Corona is a Latin word meaning crown. When this virus isobserved under electron microscope, a fringe of large bulbous surfaceprojections creates an image of royal crown. Corona-viruses were firstdiscovered in 1960s in chicken and two type of virus in humans, suffering frominfluenza. On December 29th 2019, four individuals who all had a case ofpneumonia showed up in a hospital in Wuhan. All of these four individuals alsoworked in the same food market in the city. A member of the corona virus familythat had never been previously encountered was suspected to be the cause behindthis case of pneumonia. On 25th January 2020, the first case of the virusinfecting an individual was reported in the United States of America. Cases ofthe virus have now been reported in multiple cities around the globe and nearly3408 of the 100291 reported cases have ended up claiming the life of theunfortunate victim of the virus. On the 23rd of January this year, the WHOdeclared the infection caused by the virus as a public health emergency ofinternational concern. In this article, we’ll discuss in detail about thesymptoms, nature, the possible prevention of the virus and why it is consideredto be an international problem. In recent Corona virus crisis, a novel strainof Corona-virus 2019 nCoV was found in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China. Wuhan isa city with 110 million populations. So far 3042 deaths have been reported and80559 confirmed cases. Wuhan virus has 70% genetic similarity with SARC-CoV. Itis suspected that this virus originated from snakes or bat. Out of the first 41people infected, two-thirds had links with Huainan Seafood whole sale market,which also sold live animals. It shoes that virus probably transmitted fromanimals. Other countries that have confirmed cases are: Thailand, South Korea,Japan, Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, United States, Singapore, France, Nepal,Srilanka, Cambodia, Australia, Malaysia, Canada, UK also in our country India. (WHO did notconfirm it). Virus enter cell and virus particle is uncoated and RNA genomeenter cytoplasm. Genome attaches to ribosome for translation. RNA genome makenew copies using host cell machinery thus increase in number. Its incubationperiod is for 2-14 days.
CAUSES and SYMPTOM
There are two tests to identify corona virus; first one isPCR Nucleic Acid Testing in which DNA of virus is detected. Second is”crown morphology” of corona virus is seen through ElectronMicroscope. So, we must be extra careful and should adopt measures to keep itat a bay. Corona fever is caused by a group of corona virus of familyCoronaviridae.It cause disease in bird, mammals, and man. In humans, coronavirus causes respiratory infection often mild and rarely acute and lethalitysymptoms include, fever, coughing,breathing difficulty – flu like manifestation. Precautions are needed, and themost practical solution is to keep safe. It includes regular hand washing;covering mouth and nose as it is air born disease ( spread by air); avoid closecontact with person showing respiratory illness as it is contagious disease(spreads by touch); doctor should use bunny suit (protective clothing from headto toe); keep away from pet animals; cook food completely especially meat ortake fruit and vegetables, avoid touching eye, nose or face of anyone; putvicks or oil in nose and try to breathe through nose, keep moistened throat,and avoid catching flue. Pneumonia of “unknown cause” is the biggest symptom ofthe viral infection however, there are also multiple other symptoms of thisparticular corona virus include dry cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, feverand respiratory distress. Also, blood tests show that the patients often havelower amounts of white blood cells meaning that the immune system of the patientsbecomes weak and cannot respond and combat the virus properly resulting in thesymptoms mentioned before.
PREVENTIONS
One way to avoid it is to avoid going to public gatheringsand crowded places. Many countries have temporarily closed schools as a precautionarymeasure. While this may be a reasonable decision to protect children from thevirus, how does education be the key to this. How will children be prepared?How will curriculum be completed? How will educational loss be met? These arequestions the government has no answer. But what should educationalinstitutions do in this situation?
So now schools have to find a solution. The closure ofschools was done also in the past. When there is emergency, the first thing tobe closed is a school. If the weather is bad, the school is closed, no majorcricket match is closed. Schools closed for weeks if it rains too much. So nowthe solution has to be found, in my opinion, to promote online classes andvideo lectures by using modern technology. Although this is not a traditionalschool teaching practice, it can, however, be one way of compensatingeducational loss. The Facebook, WhatsApp can easily educate children sittinghome. Students should not be taught directly online, recorded lectures can alsohelp.
TREATMENT
As far as its treatment is concerned, no vaccine is availableso far. Suspected person is advised to wear mask. US CDC prescribed thatpatient should take flue medication, drink fluid and take rest. When thevaccine comes in market? National Institute Of Health (NIH) is hoping for humantrial of medicine by April 2020. Chinese Centre of Disease Control andPrevention CCDC have started developing vaccine against Coronavirus. Coalitionof Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI) is funding three vaccine projectsand hopes to have a vaccine by April 2020. So, at this stage,”precaution” is the best “vaccine”. While differentpossible remedies including traditional Chinese medicine as well as proposedmodern medical techniques have been proposed, there has been no confirmedremedy to this virus. Antibiotics cannot be used to treat this viral infectionas they are only lethal against bacteria and not viruses. Therefore, there isno confirmed drug or vaccine that can annihilate this novel corona virus.
There is a lot of concern regarding the outbreak of this newvirus and as a result, it has become an international crisis. Many countrieshave evacuated their citizens from China and the whole country is under stricthealth regulations. Educational institutes have been closed and publictransportation has been banned to minimize the number of infected people. Thisis a point of great concern for the community. With all these facts considered,it is not false to claim that the novel corona virus and the respiratorydisorders it causes is a growing health concern for the entire world however,if we consider the advancements that science and technology have made in thepast century, it is also not false to claim that scientists and doctors willhopefully find a remedy for this novel corona virus in the near future. Anotherquestion that comes in mind is about its mortality rate? China say 4% patientdies; WHO say 25% get serious illness; and most of the neutral observers havecalculated mortality rate of 10%. It means one out of ten kick the bucket andnine get well. If it is a new type of virus; it can be transmitted from animalto human; human body can develop a disease and virus can spread from human tohuman. Unfortunately, all four factors are there. So, the world communityshould fight against it. India is said to have six cases;. But these cases arenot officially confirmed. But it is need of the time to first screen the peoplecoming from China from all corridors; air port, sea port and land route. Second,a massive awareness campaign is to be launched in print, electronic media andsocial media. Third, if there is any confirmed case, he should be kept inquarantine. But one fact should be kept in mind, it is winter season and oneoften gets flue but every person getting cold should not be labelled withCorona virus before proper investigation.
There is a formula in medicine; two and two is not four, itis twenty two. It means if one gets sick and then gets anxious about it, thedisease will not be in tune of 4 but it will increase to 22. So avoiding worryand anxiety is also a “treatment”.Box
How will curriculum be completed? How will educational lossbe met? These are questions the government has no answer. But what shouldeducational institutions do in this situation?