DOCSLIB.ORG

Shailendra K. Saxena Editor Epidemiology, Pathogenesis

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Shailendra K. Saxena Editor Epidemiology, Pathogenesis Medical Virology: from Pathogenesis to Disease Control Series Editor: Shailendra K. Saxena Shailendra K. Saxena Editor Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Therapeutics Medical Virology: from Pathogenesis to Disease Control Series Editor Shailendra K. Saxena Centre for Advanced Research, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, India This book series reviews the recent advancement in the field of medical virology including molecular epidemiology, diagnostics and therapeutic strategies for various viral infections. The individual books in this series provide a comprehensive over- view of infectious diseases that are caused by emerging and re-emerging viruses including their mode of infections, immunopathology, diagnosis, treatment, epide- miology, and etiology. It also discusses the clinical recommendations in the man- agement of infectious diseases focusing on the current practices, recent advances in diagnostic approaches and therapeutic strategies. The books also discuss progress and challenges in the development of viral vaccines and discuss the application of viruses in the translational research and human healthcare. More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/16573 Shailendra K. Saxena Editor Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Therapeutics Editor Shailendra K. Saxena Centre for Advanced Research King George’s Medical University Lucknow, India ISSN 2662-981X ISSN 2662-9828 (electronic) Medical Virology: from Pathogenesis to Disease Control ISBN 978-981-15-4813-0 ISBN 978-981-15-4814-7 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4814-7 © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. The registered company address is: 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721, Singapore Dedicated to my Parents and Family who believed in academics as the way forward for an intelligent mind and to the Teachers who introduced me the subject and nurtured my interest in it. Foreword Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS- CoV-2) has posed a medical emergency and a global crisis rapidly, from having first emerged in December 2019. On 11th March 2020, it was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). By 6th April 2020, globally, there were more than 1.2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 67,000 deaths across 209 countries, areas, or territories according to WHO updates. Individuals, families, healthcare systems, food systems, and economies are buckling under its strain. Lives have been turned upside down for multitudes and, for some, COVID-19 has caused a humanitarian tragedy. Coronaviruses (CoVs) represent a large family of viruses, some of which have previously caused severe human diseases such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever and cough, and a proportion of patients may develop shortness of breath and other symptoms. In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, organ failure, and death. The improved management of COVID-19 human infections will depend on characteri- zation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including its transmission capability, severity of resulting infection, and availability of vaccines and antiviral drugs to control the impact of COVID-19. Public health measures are clearly important to reduce its transmission: thorough and frequent handwashing, hygiene, social distancing, and self-isolation as indicated. The international medical, scientific, and public health communities and govern- ment agencies have engaged urgently with the challenge, and several reliable websites, scientific publications, and other resources have followed. Concomitantly, there has been a lot of misinformation and myths that have spread like wildfire through social media and other channels, which cause confusion and are frankly harmful. The Director General of the WHO warned that “We’re not just fighting an epidemic; we’re fighting an infodemic.” It is vital to engage responsibly with all aspects of the COVID-19 emergency. The present book Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, vii viii Foreword Diagnosis, and Therapeutics from Springer Nature focuses on several aspects of SARS-CoV2 and COVID-19. This book includes information on current insights into COVID-19, focusing on epidemiology, structure of SARS-CoV-2, genome organization, replication and pathogenesis, transmission cycle, and host immune response during SARS-CoV-2 infection. The chapters cover information on a range of topics from clinical characteristics and differential clinical diagnosis of COVID- 19, laboratory diagnosis and development of therapeutics as well as preventive strategies, SARS-CoV-2 infection among children and adolescents, and other rele- vant issues. The book will be of interest to a wide range of professionals, placing a compre- hensive set of information in a single collection. Professor