What do we know and what do we need to know about Novel Coronavirus is important
Many myths , facts,misinformation,fake news and other things about Novel Coronavirus are spreading rapidly through social media, WhatsApp and the Internet. Some of these could be true, but many of those information are baseless and misleading.
At a time when the coronavirus epidemic is spreading across the world, it is important to know about some facts related to this deadly virus.
In this flood of misinformation and myths,Emergency Manager magazine is trying to present only verified and authenticated facts about COVID 19 and novel coronavirus .
A senior scientist in Vigyan Prasar. Dr. TV Venkateswaran after various research findings, tells us more about it.
1-How corona virus infects human body?
The virus infects the epithelial cells in the throat and lungs. SARS-CoV-2 binds to the ACE2 receptors on human cells, which are often found mostly in throats and lungs.
Virus on your skin, lacking ACE2 expression, will be harmless. The virus enters through the nasal passage, eyes and mouth. Our hands are the main instruments that helps the virus in reaching our mouth, nose and eyes. Washing hands with soap water for 20 seconds as often as possible helps prevent the infection.
2- How many coronaviruses can infect a human ?
Infectious dosage is important for spread of viral infection.A dose of 700000 PFU was needed to infect a Macaque. PFU (Plaque forming unit) is a unit of measurement of sample infectivity. Although the animal did not show any clinical symptoms, the droplets from the nose and the saliva had a viral load.
Humans will need a higher dosage than 700000 PFU to get infected.
An animal study on the genetically modified mice with ACE2 receptors showed that it could be infected with SARS with just 240 PFU. In comparison, it required 70,000 PFU of novel coronavirus to get infected.
3-How long a COVID 19 person can infect others?
Infectious period is the length of time an individual can transmit the infection to others.It is not known precisely, but till date doctors are saying that it can be possibly up to 10-14 days.
Artificially reducing the contagious period is a crucial method of reducing overall transmission. Hospitalisation, isolation, lockdown and quarantine are all effective methods.
4-Who can infect others with COVID 19?
Anyone infected with the virus can infect even before the symptoms appear. Most carriers do not even show signs.
Covering our mouth and nose when we cough or sneeze will help reduce the infection.
The virus is present in the saliva, sputum and faeces of the infected person for the whole infectious period.
5-How one human infect others with COVID 19 virus?
Transmission is mostly via droplets. This requires relatively close contact, less than 6 feet. This is why it is recommended that we stay 1.5 metres away from each other in public places such as the vegetable market or supermarket.
A study done in Hong Kong shows that social distancing can reduce the spread by 44%. Inanimate vector of disease, in particular phones, doorknobs, surfaces are a potential source for transmission, but not much is known about it.
It is safe to sanitise out hands after touching doorknobs, lift call buttons and counters in public places.
6-How many can be infected by COVID 19 patient?
The average number of new infections caused by a typical infectious person, that is human transmissibility range (R0) is between 2.2 to 3.1.
In simple word, one infected individual on the average infects about 2.2 to 3.1 persons. By physical distancing, we can artificially reduce the actual transmissibility, thus slow the rate of infection.
7-Where did novel coronavirus come from?
It is not acquired from eating bat soup. Once you boil, the virus is decimated. Initially, it was speculated that the SARS-CoV-2 virus jumped from bat to humans.
But recent genomes study show that at first it must have leapt from bat to an intermediary species before it latched on to humans.
Another study indicates that a lineage of SARS-CoV-2 virus was circulating in humans before the disease outbreak.
8-How SARS-CoV-2 evolved?
SARS-CoV-2 has emerged either by natural selection of virulent strain in a non-human animal host before zoonotic transfer to humans or natural selection of virulent strain in humans following a zoonotic transmission.
Only more studies will show which of the two is right. We still are not clear what are the mutations in SARS-CoV-2 that allowed human infection and transmission.
9-When did COVID 19 virus emerge?
While there have been no documented cases of SARS-CoV2 before December 2019. However, preliminary genomic analyses suggest that the first human cases of SARS-CoV-2 appeared between mid-October and mid-December 2019.
This means there was a period of unrecognised transmission in humans between the primary zoonotic event and the outbreak.
10-Can novel corona virus infect animals?
The molecular modelling suggests that SARS-CoV-2 can affect bat, civet, monkey and swine besides human cells.
It does not infect domestic animals or livestock. Consuming eggs or poultry will not result in SARS-CoV-2 infection.
