The World’s Decade’s Nightmare: Corona Virus (Covid-19)

Introduction

Decade is a period of ten years, especially a period such as 1910-1919 or 1990-1999. Using this Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary definition of decade, we shall see that another decade starts this year, 2020 and would end by 2029.

I would have used the world’s century’s nightmare as the title of my article but 100 years is vast and we have just spent 20 or 21 years in the century according to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary definition of century which states that it is a period of 100 years, any of the periods of 100 years before or after the birth of Christ. For example, 1901-2000 or 1900-1999.

If a century ends in 1999 it means we are 21 years into another century and have 79 years left. On the other hand, if you fall into the category of people who believed that the last century ends in year 2000 then it means that we are 20 years into the new century, and we are left with 80 more years before the century ends.

Which ever school of thought we belong to, what I am driving at which makes me show us this is that I opt for the use of decade in the stead of century because we still have approximately 80 long years to spend before this century ends and before it ends no one among us can predict what will happen before then as we cannot predict what will happen the next second from now.

Something deadlier than this may occur before then, and it may not. For no one thinks something like this would happen by now after the Ebola virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and some other deadly infections upsurge some years back.

If something deadlier happens in the future, some of us or many of us who are active and agile now may not be alive then, even if some are alive, we shall not be as agile and as active as this again, we would have been very old looking at what our children are doing.

However, in case of decade, if there are no disasters and what believers in Jesus look forward to which is called rapture (taken away of the saints from the world (1 Thes. 4:16-17; 1 Cor 15:51-52)) some if not many of us would be alive, agile, active and would be able to talk on what is happening around us all over the globe in the next ten years and by then could weigh whatever happens with what the global nightmare that we are passing through at this moment.

What is happening now is a global phenomenon which essentially is felt across all the nations of the world, it would not be out of the way to say that even the animals are feeling the impact of what is happening, because some of the animals that are being fed by some people, the zoological centers being visited by tourists those have been reduced, thus the animals too would know that something is ongoing in the world.

Another reason why this incident, infection cuts across all the world is the impact it has on the economy of the world. it is now that some people who do not know the importance of air-traveling now know the importance that those who travel through the air also adds to the economy of the nation and the town.

Those countries of the world who abinitio have claimed indifference to the effect of this virus now know that it cut across all because of the negative impact it has on the economy.

Definitions

For us to have understanding about this, it behooves us to know the meanings of some of the things that we cannot but make mention of in this article.

What Is Virus? Virus are microscopic substance which are classified under nonliving things. They are only living inside the host. Online Wikipedia says, virus is a small infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism. They can infect all types of life forms bacteria and archaea inclusive.

While not inside an infected cell or in the process of infecting a cell, viruses exist in the form of independent particles or virions and has the followings:

(i) Genetic material which can be ribonucleic acid (RNA) or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA),

(ii) Protein coat called capsid

(iii) Outside envelope called lipids

(iv) Shape: differs

On Coronavirus

Online Wikipedia says, coronaviruses are a group of related viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans it causes respiratory tract infections that could be mild (e.g. common cold) and others than can be lethal (e.g. SARS, MERS, COVID-19)

Symptoms vary, for in chickens they cause upper respiratory trach diseases while in cows and pigs they cause diarrhea. There are yet to be vaccines and drugs for its treatment.

It belongs to the subfamily of Orthocoronavirinae in the family of Corona-viridae order Nidovirales and realm Riboviria. They are enveloped viruses with a positive sense single stranded RNA genome and a nucleocapsid of helical symmetry

The name coronavirus is derived from the Latin corona, meaning "crown" or "halo", which refers to the characteristic appearance reminiscent of a crown or a solar corona around the virions (virus particles) when viewed under two-dimensional transmission electron macroscope, due to the surface covering in club-shaped protein spikes.

Discovery: They were first discovered in 1960s. earliest ones being infectious bronchitis virus in chickens and two in human patients with common cold (named as human coronavirus 229E and human coronavirus OC43). Others include SARS-CoV (2003), HCoVNL63 (2004), HKU1 (2005), MERS-CoV (2012) and SARS-CoV-2 (2019). Most of them involve serious respiratory tract infections.

Classification: Coronaviridae belong to the family of enveloped positive-sense, single stranded RNA-viruses. Its genome is 26-32 kilobases in length and have approximately 20nm club-like or petal-shaped surface projections called “peplomers” or “spikes”.

The family Coronaviridae is organized in 2 sub-families, 5 genera, 23 sub-genera and about 40 species.

