scholarly journals Consequences of Mutations in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (Sars-Cov-2) Genome in Comparison to Other Pathogenic Coronaviruses

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-123
Author(s):  
Yusuf Amuda Agabi ◽  
Ismaila Shittu ◽  
Kennedy Iliya Amagon ◽  
James Garba Damen ◽  
Richard Joseph Kutshik ◽  
...  

Background: Late December 2019, an unknown incidence of Pneumonia was observed among some residents of Wuhan city, China. The disease named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and declared as a pandemic by the WHO on the March 11th, 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO) has resulted to the death of million people across the globe. Prior to the current COVID-19 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), two other outbreaks of coronaviruses namely severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have been experienced within the last few decades. This review looks at the unique characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 to the other coronaviruses (SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV) and its significance(s) in the control strategies including diagnostics. Materials and Methods: Using the keywords “coronavirus mutation”, “nucleotide substitution”, “coronavirus evolution”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “COVID-19” published literatures on coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2 were retrieved from MEDLINE and reviewed for gaps and current knowledge as it relates to evolution of SARS-CoV-2. Results: In comparison with seasonal flu, investigations revealed that SARS-CoV-2 mutates less rapidly which provides an edge in the possible development of a long-lasting vaccine to combat the spread of the virus. Though, several mutations in the genome of the virus with dire consequences on the diagnostics have been identified. Conclusions: The unique importance of mutation as a mechanism of survival for viruses cannot be overemphasized. Several mutations have been observed in SARS-CoV-2 genome whose implications as regards diagnostics and control measures have been highlighted herein.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 01-03
Author(s):  
Ashish Gujrathi

Coronavirus (COVID-19) was recognized in late December in Hubei province of Wuhan city in China. This highly contagious disease, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is transmitted from humans to humans. After the first case in Wuhan, the disease rapidly spread to other parts of the globe. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) made an assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic. Thus, social-distancing became an important measure to stop the spread of this disease. Various countries across the world adopted nationwide lockdowns. This led to a completely new scenario for the world, where every business in each industry faced new challenges and witnessed new opportunities. Similarly, the medical personal protective industry, a vital part of the healthcare sector, also witnessed new growth opportunities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-41
Author(s):  
Seyed Hesamaddin Banihashemi ◽  
Ahmadreza Karimi ◽  
Hasti Nikourazm ◽  
Behnaz Bahmanyar ◽  
Dariush Hooshyar

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus and its associated disease, called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), first appeared in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and quickly spread around the world. Coronavirus was officially named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization and was recognized as a pandemic due to its rapid spread worldwide. Based on the published data, it is hoped to provide a source for later studies and to help prevent and control the contagious COVID-19 and its characteristics, and considerations that surgeons and medical staff must observe during the epidemic.


Bangladesh is struggling with dreadful outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases for the past few years. Disease Control Division of Directorate General (DG) of Health Service considered the capital of Bangladesh as the breeding ground for mosquitos. Recent incidence of Dengue and Chikungunya outbreaks have surpassed all past records of outbreak. Thus, the country is witnessing an elevated rate of viral fever incidence alarmingly. Though symptoms of mosquito-borne viral infection are very typical, the recent incidence of fatalities is growing great public health concern. World Health Organization (WHO) recommends practical control measures to minimize the breeding within the community of Bangladesh. The actions of Kolkata City Corporation to control Dengue are also suggestive for Bangladesh. There is no medication to treat Dengue, and Chikungunya infection, but initial recognition and apposite medical care can reduce the death threat.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 60-69
Author(s):  
Ridwan Olamilekan Adesola ◽  
Oluwatobi Emmanuel Oladele ◽  
Ahmed Oluwasegun Tajudeen ◽  
Ogundepo Oluwatobi Moses ◽  
Murali Dinesh

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), confirmed as the global pandemic on March 11, 2020, by the World Health Organization (WHO), was caused by the outbreak of an emergent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which was first reported in Wuhan city, China, in December 2019. Based on the previous pandemic, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) from 2002 to 2003, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in 2012. The scientific developments have fast-tracked our insights SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology, likewise vaccinology relevant for developing drugs for viral infections treatment. As there are not many detailed interventions and vaccines available for disease control, the pandemic COVID-19 poses countless threats to global public health, causing a great level of insecurity and unrest worldwide. To provide an inclusive overview to global health authorities and prospective readers worldwide, we detailed in this review the epidemiology and vaccinology of SARS-CoV-2 in Nigeria.


Author(s):  
Kuldeep Dhama ◽  
Shailesh Kumar Patel ◽  
Khan Sharun ◽  
Mamta Pathak ◽  
Ruchi Tiwari ◽  
...  

