Novel Coronavirus an Outbreak Originating In China And Spreading To Other Countries

According to WHO, coronaviruses are the family of viruses that can cause illness including common cold to severe ailments like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. However, nCoV also referred to as novel coronavirus is a new form of coronavirus that has not been detected earlier in human beings. Furthermore, 2019-nCoV is the seventh family member of coronaviruses that have infected humans.

As per the authentic reports, the symptoms of 2019-nCoV infection include fever, cough, and breath shortness. Reportedly, the infection can result in acute respiratory issues, pneumonia, kidney failure, or even the demise of the patient. Due to the severity of the virus, the world health organization declared 2019-nCoV as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on 30th January 2020. It implies that the virus poses a risk to the nations other than China and the necessity for the global response to the epidemic.

As per NCBI, in December 2019, a group of patients in Wuhan, China affected due to pneumonia was caused due to 2019-nCoV. Findings made by NCBI have unleashed that nearly forty-one patients admitted to hospitals till January 2nd, 2020 were confirmed of being infected with the novel coronavirus. It has been revealed that these patients were exposed to Huanan seafood wholesale marketplace in the Jianghan district of Wuhan. Common symptoms witnessed in the patients were fever, cough, and myalgia. Moreover, it was found that the infection had caused critical respiratory ailment in patients due to which they were admitted to ICU. For the record, patients admitted to ICU had more plasma proportions of IL2, GSCF, TNFα, IL7, MCP1, IL10, and MIP1A as compared to non-ICU ones.

In February 2020, Lancet revealed the statistical data demonstrating that the number of patients confirmed of having been affected due to novel coronavirus touched nearly 20,438. Additionally, out of these 20,438 patients, nearly 2,788 patients are in serious condition and 425 have died. Apart from this, nearly 13,522 patients were confirmed to have been infected with nCoV in the Hubei province of China and 2019-nCoV infection was found to be the key cause of 414 deaths. Moreover, near about 632 patients who were confirmed of having the infection recovered and were provided discharge from the hospital. Apart from this, nearly 159 cases of nCoV infection have been confirmed in about twenty-three countries apart from China. This includes Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, the U.S., Malaysia, Germany, etc. For the record, the U.S. authorities declared a public health emergency on January 31st, 2020 due to the nCoV outbreak in China.

However, until now, no particular anti-viral therapy for the nCoV has been found. Nevertheless, the National Health Commission of China has recommended intake of anti-HIV medicine combination of lopinavir & ritonavir along with the inhalation of nebulized interferon α dose as a part of treating the dreaded viral infection. Citing the reports, many of the clinical trials are carried out to find out which of the antiviral medicines could successfully & effectively combat the virus. Reportedly, a first patient diagnosed with the 2019-nCoV infection in the U.S. was treated with remdesivir, an antiviral medicine. This has prompted new clinical research activities over the application of the drug for treating novel coronavirus.