Etymology: The name is from the Latin word, corona, meaning “crown” or “wreath”, the word itself is borrowed from Greek “κορώνη korṓnē,” meaning “garland, wreath”. It is named because of the characteristic of the appearace of the virions under microscope which have fringe of large, bulbous surface projections forming an image typical of a crown or of a solar corona. This morphology is produced by viral spike peplomers of the protein molecules that make up the virus.

Morphology: They are large pleomorphic spherical particles with bulbous surface projections with a diameter of about 120 nm. Under electron microscope its envelope appears distinct.

Inside the envelope is a nucleocapsid formed from the protein and are bound to the positive-sense single stranded RNA genome in a continuous bends-on-a-string manner. The genome size is in between 27 and 34 kilobases.

It should be noted that the lipid bilayer of the envelope, membrane proteins and nucleocapsid protect it when outside the host cell.

Reproduction:

Infection starts when the virus enters the host organism and the spike protein attaches to its complementary host cell receptor. After attachment, a protease of the host cell cleaves and activates the receptor-attached spike protein. Depending on the host cell protease available, cleavage and activation allows cell entry through endocytosis or direct fusion of the viral envelop with the host membrane.

After entering the host cell, virus becomes uncoated and the genome enters the cell cytoplasm. The presence of its cap and tail (5’ methylated cap and 3’ polyadenylated tail) allow it to attach itself to the ribosome of the host cell for translation.

The host ribosome interprets the overlapping and forms long protein called polyprotein. There are proteases in these polyproteins which break it into nonstructural proteins.

These nonstructural proteins afterwards merged to form multi-protein replicate transcriptase complex (RTC) which involved in replication and transcription of RNA from RNA strand. The major one of the replicase-transcriptase proteins performing this is called the RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRp).

Other nonstructural proteins in the complex (RTC) functions by assisting the replication and transcription processes. Example is exoribonuclease which provides means to proof-read what is being coded for RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) because they lack this function.

Replication which is one of the main functions of this complex is being carried out when RdRp facilitates the production of negative-sense genomic RNA from the positive-sense genomic RNA and subsequently produces the positive-sense from the negative-sense that has been generated.

The positive-sense genomic RNA becomes the template for the progeny viruses. The messenger RNA (mRNA) are gene transcripts of the last third of the virus genome after the initial overlapping reading frame. These mRNAs are decoded by the host ribosomes and converted to structural proteins and accessory proteins. These actions take place inside the endoplasmic reticulum. While the structural proteins generated S, E, and M entered the Golgi intermediate compartment. After this the offspring viruses are released by exocytosis through secretory vesicles.

Spread: This is thought to happen primarily among close contacts when respiratory droplets caused by sneezing and coughing. The coronavirus enters the host cell, and the thorn-like virus binds with the host receptors. Sarah Newey and Anne Gulland in their article say is spreading fast. More than 229,200 people are known to be infected and over 9,300 deaths have been recorded.

It is growing across continents.

Director Zhen Xing says that corona virus cannot spread in the warm weather because it cannot exist 26-27 degrees temperature.

Is the coronavirus airborne?

There are debate about whether the disease is airborne or nay, but as at now there is no evidence suggestive of that. It should be known that airborne viruses linger for a longer period than those spread by droplets and can also be spread in air conditioning and ventilation systems. 

Evolution: Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) of all coronaviruses has been postulated to be dated back to 8000 BCE. The alphacoronavirus is traced back to 2400 BCE, betacoronavirus (3300 BCE), gammacoronavirus (2800 BCE), deltacoronavirus (3000 BCE). It looks as if bats and birds as warm-blooded flying vertebrates are the ideal hosts for coronavirus gene source that fuel its progression and propagation.

MRCA of human coronavirus of OC43 is dated back to 1950s, MERS-CoV is dated back to 563-822 years ago and SARS-CoV dated back to 1986.

Human coronaviruses: Risk factors vary. Some can kill more than 30% of those infected (e.g. MERS-CoV) while some are relatively harmless e.g. common cold.

Symptoms: cold, fever, sore throat from swollen adenoids occurring primarily in the winter and early spring seasons. Can cause pneumonia either directly (viral pneumonia) or as secondary infection to bacteria pneumonia. SARS-CoV which cause severe acute respiratory syndrome has unique pathogenesis because it causes both upper and lower respiratory tract infections.

