SOURCE/ORIGIN OF COVID19The specific origin of Covid19 is not yet known, though, scientist and researchers continue to search, experiment and update the bulk of information on the pandemic to better understand and postulate useful theories on how to tackle it’s menace. The term covid19 has acquired a global recognition due to it’s impact of which it continues to make until this day on every nation of the world.
It is of note that Corona virus affected the world first in the year 2002(3) as a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (SARS and MERS) before taking it’s present form as Covid19 which was first noticed December 2019 in Wuhan, China. It is classified to belong to the genus Beta Corona virus of zoonotic origin (that is, a disease of animal origin and can be transferred to humans).
STRUCTURE/NATURE OF COVID19Coronavirus (Covid19) is a Ribonucleic acid virus with a crown structure having a concave on one side and a diameter of about 60-140nm. It has been known to affect mainly the respiratory track.
INFECTION PATHWAYCoronavirus (Covid19) is a communicable disease that can easily be transferred from person to person through it’s agents. The virus is air and water borne and it’s not easily detected in a person. The virus is contained in an infected persons saliva and other respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing and exhaling. We get in contact with this virus when an infected persons coughs, sneeze or exhale directly into our face, touching or sharing surfaces or objects with an infected person. The virus enters the body through openings such as the nasal cavity, eyes and mouth then, it replicates and create copies of itself. It shows severity amongst the elderly, aged 55years and above patients and those that have diseases such as hypertension, pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease amongst others. It can be detected through a nasal swab.
RETENTION TIME ON SURFACESDroplets on inanimate surfaces from an infected patient containing corona virus is estimated to persist for about 9days though, it’s object and exposure specific. It is advocated to properly clean and sterilize contaminant with detergent or antiseptic soap and water or with an alcohol based sterilizer before use.
SIGNS/SYMPTOMS OF INFECTIONThe signs and symptoms of the disease is very tricky as it takes a close resemblance with the regular diseases. Some of it’s most common signs and symptoms includes;
1. Dry cough
2. Sore throat
3. Chest pain
4. Shortness of breath
5. Tiredness
6. Fever, etc.
These symptoms are often observed in about 4-6 days of infection. It is advised you seek medical attention upon discovery.
TREATMENTA permanent solution as per treatment is a work in progress though, some drugs such as chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, favilavir amongst others have proven some positive results with little side effect.
PREVENTIVE MEASURESOne of the best way to tackle Covid19 is to maintain a high level of immune system. Others includes;
1. Practice of social distancing by giving/staying at least 1metre apart from a patient or an individual.
2. Wash your hands regularly with antiseptic soap and flowing water and rub an alcohol based sanitizer.
3. Avoid touching your face (Nose, eyes and mouth).
4. Cover your mouth with an arc-curved elbow while coughing, sneezing and exhaling.
5. Avoid crowded areas and put on a face mask in public places.
6. Avoid eating too much fried or baked food, smoking and other activities that weakens the lungs.
EFFECTS SO FARDue to the detrimental impact of the Covid19 across all nations, it is currently one of the most recognized term and disease in the world. A lot of steps is/are been put in place to ensure control on it’s spread but still, it continues to persist and make impacts on our daily life’s. It has impacts on;
1.
Lifestyle: People have to adjust almost every part of their daily routine to fit in as per food and indoor style of living. A lot of persons where kept away from the spotlight.
2.
Economy: The productivity rate of all nation’s of the world drop due to the lockdown or indoor lifestyle adopted to it’s citizens and reduced importation. Hence, tourism, trading and mass production which did boost the economy of many nations dropped.
3.
Sports: Sporting activities virtually requires a lot of crowd and body touching hence, it was/is put to halt to reduce the spread of Covid19.
4.
Transportation: Movement was completely halt especially at the borders, inter-communal roads, streets amongst others where shut down and access to places and goods where/is difficult.
5.
Food scarcity/Inflation: Production was reduced due to in accessibility of producers, business owners, factory workers etc to their place of function hence, food/goods available became limited and at an inflated price rate. Demand and supply relationship.
LOCAL PERCEPTIONIt is surprising and of note that some individuals still believe or conceive the idea that the Covid19 pandemic is unreal and a plot by those in power to exploit the nation’s and acquire wealth. This makes me wonder if the credibility of the news houses across the globe is in doubt or the statistics from various organizations saddled with the responsibility of safe guiding and maintaining public health isn’t judiciously carry out there function! The irony of the whole issue is, most people don’t believe because they haven’t seen or experienced it first hand yet, they wish and pray to never come in contact with such disease. How or why then do you doubt?
Covid19 is very real and dangerous at that. Let us all endeavor to follow safety guidelines and never fail to share beneficial information to all.
Sources;https://www.hpnonline.com/infection-prevention/article/21129986/studies-analyze-how-long-covid19-lives-on-surfaceshttps://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_2Chowdhury MA, Hossain N, Kashem MA, Shahid MA, Alam A,
Immune Response in COVID-19: A Review, Journal of Infection and Public Health (2020),
doi:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jiph.2020.07.001https://www.bbc.com/news/51980731Stay safe.