Emergence of deadly severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 during 2019–2020

Abstract

Wuhan, the city in Hubei province in China is in the focus of global community due to the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), formerly known as 2019-nCoV. The virus emerged in humans from Wuhan seafood market probably via zoonotic transmission. Within a few days the virus spread its tentacles rapidly to neighboring cities in China and to different geographical regions through travelers and to some extent by human to human transmission leading to significant disease burden globally. More than 2,00,000 people (including more than 8000 deaths) have been infected with this respiratory illness across 167 countries and territories worldwide leading to a pandemic. The present review provides an outline about emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 from Wuhan, China in 2019-2020. We have also provided information about the classification, genome, proteins, clinical presentation of COVID-19, type of clinical specimens to be collected and diagnostic methods adopted to identify the respiratory illness. In addition we have also provided information about transmission dynamics, prevention measures and treatment options that are available at the present. Subsequently, we have given a comprehensive overview of the spread of this infection from China to the other parts of the globe. Management of the ongoing outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 encompassing surveillance, clinical, immunological, genetic and evolutionary investigations are likely to provide the desired results. Joint efforts of global scientific community are needed at this hour in terms of enhancement of research on development of accurate diagnostics, antiviral therapeutics and finally into formation of an effective vaccine against the emerging novel coronavirus.

Mapping COVID-19 related research from Saudi Arabia, a scoping review

“…Hemida et al 55 The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak from a one health perspective Review Islam et al 56 Emergence of deadly severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 during 2019-2020 Review Meo et al 57 Biological and Epidemiological Trends in the Prevalence and Mortality due to Outbreaks of Novel Coronavirus COVID-19…”

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“…There is a long way to go before we will be able to say that COVID-19 is completely eradicated (Islam et al 2020). People may have to live with it for some time and resist infection by following strict guidelines of social distancing and hygiene, as too great an economic imbalance (Nicola et al 2020) will pose many other problems such as increased poverty (Balaji and Sravendra 2020), death due to hunger and malnutrition, and increased numbers of homeless (Banerjee and Bhattacharya 2020).…”

Emerging coronavirus diseases and future perspectives

“…Exponential growth and advancement in technologies have provided rapid methods for the identification of infectious agents along with their genomes, microbial traits similarity and influence of host and viral factor on diseases chronicity [23]. Globally, RT-PCR (real time polymerase chain reaction) technology have been used as standard diagnostic tool to detect nucleic acid (RNA) of SARS-CoV-2 from the nasal, throat swab or other samplings of COVID-19 patients [24]. Furthermore, COVID-19 diagnosis through computed tomography (CT) scans using artificial intelligence tools help in differentiating community acquired pneumonia, other lung diseases and COVID-19 related lungs complications in rapid and accurate manner [25].…”

“…Alleviating global infectious disease demands for rapid and early diagnostic tools and systems to control outbreak. Notable improved diagnostic approaches and monitoring technologies usually relied on blood, swab or other body fluids that could increase risk of infectious agents in other and health care staff as reported in COVID-19 pandemic [24]. Therefore, there is need of noninvasive diagnostics tools that help in early diagnosis particularly in asymptomatic condition, as majority of viral infections used to appear after incubation time ranging from 1 to 20 days and with more or less communal clinical observation/symptoms.…”