A Brief Look Into COVID-19
By: Avantika Samanta
COVID-19 has impacted people across the world in several different ways. The last pandemic of this scale would have to be Influenza in 1918, which killed 50-100 million people, whereas COVID-19 has killed over two million people. COVID-19 is scientifically known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2. Understanding this virus and its origins is beneficial to anyone.
The origins of SARS-CoV-2 are unknown but there are potential theories. SARS-CoV-2 is a part of the coronavirus family, a large group of viruses that originate from animals. There are seven known coronaviruses that can infect humans. These viruses infect many animals and when they infect humans, they can cause mild to severe respiratory problems. The first human coronavirus was identified by scientists in 1965, and it is what caused the common cold. Researchers found a similar group of animal and human viruses then named it after its crown-like appearance. In 2002 and 2012, two coronaviruses emerged in humans, SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus) and MERS-CoV (Middle-East acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus), which became a new public health concern throughout the world. SARS-CoV appeared in southern China and spread to 28 different countries and infected more than 8,000 people. It killed 744 people and symptoms included fever, headaches, and other respiratory problems. MERS-CoV began in Saudi Arabia and nearly all of the 2,500 cases were of people who traveled to or lived in the Middle Eastern region. It wasn’t as contagious as SAR-CoV was but it was more deadly, it killed 858 people. It has the same symptoms as SARS-CoV but it could also cause kidney failure.
Near the end of 2019 a new coronavirus, the SARS-CoV-2. The highly transmissible disease has killed more people than SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV and has spread fastly across the world. It was discovered in Wuhan China causing the outbreak of this unusual viral phenomena, and changing the lives of many around the world. Wuhan China is home to many open air “wet markets”. Several initial cases of SARS-CoV-2 are associated with the Huanan South China Seafood Market where birds, snakes, bats, and more were sold. It is suspected that the disease “jumped” from the animal carrier to humans in one of these markets. After the first patients were reported, others with no connection to these markets were found to be experiencing symptoms of the now known SARS-CoV-2, so it was discovered that the virus is transmissible from human to human.
It is assumed that the virus originated from bats, but it is still debatable. The closest relative to SARS-CoV-2 known currently is Rhinolophus affinis, a bat coronavirus detected in the Yunnan Province in China. It’s been named RaTG13 and the full length genome is 92% similar to SARS-CoV-2. The genetic similarity between the two supports the idea that COVID-29 originated in bats. Along with this, recently Rhinolophus malayanus has been sampled in Yunnan. It has been denoted RmYN02 and is 93.3% identical to SARS-CoV-2 across its genome. Nevertheless, it is likely that these bat coronaviruses are only the evolutionary precursors to SARS-CoV-2, not direct progenitors. Other animals linked to SARS-CoV-2 would be pangolins , which are animals found in Asia, as multiple related viruses were detected in the tissue of smuggled Malayan pangolins. But, pangolins are most likely not the original source, and are probably intermediate hosts. This is because pangolins actually demonstrated clinical signs and histopathological changes, including interstitial pneumonia and inflammatory cell infiltration in different organs so they were most probably infected with the virus through its natural hosts. But even then, current knowledge of the origins of SARS-CoV-2 are still unknown and widely disputed. Some of the earliest patients had no connection to the Huanan Market so there may be multiple sources to the virus. The natural evolution of the disease is possible there are some disputes since the spike protein seems to perfectly interact with the human receptor in contributing to human-to-human transmission after evolution in a short period. More concrete evidence is needed to solidify the arguments of the origins, so no claims can be made yet.
SARS-CoV-2, better known as COVID-19, is relatively new to everyone. The world has been experiencing this pandemic for nearly a year, but everyone still has so much left to learn. New discoveries are being made everyday, which lead the world closer to coming up with a solution. Even though vaccines are coming out, there is still so much uncertainty.But life goes on and eventually we will be one step closer to something resembling normalcy.
At My Doorstep
By: Vanessa Cano
A year ago, the U.S. identified the first few cases of Covid-19 in our country. Americans were pumped with ignorance and unease. The virus had swept across the world and many believed it would disappear with a two-week lockdown and quarantine. We were wrong. As a student, this went from an exciting, month-long Spring Break, to an unstoppable decline of mental health after an unglamorous year. This pandemic poses a risk to our loved ones, but many people continue to cling to ignorance, believing that the virus has disappeared. It has not, and as someone who experienced this first-hand, this virus could appear at your doorstep when you least expect it.
