID-19 is currently a pandemic that affects many countries around the world.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Other less frequent symptoms that affect some patients are aches and pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, and skin rashes or color changes on the fingers or toes. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually.