CORONA: THE-WHY-WE-ARE-DOING-IT
Corona – COVID 19 – I’m 99.99% (if not 100%) sure that these terms are familiar to you, right? Its Wuhan origin, symptoms, prevention and control measures are also on your fingers (if not fingertips), right?
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| Courtesy: CDC |
Use of soap and running water
Soap is a detergent. Corona virus belongs to a family of viruses called Coronaviridae. These group of viruses are enveloped (they have an outer membrane). I know you are asking, what are the components of this envelope then? The envelope is made of fats (phospholipids, etc), proteins, and glycoproteins. Soap acts on the fats making the envelope lose its integrity. The glycoproteins surround the envelope and their role is to attach and fuse with the host cell. Once the envelope loses its integrity, the glycoproteins will obviously disintegrate. This therefore prevents the virus from binding to the cells rendering it ‘non infectious’. Use of running water will clear this ‘non inectious‘ virus.
Use of warm compresses or drinks
Viruses exist in two phases: as a virion or on a living organism. When the virus is in the environment (for example, after sneezing or coughing), it’s not living – it’s just a particle called virion. Now, this virion becomes infective form once it gets a suitable host (human) to live in. By this time, it’s now called a virus—an infectious obligate intracellular organism. The virion is a protein particle, and therefore, use of hot substances disintegrates the protein thereby inhibiting its transformation into an infectious form -- virus. Warm/hot substances also melts the fats making up the viral evelope.
Social distancing
At least a 1 metre social distancing has been recommended. Corona virus is shed in air droplets after coughing, sneezing, Inside these air droplets are virions. How do non infected people acquire them? Through direct contact with these droplets after infected ones sneeze or cough, contact with fomites such as clothes with the contaminated droplets, handkerchiefs, hands of infected persons, etc. Once you come into contact with the corona droplets and introduce them into your nose, eyes, you provide a suitable requirement for transformation of the virions into viruses (now infectious). Therefore, maintaining social distance is key to curbing this menace. #StayHome.
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| Source: searchenginejournal.com |
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT COVID-19
It’s caused by a bacteria.
My goodness! Nooo…. It’s caused by a virus. The virus is called SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus-2). SARS-CoV-19 or nCoV-19 was first discovered in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Coronaviruses are generally 4 groups: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta.
SARS-CoV-19 belongs to Betaviruses.
COVID-19 is the virus.
Nooo… COVID-19 is COronaVIrus Disease of 2019. The disease caused by the virus.
Corona virus is Air-borne.
No. The mode of transmission is through contact with cough or sneeze droplets from an infected person.
You die instantly after infection.
No. Symptoms range from mild to moderate to severe. It’s possible to recover if your immunity is strong. Actually, your immune system can eradicate it. Vitamin C is needed to boost our immunity. How do you acquire Vitamin C? Take a lot of fruits especially bananas.
Only children and the Aged can get COVID-19.
This is 100% wrong… Age doesn’t matter here. Everyone can be infected once you come in contact with contaminated droplets. But note this – Children and the elderly are more prone to infection. Age is a risk factor.
COVID-19 vaccine is available.
Currently, there is no treatment available for COVID-19. Doctors and clinicians are using already available therapy. These include: Chloroquine, Azithromycin, Paracetamol, and some antiviral drugs. Further research to isolate the Corona viral proteins in order to develop a vaccine is ongoing in different laboratories.
After 14 days of Quarantine, Corona infection is impossible.
Noo… In case one comes in contact with the Corona virus contaminated droplets, infection is possible. Actually, this includes those who might be having a COVID-19 infection before. A secondary infection can occur if the proper preventative measures are not followed.
Hantavirus is a new strain of Corona virus.
Noo… These two viruses belong to different families. Corona virus belongs to Coronaviridae while Hantavirus belongs to Bunyaviridae. Person to person transmission is possible for Corona viruses but it’s not possible for Hantaviruses. Humans get infected with Hantaviruses after coming into contact with rodent’s body fluids such as feces, urine, and saliva.
Sweating at night means I have COVID-19
Nooo… The symptoms of COVID-19 include the following: coughing, sneezing, difficulty in breathing (dyspnea), fever, etc. You might have obvious reasons for your night sweats, you know them? But If your symptoms persist, seek medical advice.
SARS-CoV-19 was developed in the lab.
We might differ on this. Rumours have it that it was made in the lab as a biological tool by some countries. Get it from me -- viruses undergo evolution. It can be through selection, release of progeny virions, production of mutant strains, etc. This virus has natural origins. And this explains why development of a vacccine is almost impossible.
(For more info https://scitechdaily.com/no-evidence-covid-19-coronavirus-was-genetically-engineered-in-a-lab-epidemic-has-a-natural-origin/)
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| From: Dr. Margaret Muturi LinkledIn page |
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