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Viruses 1
Viruses 1
Viruses:
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) & SARS-COV (2002)
Prepared by:
Lama Alharbi. (42522231)
Joory Ahmed Alsisi. (4257431)
Supervised by:
Dr. Fatimah Sefrji.
The research contents:
1) Introduction
2) Understanding the Novel Coronavirus
3) Fact check
4) Different perspectives
5) The ethics and etiquette of covering the pandemic
6) Some reliable sources of information
7) Awareness material
Introduction
The Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was first identified in Wuhan, China,
in December 2019.
By the end of March 2020, 205 countries had reported cases of Covid-19,
the disease caused by the virus, with about 700,000 cases of infection and
33,000 deaths across the world.
In India, the first case of 2019-nCoV was reported in Kerala in the last
week of January 2020.
Since then, about 1353 cases have been reported from 27 States and Union
Territories.
The State of Tamil Nadu has reported more than 300 cases and 110 samples
were under investigation at the time of writing. In Kerala, about 290 people
are infected while 120,000 others are under observations.
The 2019 n-CoV poses a potential threat to children, families and
communities at large. There are direct health implications of the virus
infection itself, as well as the risk of secondary morbidity and mortality,
inevitable disruption of basic services such as health, education and social
protection
programs, and severe impact on the economy and livelihoods of the
marginalized people. The total lockdown for 21 days announced by the
Government of India had created fear, panic, anxiety and stress among
children and parents .
In order to reduce the spread of infection, it is essential to provide correct
information and dispel myths, misconceptions and misleading facts while
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encouraging social distancing, promoting personal and hand hygiene and
prompting the seeking of treatment for flu-like symptoms .
The media and other concerned agencies carry the important responsibility
of appropriate risk communication .
The media can play a significant role in raising awareness, dispelling myths
and exposing misleading information, as well as in promoting kindness,
preventing stigmatizations and infusing confidence among the people by
disseminating fair and accurate reports. It can also contribute to creating a
positive atmosphere by putting out stories of effective coping and recovery.
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The2019-nCoV is a part of the same family of viruses as the ones which
cause Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and even some types
of the common cold.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19 to be a
pandemic.
Characterizing COVID-19 as a pandemic is not an indication that the virus
has become deadlier. Rather, it’s an acknowledgement of the geographical
spread of the disease.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19 and how does the virus spread?
Symptoms can include fever, dry cough, a runny nose, fatigue and
difficulty in breathing. Some may display very mild symptoms or no
symptoms at all. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia,
grievous illness, and even death. Older people, and those with underlying
medical problems are at a higher risk of developing serious illness.
The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to those of the flu (influenza) or
the common cold, which are a lot more prevalent. This is why testing is
required to confirm that someone has COVID-19.
Like other Coronaviruses, the Novel Coronavirus, too, is transmitted
through direct contact with respiratory droplets of an infected person
(generated through coughing and sneezing), and touching surfaces
contaminated with the virus.
How can the virus be prevented from spreading?
It’s important to remember that key preventive measures for all the
Coronavirus-linked diseases are the same – frequent hand-washing and
respiratory hygiene (covering your cough or sneeze with a flexed elbow or
tissue, then disposing of the tissue in a closed bin).
The COVID-19 virus may survive on surfaces for several hours, but simple
disinfectants can kill it.
Also, there is a vaccine for the flu – so remember to keep yourself and your
child up-to-date with vaccinations.
In brief, to avoid the risk of transmission, people should:
Wash their hands frequently using an alcohol-based hand rub or soap
and water.
Cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
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Avoid close contact with anyone who has a fever and cough.
Seek medical care early if they have fever, cough and difficulty
breathing.
Share previous travel history with their healthcare provider.
Fact check.
There is no reason to believe that cold weather can kill the Novel
Coronavirus and linked diseases. The normal human body
temperature remains around 36.5°C to 37°C, regardless of the
external temperature or weather. The most effective way to protect
yourself against the Novel Coronavirus is by frequently cleaning
your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or washing them with
soap and water.
Taking a hot bath will not prevent you from catching COVID-19.
Your normal body temperature remains around 36.5°C to 37°C,
regardless of the temperature of your bath or shower. Actually,
taking a hot bath with extremely hot water can be harmful, as it can
burn you. The best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is by
frequently cleaning your hands. By doing this you eliminate viruses
that may be on your hands, and thus avoid infection that could
happen when you touch your eyes, mouth and nose.
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3. Can the Novel Coronavirus be transmitted through
goods manufactured in China or any country reporting
COVID-19 cases?
Even though the Novel Coronavirus can stay on surfaces for a few
hours or up to several days (depending on the type of surface), it is
very unlikely that the virus will persist on a surface after being
transported over long distances and exposed to different weather
conditions and temperatures. If you think a surface may be
contaminated, use a disinfectant to clean it. After touching it, clean
your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap
and water.
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UV lamps should not be used to sterilize hands or other areas of skin
as UV radiation can cause skin irritation.
No, spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body will not kill
viruses that have already entered your body. Spraying such
substances can be harmful to clothes and mucous membranes (eyes,
mouth). Be aware that both alcohol and chlorine can be useful to
disinfect surfaces, but they need to be used as per appropriate
recommendations.
