The name Corona virus given due to its appearance derived from a Latin word (Coronam) meaning crown. Corona virus was first identified in 1960’s was isolated from an adult with respiratory tract infection (common cold) (Kahn & McIntosh, 2005). It belongs to the family coronaviridae and subfamily orthocoronavirinae. Most of the Seven known corona viruses are Causing mild to severe upper and lower respiratory infection to humans. So far it has been thought, that there are four known genera and classified as, alpha, beta, gamma and delta Corona viruses. Corona viruses are zoonotic diseases causing common mild to moderate respiratory infection apart the newly emerged pandemic and last two sever fatal episodes known as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-COV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-COV) in which the pandemic was started from China and Saudi Arabia consecutively. All these outbreaks thought they were originated from animal as corona virus is a zoonotic disease. Bats were the main sources of the virus with an intermediate host that breaks the species barrier and transmitted the disease to humans.
The new corona virus outbreak was started in China in a city called Wuhan. It was believed that the virus first picked up from a market where live animals were traded. A number of researches suggested that, the virus is 89% identical to bat SARS-like CoVZXC21 and 82% to human SARS-CoV. The emergence of new corona virus known as Covid-19 has shown huge global impact, with tremendous human mortality and morbidity rate all over the world. Global markets are shrinking, financial sectors, Schools, colleges and universities are shut, and health facilities are over whelmed and stretched to their maximum limit in which they become unable to cope with the number of cases reported daily. Supermarkets were run out of key supplies and economic crises is become eminent. Moreover, to date (12/04/2020) more than 113,000 death recorded and approximately 1.8 million people are confirmed cases and the number of deaths and positive confirmed cases are increasing in high numbers. Societies are really terrified and the pandemic is extending its territory from day to day, and up to 213 countries and territories are affected by the pandemic. More travel restrictions and country wide stay at home policy are enforced intended to curb the transmission rate. Nevertheless, the damage exerted by the pandemic is witnessed all over the word leaving a dark memory to many lives.
The outbreak Covid-19 has affected many lives and still millions of people are suffering. Around three quarters of the world’s population are in lock-down. Economy is shuttered and health facilities are overwhelmed. In general corona viruses and Covid-19 in particular has not therapy nor vaccine developed. So far elderly individuals and with underlined medical conditions are at high risk of infection. Few evidences indicated that morbidity is higher in males than females but yet not clear if that is true. Recently news outlets in the US and UK were indicating that more prevalent deaths due to Covid-19 were reported among the black Americans, Latinos and other minority groups and it is not known if it is related with poverty or social inequality. Furthermore the number of mortality rate on NHS staff is higher in minority group here in the UK, even though there is not full scale research is conducted, but it gives you some insight that we are far behind knowing the disease. Anyway the only way of prevention and to slow down the infection is to limit all unnecessary movements and to stay at home. Scientists are working tirelessly to find vaccine but that will take several months’ even years. Therefore the drastic measure to prevent from further infection is to stay at home and keep social distance for the common good. Happy Easter and stay safe
sghilazghi 