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What have we learned about the coronavirus in recent months? What is known about the origin, symptoms, treatment and medication? Here we summarize the most important ones:
In early January, Chinese authorities publicly announced for the first time that a hitherto unknown virus was rampant in the city of Wuhan. Since then, more than 1 million people have been infected with it in Germany. And the number of infections worldwide has already exceeded 60 million. What is known so far about the new coronavirus and its treatment? Here we summarize the most important information:
The origin of the new virus
At first, the Chinese authorities apparently tried to hide information about the new virus. By the time they announced their existence, several weeks had passed since the first infection. The new coronavirus is believed to have been transmitted first from a bat to an intermediate vector, perhaps a raccoon dog, and from there to a human. However, it is not yet clear when and where this happened. Meanwhile, there are reports that the coronavirus has spread around the world in the summer of 2019. Its presence was demonstrated in various samples taken in Italy in September 2019, writes Deutsche Welle.
The characteristics of SARS-CoV-2
Chinese virologists have been able to decode the genetic information of the virus in record time. Already on January 21, they published information about the structure of the genome, and a few days later, and its exact description. This helped doctors and microbiologists around the world, who immediately began developing drugs and vaccines against the virus.
Typical of the virus are the receptors on its surface for angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2). This protein plays an important role in the binding of the virus to “host cells”. Therefore, the efforts of many scientists who develop vaccines are focused on blocking or neutralizing this protein.
How is the new coronavirus transmitted?
Meanwhile, the virus is known to nest too often in the mouth and lungs. The greatest danger of infection arises from contact with surfaces contaminated with the virus, as well as from aerosols. They spread particularly quickly through air conditioning systems and where refrigeration equipment is present, such as in the meat processing industry. Especially dangerous are the closed rooms, in which there are many people. It was from those meetings and gatherings that most of the infections originated.
Meanwhile, the use of protective masks that cover the nose and mouth has become established in almost every country in the world as an effective remedy against the spread of the virus. Other precautions are frequent hand washing, social distance, and ventilation with wide open windows.
Although some pets, such as cats and hamsters, can be infected by humans, they do not play a role in spreading the virus. Things are very different with minks, which is why some countries have destroyed millions of minks from their kennels.
What are the symptoms and what are the risk groups?
At the beginning of the pandemic, it was claimed that the new coronavirus was no more dangerous than the seasonal flu. In the meantime, however, it became clear that Kovid-19 was almost as dangerous as the devastating Spanish flu of 1918. In some people, COVID-19 is really mild, even without symptoms. However, others make the disease very serious, and some even end in death.
People with previous illnesses are believed to be at higher risk, as are the elderly, people with blood group A, and men.
Pathologists who performed autopsies on COVID-19 patients confirmed that the most dangerous pre-existing conditions included high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, kidney failure, cirrhosis of the liver, and some cardiovascular diseases. In principle, however, the severe form of Kovid-19 can affect absolutely everyone, even those who were completely healthy.
How does the disease progress?
The mild form of COVID-19 can look like a cold. Typical of the coronavirus are a sore throat, shortness of breath, and loss of smell and taste. In severe cases, many internal organs are often fatally affected. This often results in sepsis, an overreaction of the immune system, in which it attacks the body’s own tissues and organs. In severe cases of Kovid-19, an important role in the strength with which the individual’s immune system responds to the virus has been shown. Almost a year after the official announcement of the pandemic, something else is known: Many of those who have survived the disease complain of fatigue and exhaustion. Even some of those who have suffered from COVID-19 in a milder form. Fatigue can occur even months after illness.
What does treatment for COVID-19 look like?
In the early months of the pandemic, many patients with severe COVID-19 were intubated and placed on controlled breathing, but still died. In the meantime, intensive care professionals have reviewed this strategy. Pulmonologists had to see that artificial respiration could do more damage to the lungs than help. While patients can breathe on their own, they only receive an oxygen mask, but are not placed under command of breathing. Intubation is used only as a last resort. Sometimes COVID-19 severely affects the kidneys, which is why hemodialysis is required. In intensive care units, more attention is now being paid to all other affected internal organs.
The healing process can be accelerated by infusing blood plasma with antibodies from a person who has had the disease. In this case, the immunity of the donated blood reinforces the protection of the diseased organism. It is also known that patients who have been in intensive care need serious and long-term rehabilitation.
Is there already an effective medicine?
To date, no effective drug against COVID-19 has been found. The only drug known to at least shorten the duration of the disease is remdesivir. That is why it is highly sought after in the market. But it is not a panacea either. It can shorten the healing process in patients receiving oxygen for a few days, but it cannot improve their chances of survival. The World Health Organization even recently removed the drug from its list of recommendations for treating COVID-19 patients.
Several doctors are constantly trying to advertise one or another drug against the new coronavirus. This is, for example, dexamethasone, avigan, or the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine. However, the effect of the first two drugs has not been fully tested, and it has already been found that the third does not help at all.
How far has vaccine development come?
There are at least 225 projects in the world so far (December 1, 2020) trying to create a coronavirus vaccine. They are generally of three types: live vaccine (with live virus), killed vaccine, and innovative RNA vaccines. About 50 different possible vaccines are currently being tested in humans.
RNA vaccines are a first in medicine. To date, no permits have been issued for this type of vaccine worldwide. The two new vaccines currently being tested in humans in Germany, those from Biontech / Pfizer and CureVac, are of this type.
At the end of November, three vaccines were in the most advanced stage: Biontech / Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna. Therefore, it is assumed that an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) will be issued soon.
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