COVID –19: The Novel Corona Virus infectious disease that halted the world

Abstract

In late 2019, Wuhan in Hubal province of China suffered an outbreak in the form of acute respiratory disease-causing severe mortality  due to the novel corona virus which was later declared and identified as COVID-19 by World Health Organisation (WHO) in January  2020. By the end of March 2020 more than 160 countries and regions around the world were affected.The causative agent of COVID 19, is closely related to SARS-CoV–like bat Corona viruses, bat-SL-CoVZC45 and bat-SL-CoVZXC2.The whole genome sequencing  and systematic analysis showed that this novel Corona virus is a distinct clad from β-Corona virus associated with human Severe  Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which was officially named “SARS-CoV-2”  by WHO. In January the transmission of the virus breached international borders and first case outside China was seen in Philipines  and Thailand and then in USA. After that WHO declared it a global public-health emergency in January 30, 2020 and later declared it  a pandemic in March 2020. All nations then adopted stringent measures to contain the spread of the disease. In India the first cases of  COVID 19 positive were reported in the state of Kerala in January 2020 amongst Indiansstudying in China with a history of travel  from China. The number of cases then increased and as on April 11, 2020 there were 6761 positive COVID-19 cases. The major  concern to both human and animal health is viral infection of the respiratory tract whichis the most commonly occurring health  problem and is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Commonly seen in children, elderly and immunocompromised  patients. It is now importantand mandatory to take the stringent preventive and precautionary measure which is the need of the hour  like strictly following social distancing, screening of disease, using the protective masks at the public places, Regular hand wash, use  of personal protective equipment (PPE) by the practitioner's, paramedics, health care workers, sanitary people etc. to prevent the  spread of this dangerous Novel viral infectious disease COVID-19. To curb the disease, following altered social norms along with  good sanitization and opting for active treatment using chloroquine or other drugs and prophylaxis using Hydroxychloroquine  (HCQ).Though its use is yet to provide satisfactory results and to continue on research with the help of researchers to develop  vaccines to restrain and combat the dread disease.