11-Can a person be infected twice by COVID 19 virus?
Once we get measles, most of us acquire life long immunity. We hardly get measles again. Experimentally infected macaques were not capable of being reinfected.
Likewise, there is no evidence of reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 after recovery in humans. However, how long the immunity will last is unknown and doctors advise for precautions.
12-How severe is COVID 19 illness?
COVID-19 is not a death sentence. The majority of COVID-19 cases are mild (81%), About 15% need hospitalisation and 5% require critical care. That is the vast majority of the infected will not even need hospitalisation.
13-Who are most vulnerable to COVID 19 infection?
Healthcare workers are most susceptible. About 20% of healthcare workers in Lombardy, Italy become infected while providing medical care to patients.
Among the general public, aged, in particular above 60 years of age and people with prior cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and respiratory conditions have a higher risk.
14-What is the cause of death in COVID 19 patients?
Most of the deaths is caused by respiratory failure or respiratory failure combined with heart damage.
Leakage of fluid into the lungs, which inhibits respiration and leads to morbidity, is the primary clinical condition.
At present, the treatment for COVID-19 is primarily supportive care, including ventilation if necessary. Several therapeutic trials are ongoing, and the results are awaited.
15-Can COVID 19 virus be transmitted by newspapers & milk sachets?
SARS-CoV-2 can persist on plastic and stainless steel surfaces for up to 3 days. When the viral load was 10000 PFU, it lasted on newspaper and cotton cloth only for 5 minutes. Washing the milk sachets is adequate to remove the virus.
16-Can COVID 19 virus spread through air?
In the air, the virus can survive only up to 2.7 hours. Therefore being in open spaces such as a balcony, the terrace is no harm.
17-Is there a less virulent strain of novel corona virus?
While many strains are being identified, studies so far have not indicated any mutations that are linked to any changes in transmission or disease severity.
18-Will onset of summer or rainy season kill COVID 19 virus?
A strong myth is spreading on social media that the onset of summer or rainy season will give respite. Till date ,no strong evidence exists showing a reduction in transmission with the seasonal increase in temperature and humidity.
We must remember that this virus resides in human body having a normal temperature of 98.6°F (37°C). External temperature does not increases or decreases body temperature in humans.
What do we know and what do we need to know about Novel Coronavirus is important
Many myths , facts,misinformation,fake news and other things about Novel Coronavirus are spreading rapidly through social media, WhatsApp and the Internet. Some of these could be true, but many of those information are baseless and misleading.
At a time when the coronavirus epidemic is spreading across the world, it is important to know about some facts related to this deadly virus.
In this flood of misinformation and myths,Emergency Manager magazine is trying to present only verified and authenticated facts about COVID 19 and novel coronavirus .
A senior scientist in Vigyan Prasar. Dr. TV Venkateswaran after various research findings, tells us more about it.
1-How corona virus infects human body?
The virus infects the epithelial cells in the throat and lungs. SARS-CoV-2 binds to the ACE2 receptors on human cells, which are often found mostly in throats and lungs.
Virus on your skin, lacking ACE2 expression, will be harmless. The virus enters through the nasal passage, eyes and mouth. Our hands are the main instruments that helps the virus in reaching our mouth, nose and eyes. Washing hands with soap water for 20 seconds as often as possible helps prevent the infection.
2- How many coronaviruses can infect a human ?
Infectious dosage is important for spread of viral infection.A dose of 700000 PFU was needed to infect a Macaque. PFU (Plaque forming unit) is a unit of measurement of sample infectivity. Although the animal did not show any clinical symptoms, the droplets from the nose and the saliva had a viral load.
Humans will need a higher dosage than 700000 PFU to get infected.
An animal study on the genetically modified mice with ACE2 receptors showed that it could be infected with SARS with just 240 PFU. In comparison, it required 70,000 PFU of novel coronavirus to get infected.
3-How long a COVID 19 person can infect others?
Infectious period is the length of time an individual can transmit the infection to others.It is not known precisely, but till date doctors are saying that it can be possibly up to 10-14 days.
Artificially reducing the contagious period is a crucial method of reducing overall transmission. Hospitalisation, isolation, lockdown and quarantine are all effective methods.
4-Who can infect others with COVID 19?
Anyone infected with the virus can infect even before the symptoms appear. Most carriers do not even show signs.
Covering our mouth and nose when we cough or sneeze will help reduce the infection.