Near the end of 2020, I had developed a small cold akin to Covid-19 symptoms. However, I was confident that it was only a slight cough due to being outside for too long in the dark and cold weather. I didn’t think I could have Covid, due to the fact that I hardly left my house besides to go to the market or the occasional drive for fresh air. I too, was ignorant, because the year was almost over and my family had been so careful- how could this be COVID-19. I was warry, but went on with my responsibilities of school, college applications, and everyday chores. Hours later, I received a call from my mom while I was with my grandma. I was told that our uncle, who also lived in the same household, had been tested positive and was gravely sick. Although in school, I was taught that correlation did not imply causation, my mind could not help but flood with anxiety over what I may have just brought home to my grandma. I cannot stress enough how fearful I was or how angry I had become to anyone who did not take this virus seriously. I was distraught by my own symptoms and the fact that there were high-risk people in my household . It has been a month since this incident, and I am so grateful to report that I did not have Covid-19, and everyone in my family is safe and sound.
Despite this incident, an important part of this journey was learning how to confront this virus once it was at our doorstep – not just a concern in our dreams. One of the most important steps is to, ideally, separate the family from the person with COVID-19 until the risk of infection has passed. I understand that people need to go to work and that everyone’s circumstances are different, but if possible, also seclude yourself from others for a few days if you believe you were exposed to Covid-19. It is also a good idea to wear a mask, even in your own household, if you were near the virus. Of course, it is also important to clean and disinfect all surfaces as if you were outside your home. My family was fortunate enough to have a separate bathroom for my uncle to use. However, for those who don’t, the next best thing is to wear a facemask and gloves to disinfect the bathroom after each use. Avoid sharing any household items and make sure to wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds. It is also crucial to keep an eye out for warning signs that would need emergency medical care. Other ways to help contain this virus at home is to stay hydrated, keep your distance, and don’t be afraid to ask for moral support.
COVID-19 is still a huge threat to public health. With a vaccine being distributed, we must continue to be safe and take precautions. Hospital ER’s, especially in Southern California, are being overrun. This pandemic has not only affected our mental health, but many people’s physical health too. And until the United States can accept this and take responsibility, the world may take much longer to return back to a time before the pandemic.
Work Cited:
A Brief Look Into COVID-19
Andersen, Kristian G., et al. “The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 17 Mar. 2020, http://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0820-9.
Bhargava, Hansa D. “Coronavirus History: How Did Coronavirus Start?” WebMD, WebMD, 15 Apr. 2020, http://www.webmd.com/lung/coronavirus-history.
Dos Santos, Wagner Gouvea. “Natural History of COVID-19 and Current Knowledge on Treatment Therapeutic Options.” Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & Pharmacotherapie, The Author. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS., Sept. 2020, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7332915/.
Hu, Ben, et al. “Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 6 Oct. 2020, http://www.nature.com/articles/s41579-020-00459-7. Liu, Yen-Chin, et al. “COVID-19: The First Documented Coronavirus Pandemic in History.” Biomedical Journal, Elsevier, 5 May 2020, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2319417020300445.
At My Doorstep:
Barker, Joanne. “If Someone in Your House Has COVID-19.” If Someone in Your House Has
COVID-19 – Boston Children’s Discoveries, Boston Children’s Hospital, 29 Apr. 2020,
discoveries.childrenshospital.org/someone-in-house-has-covid-19/.
Gavin, Kara. 14 Things to Do If Someone You Live With Has COVID-19, Michigan Health, 3
Apr. 2020, healthblog.uofmhealth.org/wellness-prevention/14-things-to-do-if-
someone-you-live-has-covid-19.
“Protect Your Home from COVID-19.” Protect Your Home from COVID-19 | CDC, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, 5 Jan. 2021,
http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/protect-your-home.html.
“What Should I Do If Someone in My House Gets Sick with COVID-19?” Coronavirus FAQ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 Oct. 2020,
faq.coronavirus.gov/if-someone-in-my-house-gets-sick/.
Medical Wonders 