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No, vaccines against pneumonia, such as the pneumococcal vaccine
and Haemophilus Influenza Type B (Hib) vaccine, do not provide
protection against the Novel Coronavirus. 10The virus is so new and
different that it needs its own vaccine. Researchers are trying to
develop a vaccine against 2019-nCoV, and WHO is supporting their
efforts. Although existing vaccines are not effective against 2019-
nCoV, vaccination against respiratory illnesses is highly
recommended to protect your health.
No, there is no evidence that regularly rinsing the nose with saline
water has protected people from infection with the Novel
Coronavirus. There is some limited evidence that regularly rinsing
nose with a saline solution can help people recover more quickly
from the common cold. However, regularly rinsing the nose has not
been shown to prevent respiratory infections.
Transmission.
Respiratory Droplets
Contact with respiratory secretion and saliva
Aerosol particles
Concerned fecal-oral Transmission
Mother to child Transmission
Family clustering
Community Transmission
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Differential Diagnosis.
Adenovirus Infection
Bacterial Pneumonia
Human metpneumovirus Infection
Influenza
Mycoplasma Pneumonia
Para influenza virus Infection
Respiratory syncytial virus Infection
Rhinovirus Infection
Severe Acute Respiratory syndrome (SARS)
Treatment.
Supportive care
Recommendations for supportive care for children with coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) are similar to those for adults. Among the
recommendations are bed rest and ensuring sufficient calorie and water
intake. Oxygen therapy is recommended for patients with hypoxia.
Antibiotics should generally be reserved for children with bacterial co-
infection.
Antiviral Agent
Remdesivir is indicated for treatment of COVID-19 disease in hospitalized
adults and children aged 12 years and older who weigh at least 40 kg.[3] An
emergency use authorization (EUA) remains in place to treat pediatric
patients weighing 3.5 kg to less than 40 kg or children younger than 12
years who weigh at least 3.5 kg
Remdesivir has been available through compassionate use to children with
severe COVID-19 disease since February 2020. A phase 2/3 trial
(CARAVAN) of remdesivir was initiated in June 2020 to assess safety,
tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy in children with moderate-to-
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severe COVID-19. CARAVAN is an open-label, single-arm study of
remdesivir in children from birth to age 18.
Antibody directed Therapy
Bamlanivimab (LY-CoV555; Eli Lilly & Co, AbCellera) is a neutralizing
IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed against the spike protein of
SARS-CoV-2. It is designed to block viral attachment and entry into
human cells, thus neutralizing the virus, potentially preventing and treating
COVID-19
The FDA issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for bamlanivimab
on November 9, 2020. The EUA permits bamlanivimab to be administered
for treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
in adults and pediatric patients with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-
2 viral testing who are age 12 years and older weighing at least 40 kg, and
at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 and/or hospitalization.
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SARS-COV (2002)
THE DEADLY SARS VIRUS (SARS-LIKE CORONA VIRUSES OR
SARS-COV) In November 2002, there was an outbreak of severe atypical
pneumonias in China. The cause of this outbreak was not known, and was
initially confined to the mainland. In early 2003, this disease had spread to
Hong Kong, Singapore, and Toronto, Canada, and the syndrome was called
SARS (Severe Acute Respire· tory Syndrome). Within a few weeks of the
description of this syndrome, it was discovered that SARS is caused by a
virus, specifically a novel coronavirus (SARSCoV). Coronaviruses are a
family of enveloped, single stranded RNA viruses, previously only known
to cause the common cold in humans. Before the outbreak was controlled,
it had spread to 29 countries and territories, and infected over 8000 people.
SARS is an example of an emerging infectious dis· ease. This virus was
not known to exist previously, and since the initial outbreak has not caused
any additional natural outbreaks. An identical virus has not been found to
exist in any natural reservoir, though similar viruses have been found in
bats. SARS-like coronaviruses have been isolated from
ECHOVIRUS & NEW ENTEROVIRUS + + + + +CHAPTER 29. THE
REST OF THE RNA VIRUSES
Himalayan palm civets and from raccoon dogs in markets in China. How
people were first infected with this virus remains unclear but one theory is
that it was a mutated virus of animals that crossed the species barrier and
caused the epidemic.
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present to the doctor with an abnormal chest radiograph or chest CT scan
showing alveolar consolidation, which can progress to frank ARDS (the
acute respiratory distress syndrome). About 20 to 30 percent of patients
required admission to an intensive care unit, and most of them required
mechanical ventilation. About 8% of people with SARS died, and this was
primarily due to respiratory failure.
Diagnosis
During the outbreak, a case definition was developed by the World Health
Organization (WHO), which had a high sensitivity but a very low
specificity. This is because the clinical features are not unique to this virus
or disease. More accurate diagnoses can be made by Reverse Transcriptase
(quantitative)-Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing for the viral RNA
in respiratory secretions, feces, urine and from lung biopsy tissue, or
seroconversion (detection of antibodies in the blood to the virus).
Treatment
The optimal therapy of SARS is not known. Patients with suspected SARS
are generally treated empirically with broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs
that are effective against other agents that because community acquired
pneumonia. Ribavirin was often used in the treatment of SARS, but it was
later shown in animal models that this drug had no effect against this virus.
Corticosteroids were also used frequently, though there is no solid clinical
or animal data to support their use. Generally, treatment is supportive with
mechanical ventilation and intensive.
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The References and Texts book
Medscape
WHO
Made Ridiculously simple
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