COVID-19 and its origin

Over the years, the world has suffered many types of diseases and has actually been able to cure some and also get vaccines for some. Some diseases have had no cure for a very long time and still leading to many deaths in the world. 

The world has battled deadly diseases like HIV and AIDS, tumours, cancer and other types. Many of these diseases have no cure. Most of them, death can be avoided if the disease is noticed early enough and drugs or preventive measures are put in place. 

A time came when the world suffered from a deadly virus called bird flu. This virus attacked birds and was also killing human beings. The virus was letter controlled and vaccines were made to help stop the spread of the virus. 

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After a while, we then had Ebola virus, a virus that kills in few days. A virus that was air born and very deadly. Many people who had the virus where quarantined and many people died from the virus. The Ebola virus was then controlled, and death reduced rapidly. 

Late 2019 a new virus hit the world, rumours had it that it came from  China. The virus is known as the coronavirus (COVID-19). This virus hit the world and killed so many and causing world wide lockdown for months. So many activities stopped. All sporting activities stopped and everyone had to stay indoors. Everyone will remember 2020 if not for anything, but for the COVID-19 pandemic that shook the world.

So many theories came out about the virus. Some say China used it to reduce their population but then spin out of control and hit the whole world. Some said its a  plague from the bible. So many speculations were made over the pandemic, leaving more than half of the world with no clue about the origin of the virus. 

What is Corona Virus and what is its origin?

According to WHO- world health organisation, Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are known to cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

The virus is said to affect different people in different ways. People do not react to corona the same way. Reaction to corona is usually based on the person’s current health situation. Most people that contact with the virus will show little to mild symptoms and will recover through self-isolation without even visiting the hospital. 

Most common symptoms of Coronavirus

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are

1. Fever
2. Dry cough
3. Tiredness

Less common symptoms of coronavirus 

1. Aches and pains
2. Sore throat
3. Diarrhoea
4. Conjunctivitis
5. Headache
6. Loss of taste or smell

A rash on skin or discolouration of fingers or toes

Origin of Coronavirus

Coronavirus is said to belong to the coronaviridae family in the Nidovorales order. The corona represents the crown-like spikes on the outer surface of the virus; due to this, it was named as Corona virus. The virus is minute in size, ranging from 65 to 125 mm in diameter which contains a single standard RNA as a nucleic material size ranging from 26 to 32kbs in length. Corona virus is known as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV). 

In 2003 China was infected by a virus that caused SARS and was named SARS-CoV this was the Beta-coronavirus. 

Towards the end of 2019 WHO was notified by China about several cases of pneumonia with unfamiliar etiology. The outbreak was initiated from the Hunan seafood market in Wuhan city of China and rapidly infected more than 50 peoples.

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Why is it called COVID-19?

Quoting from WHO, Illness caused by SARS-CoV-2 was termed COVID-19 by the WHO, the acronym derived from “coronavirus disease 2019.” The name was chosen to avoid stigmatizing the virus’s origins in terms of populations, geography, or animal associations.

The COVID-19 name was given to the strand of virus discovered in 2019. This was to differentiate it from the original coronavirus. And also not to conflict its origin. 

In conclusion, the world has survived many viruses and are striving very hard to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. Report any signs or symptoms relating to the virus to the named authority in your state or country. Stay safe and carry out every preventive measure directed by WHO.