Shailendra Saxena, his team, and chapter contributors are to be congratulated for their timely effort in conceptualizing and swiftly summarizing the current knowledge in this book. It is important, too, to note the dynamic nature of this global threat and responses to it across different countries and globally. The current knowledge and understanding about COVID-19 are constantly unfolding, being updated and expanded through ongoing research efforts as well as learning by experience on a daily basis. There- fore, resources from the World Health Organization and country-specific guidance and medical updates should also be used appropriately. This is a time when professionals and agencies from all potentially relevant disciplines need to work in a concerted way, including those working in and outside the fields of virology and infectious diseases. It is in this spirit as an epidemiologist and public health physician that I applaud this current effort. I hope this book together with dynamically updated and other reliable sources will stimulate different options to formulate and build ideas and galvanize actions to combat COVID-19 at speed. University of Cambridge Nita G. Forouhi School of Clinical Medicine Programme Leader and Consultant Medical Research Council (MRC) Public Health Physician Epidemiology Unit Cambridge, United Kingdom Preface Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) causing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a pandemic and led to at least 117,021 deaths as of 14th April 2020 globally. The transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurs via close contact with the respiratory droplets generated by infected individuals. COVID-19 patients have been shown to undergo acute respiratory distress syndrome, which is defined as cytokine storm and is the foremost reason for morbidity and mortality due to multiple organ failure. Coronaviruses are zoonotic in nature, which means that they originate from animal sources and may jump to human population. Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV). SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans. Even with the implementation of strong travel restrictions, international travel by a large number of individuals exposed to SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in the spread of the virus worldwide. At the global level, scientific communities including various healthcare profes- sionals are working continuously to understand the virological, epidemiological, and clinical aspect of COVID-19 in order to identify effective drugs and vaccines. In this regard, this book novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) provides a compre- hensive understanding of COVID-19 with its associated challenges for its treatment and prevention to protect the human race. The book focuses on crucial virological aspects of SARS-CoV-2 including its epidemiology, structure, genome organization, replication, pathogenesis, host immune response, and transmission cycle.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • HRWF Human Rights in the World Newsletter Bulgaria Table Of
    Table of Contents • EU votes for diplomats to boycott China Winter Olympics over rights abuses • CCP: 100th Anniversary of the party who killed 50 million • The CCP at 100: What next for human rights in EU-China relations? • Missing Tibetan monk was sentenced, sent to prison, family says • China occupies sacred land in Bhutan, threatens India • 900,000 Uyghur children: the saddest victims of genocide • EU suspends efforts to ratify controversial investment deal with China • Sanctions expose EU-China split • Recalling 10 March 1959 and origins of the CCP colonization in Tibet • Tibet: Repression increases before Tibetan Uprising Day • Uyghur Group Defends Detainee Database After Xinjiang Officials Allege ‘Fake Archive’ • Will the EU-China investment agreement survive Parliament’s scrutiny? • Experts demand suspension of EU-China Investment Deal • Sweden is about to deport activist to China—Torture and prison be damned • EU-CHINA: Advocacy for the Uyghur issue • Who are the Uyghurs? Canadian scholars give profound insights • Huawei enables China’s grave human rights violations • It's 'Captive Nations Week' — here's why we should care • EU-China relations under the German presidency: is this “Europe’s moment”? • If EU wants rule of law in China, it must help 'dissident' lawyers • Happening in Europe, too • U.N. experts call call for decisive measures to protect fundamental freedoms in China • EU-China Summit: Europe can, and should hold China to account • China is the world’s greatest threat to religious freedom and other basic human rights
    [Show full text]
  • List of Participants
    WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME (SARS) SARS: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? SUNWAY LAGOON RESORT HOTEL, MALAYSIA, 17-18 JUNE 2003 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Dr Preben AAVITSLAND National Institute of Public Health Section for infectious Diseases Control P.O. Box 4404 Nydalen 403 Oslo Norway Dr Zubaidah ABDUL WAHAB Clinical Microbiologist KICM Microbiology Unit Hospital Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Dato' Dr Sulaiman ABDULLAH Ministry of Defense Health Service Division 50590 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Dr Asmah Zainul ABIDIN Perak State Health Department Perak Malaysia Dr Camilo ACOSTA Seoul National University Campus Shillim-Dong Kwanak-Ku Republic of Korea WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME (SARS) SARS: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? SUNWAY LAGOON RESORT HOTEL, MALAYSIA, 17-18 JUNE 2003 Dr Tjandra ADITAMA Head Ministry of Health SARS Verification Team R.S. Persahabatan JL. Persehabatan 13230 Jakarta Indonesia Dr Ximena Paz AGUILLERA Head of Department of Epidemiology Ministerio de Salud MacIver 541 Santiago Chile Datin Dr Aziah AHMAT MAHYUDDIN Ministry of Health Malaysia 50590 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Mazlomi Inurul AKMAR Ministry of Health (Protocol) 50590 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Professor Dr Osman bin ALI Dean University Malaysia Sabah Faculty of Medicine Malaysia Dr Mohamed AL-JEFFRI Director General Prasitic and Infectious Diseases Ministry of Health, Riyadh Preventive Medicine Department General Directorate of Parasitic and Infectious Diseases 11176 Riyadh
    [Show full text]
  • Dokumentation Des COVID-19-Ausbruchs: Zeitleiste
    Dokumentation des COVID-19-Ausbruchs: Zeitleiste JOURNALISMUS MEIN BERICHT https://web.archive.org/web/20210611015902/https://www.jenniferzengblog.com/home/2021/6/1 0/documentary-of-covid-19-outbreak-timeline (Anmerkung von Jennifer: Dieses Dokument enthält hauptsächlich chinesische Nachrichtenberichte über COVID-19, die zu Beginn des Ausbruchs (vom 1. Dezember bis 31. Januar) veröffentlicht wurden. Einige davon wurden von chinesischen Nachrichtenmedien und lokalen chinesischen Regierungen veröffentlicht Hinweise auf die mögliche Absicht der chinesischen Regierung, die Epidemie zum Schweigen zu bringen und zu vertuschen. Viele Artikel wurden später aus dem Internet gelöscht, aber eine Gruppe von Interessierten hat sie auf GitHub gespeichert. Sie organisieren die Archive in einer Zeitleiste mit dem Zweck, "zu bewahren". Geschichte, damit die Wahrheit im Laufe der Zeit nicht verborgen oder vergessen wird. Die ursprüngliche Zeitleiste ist auf Chinesisch. Dies ist eine englische Übersetzung, damit westliche Leser auch die Wahrheit hinter dem Covid-19-Ausbruch erfahren können. Dies ist ein übersetztes Dokument. Das Originaldokument ist in (Chinesisch): https://web.archive.org/web/20200419085730/https://github.com/Pratitya /COVID-19-timeline/blob/master/TIMELINE.md 1. Dezember 2019 · Der erste Einwohner von Wuhan hatte Symptome einer ungeklärten Lungenentzündung (nach der Diagnose war es zu diesem Zeitpunkt eine unbekannte Lungenentzündung mit unbekannter Ursache und kein Arzt gefunden und gemeldet). Laut Wu Wenxuan, Direktor der Intensivstation (ICU) des Jinyintan Krankenhauses, war der Patient ein Mann in den 70ern mit einem leichten Hirninfarkt und Alzheimer. Nachdem er krank wurde, wurde er in ein anderes Krankenhaus in Wuhan eingeliefert, aber als sich sein Zustand verschlechterte, wurde er am 29. Dezember in das Jinyintan-Krankenhaus verlegt.
    [Show full text]
  • The COVID-19 Pandemic in Chiba Prefecture, Japan and Viet Nam: a Lesson- Learned in COVID-19 Pandemic Control in These Two Populations
    Asian Pacific Journal of Environment and Cancer Vol 3 No 1 (2020), 49-53 Articles The COVID-19 Pandemic in Chiba Prefecture, Japan and Viet Nam: A Lesson- learned in COVID-19 Pandemic Control in These Two Populations Furuuchi KANA School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Japan Yumi Ono School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Japan Limeng CHHEANG School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Japan Okada YUMA School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Japan Nagai YOUSUKE School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Japan Miu TAKEUCHI School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Japan Kuga HIROTOSHI School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Japan Le Hoa Duyen School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Japan Thaingi Hlaing School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Japan LE Tran Ngoan Dept. of Occupational Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Viet Nam Aims: The study aimed to describe and compare the status of COVID-19 occurrence in Chiba prefecture and Viet Nam to recommend lesson-learned in COVID-19 control between two populations. Methods: We used the official database of COVID-19 published online by the Chiba Prefectural Government, and the Viet Nam Ministry of Health. The database’s variables include ID, age, gender, residence, sources of infection, the onset date of symptoms, and the positive confirmation date. The observation period starts on 23 January 2020, when the first positive patient appeared in Viet Nam and the end on 13 July 2020.
