COVID-19 China epidemic, characteristics of SARS-CoV-2, its transmission and prevention

Abstract

The novel coronavirus 2019 renamed by WHO as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerges in Wuhan, China 2019 affected large population across the world and become a serious general public health issue. According to WHO 462684 new cases with 20834 deaths were reported at 26 March 2020. WHO declared COVID-19 as sixth public health emergency globally. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 was directly linked with exposure to bats and sea food animal markets and according to phylogenetic analysis close resemblance to bat derived coronaviruses. It was directly transmitted from animals to human, and now it is potentially transmitted by human-to-human close contact or via droplets of sneezing and coughing. As the basic reproduction number (R0) is 2.24-3.58, therefore it has a remarkable potential to spread among population with incubation period of 6 days. The main clinical signs and symptoms of pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 are fever, cough, myalgia and diarrhea. Chest computed tomography indicated the involvement of bilateral lungs and ground glass opacity. SARS-CoV-2 entered into human cells via binding to ACE-2 (Angiotensin converting enzymes-2), replicated and spread within body. The antiviral, empirical antibiotics, intravenous immunoglobulin are suggested as symptomatic treatment of SARS-CoV-2. Specific treatment and vaccines are still not available against COVID-19. Therefore, there is a need to aggressively adopt primary preventive measures to combat this epidemic with corporation of governments, health care providers and public.