In December 2019, there was a cluster of pneumonia cases in China. Investigations found that it was caused by a previously unknown virus – now named the 2019 Novel Coronavirus.
Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses. They consist of a core of genetic material surrounded by an envelope with protein spikes. This gives it the appearance of a crown. Crown in Latin is called “corona” and that’s how these viruses get their name. There are different types of coronaviruses that cause respiratory and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms.
It’s known that coronaviruses circulate in a range of animals. But the animal reservoir of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus is not known yet. The exact dynamics of how the virus is transmitted is yet to be determined.
From what is known so far, there can be a number of symptoms ranging from mild to severe. There can be fever and respiratory symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath. In more severe cases, there’s been pneumonia, kidney failure, and death. There is currently no specific medication for the virus and treatment is supportive care. There’s currently no vaccine to protect against the virus. Treatment and vaccines are in development.
And nor is our commitment to combating the COVID-19