    [Show full text]
  • Comparing the Scope and Efficacy of COVID-19 Response Strategies In
    International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Article Comparing the Scope and Efficacy of COVID-19 Response Strategies in 16 Countries: An Overview Liudmila Rozanova 1,2,*, Alexander Temerev 1 and Antoine Flahault 1,2,3,4 1 Institute of Global Health, University of Geneva, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland; [email protected] (A.T.); antoine.fl[email protected] (A.F.) 2 Global Studies Institute, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland 3 Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), 8001 Zurich, Switzerland 4 Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève (HUG), 1205 Geneva, Switzerland * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 17 October 2020; Accepted: 14 December 2020; Published: 16 December 2020 Abstract: This article synthesizes the results of case studies on the development of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and control measures by governments in 16 countries. When this work was conducted, only 6 months had passed since the pandemic began, and only 4 months since the first events were recognized outside of China. It was too early to draw firm conclusions about the effectiveness of measures in each of the selected countries; however, the authors present some efforts to identify and classify response and containment measures, country-by-country, for future comparison and analysis. There is a significant variety of policy tools and response measures employed in different countries, and while it is still hard to directly compare the different approaches based on their efficacy, it will definitely provide many inputs for the future data analysis efforts. Keywords: COVID-19; coronavirus; case studies; comparison; public health; epidemic response 1. Introduction In some European, North American, and South East Asian countries and territories, the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic was showing a decline in late June 2020 when it was raging in other parts of the world, particularly in the United States, Latin America, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.
    [Show full text]
  • ASDSA) and American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery (ASLMS) Guidance for Cosmetic Dermatology Practices During COVID-19
    American Society of Dermatologic Surgery Association (ASDSA) and American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery (ASLMS) Guidance for Cosmetic Dermatology Practices During COVID-19 Based on information available as of 24 September 2020 Chairpersons: Murad Alam, MD, MBA & David M. Ozog, MD President of ASDSA: Marc D. Brown, MD President of ASLMS: Thomas E. Rohrer, MD _______________________________________________________________________________________ Authors: Shanthi Narla, MD Murad Alam, MD, MBA David M. Ozog, MD Vince Bertucci, MD, Henry Hin Lee Chan, MD, PhD, MRCP Mitchel P. Goldman, MD E. Victor Ross, MD David Sliney, PhD Marc D. Brown, MD Thomas E. Rohrer, MD 1 While dermatology practices have always followed optimal safety measures to protect and minimize infections for both patients, staff, and providers, the present COVID-19 environment with a variety of new (and changing) federal, state, and local health authority regulations encouraged the development of this document. Procedures should be performed in a manner that minimizes the risk of transmission of COVID-19. Evidence is sparse in certain areas regarding steps to reduce transmission risk. Even when limited evidence is available, it is not directly relevant to outpatient dermatology cosmetic procedures. Moreover, since individual cosmetic practices vary considerably, in terms of their typical patients, types of procedures performed, office physical plant, and other features, no detailed uniform guidance would be appropriate. In general, it is recommended that patients and healthcare providers wear at least surgical or homemade masks when possible. Additionally, routine handwashing by healthcare providers is recommended. Beyond these recommendations, the evidence for enhancing infection control beyond what has always been practiced is uncertain to absent, and no strong recommendations can be made.
    [Show full text]
  • Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Should Be Held to Account
    SPECIAL APRIL 2020 TRUTH AND TRADITION EGON999/SHUTTERSTOCK STR/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES EXCLUSIVE CCP VIRUS COVERAGE How the Chinese Communist Party Giving the Right Name How China’s Coverup to the Virus Causing a Led to a Global Endangered Worldwide Pandemic Pandemic STORY ON 2 STORY ON 3 the World HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES The Chinese Communist Party’s coverup led to a pandemic that now threatens the lives of people around the globe. What really happened, and what lessons can we learn? READ MORE INSIDE Beijing’s ‘Mask 21 Million Fewer Cellphone Diplomacy’ Draws Users in China May Suggest Growing Backlash a High Death Toll STORY ON 4 STORY ON 6 Where Ties With Commu- Silenced: Stories of Citizens nist China Are Close, Suppressed for Speaking the the CCP Virus Follows Truth About the CCP Virus STORY ON 7 STORY ON 8 Senators Call for Reckoning With China’s Dictatorship MICHAEL MASTERS/GETTY IMAGES TRACEY NEARMY/GETTY IMAGES CADEN PEARSON Tasmanian Liberal Senator Eric Abetz said there needs to be a “reck- oning with the Chinese communist dictatorship and its leadership must be held to account” for its culpabil- ity in the spread of the CCP virus, commonly known as novel coro- navirus. “The decency of the Chinese peo- ple is not the issue. The Communist Senator Malcolm dictatorship’s decency under which Roberts in the the Chinese people suffer, however, Senate at Par- does need to be questioned,” he told liament House in The Epoch Times. Canberra on July Abetz listed a number of reasons 4, 2019.
