Covid - 19: The Pandemic of the Century

COVID -19 Pandemic of the Century

By Amita Vadlamudi

COVID-19 or Coronavirus is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Since its emergence in December 2019, it has claimed over 6 million lives worldwide and has long-lasting health implications. COVID-19 can be identified as a mild to severe respiratory illness transmitted through contact with an infected person or surface.

Where Did COVID-19 Originate?

COVID-19 originated in Wuhan, China, but has spread to over 170 countries. WHO declared it a global pandemic. The coronavirus is found in bats, camels, and cattle. While it doesn’t affect the animal, it can be transmitted from animal species to humans. Although the original source of the infecton has not been conclusively identified, it is conjectured that the first infected person contracted the disease in a wet market that sold live animals in Wuhan, China.

Symptoms of COVID-19 While different strains of COVID-19 produce various symptoms, the most common signs of the disease include:  Fever  Sore throat  Cough  Runny nose  Loss of smell and taste  Body aches  Congestion  Shortness of breath  Headache

 Nausea  Diarrhea Infection and Fatality Rate Coronavirus has caused 635,709,158 infections and 6,627,628 deaths all over the world. COVID-19 is believed to have a fatality rate of 1.4%, with a considerable 98.6% chance of recovery.

The countries worst hit by COVID-19 include India, with 2,857,621 deaths, the United States, with 925,770 deaths and Brazil, with 643,030 reported deaths.

Treatment and Prevention The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outlines protocols to limit the spread of the virus. These include washing hands, wearing face masks, improving ventilation, limiting contact with an infected person, getting tested , and especially, staying up-to-date with the required dose of COVID-19 vaccines, as they significantly reduce the potency of the virus and the chances of hospitalization.

If you contract the disease, some treatments would be communicated by your healthcare provider, including antiviral medication and monoclonal antibody treatment delivered via an IV injection. The doctor will prescribe the relevant treatment according to the severity of the disease.

Amita Vadlamudi is a former Information Technology Professional who currently enjoys reading non-fiction books. Amita Vadlamudi’s particular interests are science and history and their importance, as well as, their impact on current human affairs.

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