History of Corona Virus

The History Of Corona Virus aka COVID-19 , Las Vegas.

With COVID-19 (also known as the Coronavirus) impacting the world in ways we haven't seen since the Spanish Flu, it is almost impossible to ignore. No matter where you come from around the globe, this virus will have impacted your day to day life in one way or another. From international lockdowns to economic strain and job loss, there has been a range of adverse impacts this virus has had on the planet. But just how did this virus come about? Is it a new virus or has it impacted human generations in the past? Here is all you need to know about the Coronavirus. 

History of Coronavirus

The history of human coronaviruses started in 1965 when scientists Tyrrell and Bynoe discovered a virus named B814. It has found in the respiratory tract of an adult with a common cold. During the same period of time, two other scientists Hamre and Procknow, grew a virus with unusual properties in the tissue samples of medical students with common colds. Though both samples required a lipid-containing coat they were not related to any known myxo- or paramyxoviruses during the time. Further studies were also conducted at the National Institutes of Health and these viruses were termed “OC” to show that they were grown in organ cultures.

By 2003, 5 new coronaviruses had been discovered, three of which came from the same viral species. In 2003, a new coronavirus, NL63, was discovered in a 7-month old girl with fever and bronchiolitis. 7 other individuals would also contract this virus by the end of April 2003 all of which upper or lower respiratory tract disease or both.

2003 was also the year in which the SARS epidemic occurred. Overall, 8098 individuals were identified with this virus 774 of which became a fatality. This virus was identified in 29 countries in total, throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia. This was the largest coronavirus outbreak since current events. The SARS epidemic became a reminder that coronaviruses consistently pose a potential threat to human populations around the globe. 

Current Events

The current Coronavirus pandemic is believed to have started in a "wet market" in Wuhan which sold both alive and dead animals such as fish and birds. These markets enhance the risk of viruses jumping from animals to humans as hygiene standards are extremely hard to maintain. This is because animals are kept alive and butchered on-site. As a result, they are densely packed in a small place with live and dead animals. The virus itself quickly spread around Wuhan and soon around China. It is predicted that China accounted for around 80% of the first 100,000 patients who spread the disease whilst travelling around the world.

In Europe, Italy was the first country to be hit by the virus and the first country to go into lockdown. This lockdown precaution was replicated by every other country in Europe apart from Sweden. Spain and the UK have since been heavily impacted by the virus, with the UK having the highest death rate in Europe with a total of 36,393 deaths. 

By April the 7th the pandemic had caused 51,485 deaths with more than 209,000 individuals contracting the disease. However, no new deaths had been reported in China, suggesting that they had managed to restrict the spread of the virus. According to the China National Health Commission, there were a total of 32 confirmed cases and 12 new cases. On top of this 1,033 people had been diagnosed with the infection but displayed no symptoms.

As of the date of this article (23/05/2020) there are a total of 5,326,230 COVID-19 cases around the globe, with 1,645,353 being in America. In total 340,383 individuals have died as a result of the virus, which continues to spread around the globe. Much of the world remains in lockdown, with individuals only leaving their home for essential journeys. While it is predicted many lockdowns may be eased over the next few weeks, the future is certainly unknown for now.

COVID-19 Treatment

COVID-19 attacks the respiratory system of its host, causing symptoms such as a fever, heavy coughing and a loss of smell and taste. However, it does not impact all individuals in the same way. It has been reported than many people have contracted the virus yet shown no symptoms at all. In general, it affects people over the age of 65 as well as those with respiratory problems with significantly greater impact. Here are some of the ways you can alleviate your symptoms should you contract, or believed you may have contracted the virus. 

One of the most important treatments is to stay hydrated. You have to drink plenty of water throughout the day to flush the virus through your system. Doctors have suggested that you drink enough water so that urine is clear and pale. If symptoms are painful, take a painkiller such as paracetamol to help ease your symptoms. 

If you live alone or you are by yourself, it is important to stay in touch with family and friends using your phone and social media. This allows them to check up on you, whilst also ensuring you do not feel alone during this time period. 

If you are feeling unwell, but not awful, it has been advised that you try to keep yourself busy. This included everything from household activities such as cooking and reading, to simply resting and watching films. If you can, complete light exercises to keep your body in the best possible shape. Symptoms for individuals who show minor signs of the virus may last for around 2 weeks whilst those with more severe symptoms may display them for around 3-6 weeks.

The Future Of COVID-19

As of currently, the future of COVID-19 is not known. With countries starting to ease lock-down, we will soon be able to gain an insight as to how the virus may potentially impact society within the future. Many countries are adopting a compulsory face mask policy, in which individuals must wear a medical face mask in public areas such as shops. It is possible that this may become the new norm in society, with many businesses adopting this policy.