    [Show full text]
  • Stand on the Same Side Against Covid-19 - Diagnostic, Screening Tools and Pathways For
    Firenze University Press www.fupress.com/substantia Webinar Stand on the Same Side Against Covid-19 - Diagnostic, Screening Tools and Pathways for Citation: L. Corbetta, S. Li, J. Li, G. M. Clinical and Preventive Purposes. Rossolini, L. M. Fabbri, W. Guangfa, Y. Qin Tai (2020) Stand on the Same Side Against Covid-19 - Diagnostic, Screening Tools and Pathways for Clinical and Preventive Purposes. This document is the direct transcription of a Webinar organized by Prof. L. Substantia 4(1) Suppl. 1: 967. Corbetta of the University of Florence on May 19th, 2020. DOI: 10.13128/Substantia-967 Received: Jun 08, 2020 Revised: Jun 16, 2020 Scientific coordination: Just Accepted Online: Jun 20, 2020 Lorenzo Corbetta Associate Professor of Respiratory Diseases - University of Florence Published: Jun 20, 2020 Scientific and Website Director of the European Association for Bronchology and Copyright: © 2020 L. Corbetta, S. Li, J. Interventional Pulmonology (EABIP) Li, G. M. Rossolini, L. M. Fabbri, W. Guangfa, Y. Qin Tai. This is an open Organizing Secretary: access, peer-reviewed article published Consorzio Futuro in Ricerca by Firenze University Press (http://www. fupress.com/substantia) and distributed Via Saragat 1 – Corpo B – 1° Piano | 44122 – Ferrara under the terms of the Creative [email protected] Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, Translation Coordination and Editing: and reproduction in any medium, Giorgia Biagini, MD provided the original author and source are credited. [email protected] Data Availability Statement: All rel- Webinar’s partecipants: evant data are within the paper and its Prof. Lorenzo Corbetta - University of Florence Supporting Information files.
    [Show full text]
  • Guidance for Cosmetic Dermatology Practices During COVID-19
    American Society of Dermatologic Surgery Association (ASDSA) and American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery (ASLMS) Guidance for Cosmetic Dermatology Practices During COVID-19 Based on information available as of 11 January 2021 Chairpersons: Murad Alam, MD, MBA & David M. Ozog, MD Immediate Past President of ASDSA: Marc D. Brown, MD President of ASDSA: Mat Avram, MD President of ASLMS: Thomas E. Rohrer, MD _______________________________________________________________________________________ Authors: Shanthi Narla, MD Murad Alam, MD, MBA David M. Ozog, MD Vince Bertucci, MD, Henry Hin Lee Chan, MD, PhD, MRCP Mitchel P. Goldman, MD E. Victor Ross, MD David Sliney, PhD Marc D. Brown, MD Thomas E. Rohrer, MD 1 While dermatology practices have always followed optimal safety measures to protect and minimize infections for both patients, staff, and providers, the present COVID-19 environment with a variety of new (and changing) federal, state, and local health authority regulations encouraged the development of this document. Procedures should be performed in a manner that minimizes the risk of transmission of COVID-19. Evidence is sparse in certain areas regarding steps to reduce transmission risk. Even when limited evidence is available, it is not directly relevant to outpatient dermatology cosmetic procedures. Vaccines are now being distributed which will change the landscape of these recommendations over the next several months. Moreover, since individual cosmetic practices vary considerably, in terms of their typical patients, types of procedures performed, office physical plant, and other features, no detailed uniform guidance would be appropriate. In general, it is recommended that patients and healthcare providers wear at least surgical or homemade masks when possible.