Seven strains of human coronaviruses are known:

1. Human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E)

2. Human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43)

3. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)

4. Human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63, New Haven coronavirus)

5. Human coronavirus HKU1

6. Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV) previously known as novel coronavirus 2012 and HCoV-EMC

7. severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) previously known as 2019-nCoV or “novel coronavirus 2019”

The coronaviruses HCoV-229E, -NL63, -OC43, and -HKU1 continually circulate in the human population and cause respiratory infections in adults and children world-wide.

Does Covid-19 have Cure?

There is no specific treatment, although doctors are trying to use the existing drugs for it just as they are trying for Ebola and HIV. That essentially is still trial. 

Work to develop a vaccine is ongoing, but this work has been complicated by the virus mutating into a second strain.

How the Outbreak Started

It is believed to have originated from the “wet market” in Wuhan where both dead and live animals including fishes and birds are sold. Market as this are usually densely packed which enhances viruses moving from animals to humans.

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

Initial symptoms include fever, dry cough, tiredness and a general feeling of being unwell.

Advice for the Public on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) From World Health Organization (W.H.O.) and Others

You need to be UpToDate on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the WHO website and through your national and local public health authority. Many of those who have been infected at first shows mild illness and then recover but for some it was not like that as it degenerates further showing symptoms stated above related to pneumonia. You can take care of yourself and others by doing the followings:

1. Frequent Washing of Hands

It is imperative that we clean our hands with an alcohol-based rub or wash them with soap and water regularly and painstakingly.

Reason for doing this: Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on our hands.

2. Maintaining Social Distance

Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

Reason for doing this: When someone coughs or sneezes, they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.

3. Avoid Repeated Touching of Your Eyes, Nose and Mouth

Reason for doing this: When hands touch many surfaces, they can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.

4. Respiratory Hygiene is Important

Ensure that you, and the people around you, follow decent respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.

Reason for doing this: Droplets spread virus. However, when you follow good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.

5. If you have these symptoms: Fever, Cough, Cold…

Stay at home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.

Reason for doing this: National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of this virus and others.

6. Be informed, Follow Health Care Providers’ Counsels

When we are not informed, we shall be deformed so says the adage. We need to stay tuned to the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow advice given by your healthcare provider, your national and local public health authority or your employer on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

Reason for doing this: National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on whether COVID-19 is spreading in your area. They are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.

7. Protection measures for persons who are in or have recently visited (past 14 days) areas where COVID-19 is spreading

(i) The above guidelines should not be ignored,

(ii) If you feel unwell, even the minute appearance of headache and slight running nose, stay at home until you recover. Reason for doing this: By doing this you wont contact others and visit to health care providers would allow you to be well monitored and taken care of, protecting you from the spread of the disease.

(iii) If you develop fever and any other related symptoms, seek medical advice immediately. Call in advance to inform this will help curtail the spread.

8. Use of Ginger: Drink ginger soup to increase body’s heat energy. It can prevent infection.- Dr. Khin Maung U.

9. Avoid These: Eat less sweet and sour and bitter. Don’t drink too much ice water. Don’t go to cold weather areas. - Dr. Khin Maung U.

10. “Catch it, Bin it and Kill it”: For people who might have coronavirus, health officials are urging a “catch it, bin it, kill it” approach. In short, this means catching sneezes and coughs in tissues, throwing them away, and then washing your hands.

Statistics of the people affected: More than 219, 000 people have been infected in more than 150 countries. And there have been over 8,900 deaths with over 3,200 people dead in china.

More than 84,000 people are recorded as having recovered from the coronavirus.

How many people have died from the disease so far?

More than 229,200 cases have been confirmed since the outbreak started, and the death toll has exceeded 9,300. Most cases are now outside China, and the virus has spread to more than 100 other countries.

According to data from the Chinese authorities, around 80 per cent of cases of the disease are mild, but 20 per cent require hospitalisation, and the death rate has varied by country.

Seriousness of the disease: It is very serious.

How does this coronavirus compare to past respiratory epidemics?

The 1918 Spanish Influenza – or the H1N1 virus – remains the most devastating disease in modern history, because it swept across the globe killing between 50 and 100 million deaths.

Other major influenza outbreaks include Asian flu in 1957, which led to roughly two million deaths, and Hong Kong flu, which killed one million people 11 years later. 

But coronavirus outbreaks have so far been far smaller. Sars eventually spread to 27 countries in total, infecting around 8,000 people and killing 700.

Conclusion, since this disease is yet to have a definite cure, we need to follow the instructions and guidelines lay down before us by our health care providers and some of the suggestions raised above should be followed.