The virus is present in the saliva, sputum and faeces of the infected person for the whole infectious period.
5-How one human infect others with COVID 19 virus?
Transmission is mostly via droplets. This requires relatively close contact, less than 6 feet. This is why it is recommended that we stay 1.5 metres away from each other in public places such as the vegetable market or supermarket.
A study done in Hong Kong shows that social distancing can reduce the spread by 44%. Inanimate vector of disease, in particular phones, doorknobs, surfaces are a potential source for transmission, but not much is known about it.
It is safe to sanitise out hands after touching doorknobs, lift call buttons and counters in public places.
6-How many can be infected by COVID 19 patient?
The average number of new infections caused by a typical infectious person, that is human transmissibility range (R0) is between 2.2 to 3.1.
In simple word, one infected individual on the average infects about 2.2 to 3.1 persons. By physical distancing, we can artificially reduce the actual transmissibility, thus slow the rate of infection.
7-Where did novel coronavirus come from?
It is not acquired from eating bat soup. Once you boil, the virus is decimated. Initially, it was speculated that the SARS-CoV-2 virus jumped from bat to humans.
But recent genomes study show that at first it must have leapt from bat to an intermediary species before it latched on to humans.
Another study indicates that a lineage of SARS-CoV-2 virus was circulating in humans before the disease outbreak.
8-How SARS-CoV-2 evolved?
SARS-CoV-2 has emerged either by natural selection of virulent strain in a non-human animal host before zoonotic transfer to humans or natural selection of virulent strain in humans following a zoonotic transmission.
Only more studies will show which of the two is right. We still are not clear what are the mutations in SARS-CoV-2 that allowed human infection and transmission.
9-When did COVID 19 virus emerge?
While there have been no documented cases of SARS-CoV2 before December 2019. However, preliminary genomic analyses suggest that the first human cases of SARS-CoV-2 appeared between mid-October and mid-December 2019.
This means there was a period of unrecognised transmission in humans between the primary zoonotic event and the outbreak.
10-Can novel corona virus infect animals?
The molecular modelling suggests that SARS-CoV-2 can affect bat, civet, monkey and swine besides human cells.
It does not infect domestic animals or livestock. Consuming eggs or poultry will not result in SARS-CoV-2 infection.
11-Can a person be infected twice by COVID 19 virus?
Once we get measles, most of us acquire life long immunity. We hardly get measles again. Experimentally infected macaques were not capable of being reinfected.
Likewise, there is no evidence of reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 after recovery in humans. However, how long the immunity will last is unknown and doctors advise for precautions.
12-How severe is COVID 19 illness?
COVID-19 is not a death sentence. The majority of COVID-19 cases are mild (81%), About 15% need hospitalisation and 5% require critical care. That is the vast majority of the infected will not even need hospitalisation.
13-Who are most vulnerable to COVID 19 infection?
Healthcare workers are most susceptible. About 20% of healthcare workers in Lombardy, Italy become infected while providing medical care to patients.
Among the general public, aged, in particular above 60 years of age and people with prior cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and respiratory conditions have a higher risk.
14-What is the cause of death in COVID 19 patients?
Most of the deaths is caused by respiratory failure or respiratory failure combined with heart damage.
Leakage of fluid into the lungs, which inhibits respiration and leads to morbidity, is the primary clinical condition.
At present, the treatment for COVID-19 is primarily supportive care, including ventilation if necessary. Several therapeutic trials are ongoing, and the results are awaited.
15-Can COVID 19 virus be transmitted by newspapers & milk sachets?
SARS-CoV-2 can persist on plastic and stainless steel surfaces for up to 3 days. When the viral load was 10000 PFU, it lasted on newspaper and cotton cloth only for 5 minutes. Washing the milk sachets is adequate to remove the virus.
16-Can COVID 19 virus spread through air?
In the air, the virus can survive only up to 2.7 hours. Therefore being in open spaces such as a balcony, the terrace is no harm.
17-Is there a less virulent strain of novel corona virus?
While many strains are being identified, studies so far have not indicated any mutations that are linked to any changes in transmission or disease severity.
18-Will onset of summer or rainy season kill COVID 19 virus?
A strong myth is spreading on social media that the onset of summer or rainy season will give respite. Till date ,no strong evidence exists showing a reduction in transmission with the seasonal increase in temperature and humidity.
We must remember that this virus resides in human body having a normal temperature of 98.6°F (37°C). External temperature does not increases or decreases body temperature in humans.