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - Coronavirus-2) of the family Coronaviridae, appeared in Wuhan, Hubei province, China being its epicenter in December 2019. This disease was declared as posing Public Health International Emergency by World Health Organization on January 30, 2020, attained the status of a very high-risk category on February 29, and now having a pandemic status (March 11, 2020). COVID-19 has presently spread to more than 195 countries/territories while killing nearly 19,600 humans out of cumulative confirmed cases accounting to more than 430,000 within a short period of just a few weeks. The majority of deaths have been reported in Italy and China. Researchers worldwide are pacing with high efforts to counter the spread of this virus and to design effective vaccines and therapeutics/drugs. Few of the studies have shown the potential of animal-human interface and zoonotic links in the origin of SARS-CoV-2. Exploring the possible zoonosis and revealing the factors responsible for its initial transmission from animals to humans will pave ways to design and implement effective preventive and control strategies to counter COVID-19. The present review presents an overview of COVID-19 and the causative virus SARS-CoV-2, with particular emphasis on the role of animals and their jumping the cross-species barriers, experiences learned from SARS- and MERS-CoVs, zoonotic links, and spillover events, transmission to humans and rapid spread., highlighting in very brief the preventive and control measures along with a few of the recent research developments to counter this pandemic virus/disease.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 139
Author(s):  
Pina Sodano Omizzolo

In mid-December 2019, several atypical cases of pneumonia were detected in hospitals in Wuhan City – Hubei Province – in Inner China. It turns out that the first patients had already fallen ill in early December or even mid-November. However, only on the last day of the year 2019, Chinese doctors were able to officially identify a new virus in a 41-year-old patient admitted 5 days earlier. The virus belongs to the class of “coronavirus”, the same to which the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) viruses belong. It is initially baptized 2019-nCov, or “new 2019 coronavirus”. In February, the official name assigned to the virus is Sars-COV-2 and the associated disease is named COVID-19. The outbreak took on considerable proportions in China and then spread to the rest of the world, leading the World Health Organization to declare the infection a “pandemic” on 11 March 2020. The containment strategies applied in the most affected countries have proved to be very different in effectiveness, to the point that the lethality of the virus appears very different from country to country. This difference in impact has led to different legal, economic and social consequences.


PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e12041
Author(s):  
M. Khalid Ijaz ◽  
Raymond W. Nims ◽  
Sarah de Szalay ◽  
Joseph R. Rubino

Public Health Agencies worldwide (World Health Organization, United States Centers for Disease Prevention & Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, etc.) are recommending hand washing with soap and water for preventing the dissemination of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. In this review, we have discussed the mechanisms of decontamination by soap and water (involving both removal and inactivation), described the contribution of the various components of formulated soaps to performance as cleansers and to pathogen inactivation, explained why adherence to recommended contact times is critical, evaluated the possible contribution of water temperature to inactivation, discussed the advantages of antimicrobial soaps vs. basic soaps, discussed the differences between use of soap and water vs. alcohol-based hand sanitizers for hand decontamination, and evaluated the limitations and advantages of different methods of drying hands following washing. While the paper emphasizes data applicable to SARS-CoV-2, the topics discussed are germane to most emerging and re-emerging enveloped and non-enveloped viruses and many other pathogen types.


2020 ◽  
Vol 148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Ling ◽  
Xianjie Wen

Abstract The outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia (coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)), declared as a ‘global pandemic’ by the World Health Organization (WHO), is a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). The outbreak in multiple locations shows a trend of accelerating spread around the world. China has taken a series of powerful measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to actively finding effective treatment drugs and developing vaccines, it is more important to identify the source of infection at the community level as soon as possible to block the transmission path of the virus to prevent the spread of the pandemic. The implementation of grid management in the community and the adoption of precise management and control measures to reduce unnecessary personnel movement can effectively reduce the risk of pandemic spread. This paper mainly describes that the grid management mode can promote the refinement and comprehensiveness of community management. As a management system with potential to improve the governance ability of community affairs, it may be helpful to strengthen the prevention and control of the epidemic in the community.


2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 1307-1315 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.-J. Mälzer ◽  
N. Staben ◽  
A. Hein ◽  
W. Merkel

According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) for Water Safety Plans (WSP), a Technical Risk Management was developed, which considers standard demands in drinking water treatment in Germany. It was already implemented at several drinking water treatment plants of different size and treatment processes in Germany. Hazards affecting water quality, continuity, and the reliability of supply from catchment to treatment and distribution could be identified by a systematic approach, and suitable control measures were defined. Experiences are presented by detailed examples covering methods, practical consequences, and further outcomes. The method and the benefits for the water suppliers are discussed and an outlook on the future role of WSPs in German water supply is given.


2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 707-712 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly G. Vest

AbstractSince February 2015, Zika virus has spread throughout the Western Hemisphere, starting in Brazil. As of March 2016, autochthonous transmission has been reported in at least 31 countries or territories. For countries in the Americas, the spread of Zika virus, a previously unfamiliar disease, follows similar emerging infection introductions of West Nile virus and Chikungunya virus and their spread throughout the American continents and the Caribbean nations. The Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization have issued alerts and a Public Health Emergency of International Concern announcement related to the recent cluster of microcephaly cases and other neurological disorders in Brazil that are temporally associated with Zika virus, which highlights the possible adverse impact of viral infection. This article provides an overview of the Zika virus infection and presents the historical background of the virus, a description of the pathogen, the epidemiology and clinical spectrum of Zika virus infection, diagnosis and treatment approaches, and prevention and control measures. Understanding what is known about the virus and its clinical presentation will assist in prevention, detection, and response measures to reduce and control the spread of the virus throughout the Western Hemisphere. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;page 1 of 6)


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