    [Show full text]
  • COVID-19: Ocular Manifestations, Ocular Secretions, and Ocular Portal of Entry
    Advances in Ophthalmology & Visual System Mini Review Open Access COVID-19: ocular manifestations, ocular secretions, and ocular portal of entry Abstract Volume 10 Issue 2 - 2020 SARS-Cov-2 is a Coronovirus in the subfamily Coronavirinae, in the family Coronaviridae Brian M DeBroff and in the order of Nidovirales and is responsible for COVID-19 disease. General Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale characteristics of the virus are discussed with an emphasis on ocular manifestations of University School of Medicine, USA infection. In addition, the potential of ocular secretions including tears are reviewed as a potential for human to human spread of the virus. Finally, a discussion is made of the latest Correspondence: Brian M DeBroff, Professor of Clinical information on the eye as a portal for exposure and development of COVID-19 infection. Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale University School of Medicine, USA, 40 Temple Street, New Haven, CT 06510, Tel 203-785-2020, Email Received: April 14, 2020 | Published: April 27, 2020 Introduction described the findings of 38 patients with COVID-19 and severe pneumonia in Hubei Province, China. They found 31.6% of patients Nidovirales, derived from the Latin nidus (nest) is an order of single demonstrated ocular manifestations consistent with conjunctival stranded RNA genome viruses with both human and animal hosts hyperemia, chemosis, epiphora, or increased secretions.8 Only one and includes the family Coronaviridae, Roniviridae, Arteriviridae, patient presented with conjunctivitis as the first symptom.8 Of the 17 and Mesoniviridae. All viruses in this order produce a 3’ co-terminal patients recruited, none presented with ocular symptoms and only 1 nested set of subgenomic mRNA’s during infection.
    [Show full text]
  • Small Data, Big Time—A Retrospect of the First Weeks of COVID-19
    Small Data, Big Time—A retrospect of the first weeks of COVID-19 Qingyuan Zhao∗ [To be read before The Royal Statistical Society at the Society’s 2021 annual conference held in Manchester on Wednesday, September 8th, 2021, the President, Professor Sylvia Richardson, in the Chair] Abstract This article reviews some early investigations and research studies in the first weeks of the coron- avirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic from a statistician’s perspective. These investigations were based on very small datasets but were momentous in the initial global reactions to the pandemic. The article discusses the initial evidence of high infectiousness of COVID-19 and why that conclusion was not reached faster than in reality. Further reanalyses of some published COVID-19 studies show that the epidemic growth was dramatically underestimated by compartmental models, and the lack of fit could have been clearly identified by simple data visualization. Finally, some lessons for statisticians are discussed. Keywords: Infectious disease modeling; Selection bias; COVID-19; Model diagnostics. 1 Introduction Starting from a regional disease outbreak in Wuhan, China, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rapidly grew into a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. As of the time of writing (December, 2020), the pandemic has already taken at least 1.5 million lives around the world. For anyone living through the COVID-19 pandemic, it is rubbing salt into their wounds to repeat more statistics about the disruptions of lives. Similar to many other new human diseases, there was an initial period of confusion. On December 31, 2019, the municipal Health Commission of Wuhan first reported a cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown etiology.
    [Show full text]
  • Role of the Eye in Transmitting Human Coronavirus: What We Know and What We Do Not Know
    Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 17 March 2020 doi:10.20944/preprints202003.0271.v1 Role of the eye in transmitting human coronavirus: what we know and what we do not know Chuan-bin Sun, Yue-ye Wang, Geng-hao Liu, Zhe Liu Chuan-bin Sun, Yue-ye Wang, Geng-hao Liu Eye Center, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province,China; Zhe Liu, Department of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310015, Zhejiang Province, China. Corresponding Author: Zhe Liu, MD. Department of Ophthalmology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310015, Zhejiang Province, China. [email protected]. © 2020 by the author(s). Distributed under a Creative Commons CC BY license. Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 17 March 2020 doi:10.20944/preprints202003.0271.v1 ABSTRACT The outbreak of recently identified 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCOV) infection has become a world-wide health threat. Currently, more information is needed for further understanding the transmission, clinical characteristics, and infection control of 2019-nCOV. Recently, the role of the eye in transmitting 2019-nCOV has been intensively discussed. Previous investigations about other high infectious human COVs, that is, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), may provide helpful information. In this review, we describe the genomics and morphology of human CoVs, the epidemiology, systemic and ophthalmic manifestations, mechanisms of human CoVs infection, and infection control procedures. The role of the eye in the transmission of SARS-CoV and 2019-nCOV is discussed.
    [Show full text]