Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease that causes fever, cough, and respiratory distress. Some people with COVID-19 have passed away. Some people have no symptoms or have only mild symptoms.

Here, Doug Rosenthal (Douglas Rosenthal), a research scientist in the field of biology, explains everything you need to know about the coronavirus.

Causes

COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome called coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), formerly known as New Coronavirus 2019 (2019-nCoV). Doug Rosenthal explains that coronaviruses are a family of viruses that can affect people and animals. Mild to moderate respiratory illnesses, such as the common cold can be caused by this virus. Some coronaviruses can cause serious illness that can lead to pneumonia, and even death.

COVID-19 was first reported in early December 2019 in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. Since then, it has spread rapidly within China and to other parts of Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and North America, including a few people in the United States.

The experienced scientist Doug Rosenthal, specifies that the SARS-CoV-2 is a beta-coronavirus, like the MERS and SARS coronaviruses. These coronaviruses originated in bats. It is believed that the virus have spread from animals to humans. Currently, the virus is spreading mainly from person to person.

It is believed that COVID-19 can spread to people in close contact (approximately 6 feet or 1.8 meters). The infected droplets spray into the air, when someone with the disease coughs or sneezes. If you inhale or touch those particles, you can get the disease.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization consider COVID-19 to be a serious public health threat. However, based on what is currently known, COVID-19's immediate health risk to the general American public at this time is considered low.

Symptoms

Rosenthal indicates that the symptoms of COVID-19 have ranged from mild to severe. Even some people have died from the disease. Most of those who have died were elderly or had other health problems.

The scientist, who, over the course of his career focuses on how pathogens infect and cause disease by producing virulence factors that target host cell molecules, points out that the main symptoms of the COVID-19 are:

•Fever

•Cough

• Shortness of breath

Rosenthal claims that symptoms may appear within 2 to 14 days.

Tests and exams

Blood, sputum, and swab samples may be taken from the back of the nose and throat. In some cases, samples of fluid from the lungs can be collected by bronchoscopy. In addition, urine and stool samples can be collected for further testing. These samples will be sent to CDC for evaluation.

Treatment

“There is no specific treatment at this time, although experimental medications are being given to some people. Complementary treatment is provided to relieve symptoms and to strengthen the immune system,” say Douglas Rosenthal.

Possible complications

Complications can include:

•Respiratory insufficiency

• Death