The new coronavirus, which spreads around the globe and shuts down businesses and individuals in our cities and throughout the United States, is something to be worried about.
What is it that makes this virus different from other viruses that infect people?
COVID-19 is not the most serious
Same day results covid testing in Dallas suggest that COVID-19 is about ten times as deadly as the seasonal flu, resulting in death for only 0.1 percent. But scientists will not be able to confirm this until more testing is available.
Researchers lack the data required to calculate the exact percentage of death from this virus infection, as there have been some cases that were mild and others that were fatal. Researchers predict that the fatality rate for this virus will drop once the data is gathered. This is in contrast to what we see in hotspots around the world.
The virus that spreads fastest is not also the most dangerous
Michael J. Buchmeier (Ph.D.), an infectious diseases professor at University of California Irvine School of Medicine, says that this virus is about as contagious and contagious as seasonal flu. One individual can infect two to three other people.
This is in contrast to measles which may affect 18 people or chickenpox which can affect 12 people simultaneously. These highly infectious diseases can be prevented with vaccinations.
No one is safe
It is not a virus that can be detected in humans, so no one is immune to it. Its ability to infect upper respiratory systems and spread from person to person with similar ease to influenza makes it extremely dangerous. It is not vaccineable.
Researchers believe that coughing, sneezing and huffing can spread the disease. The COVID-19 virus lives in the upper respiratory tract, which includes the nose and mouth. We are also finding out that people who are sick can inadvertently spread this virus to others even before they show symptoms.
MERS and SARS did not spread as quickly or widely
COVID-19 virus is similar to SARS. It is also known as SARS CoV-2. Buchmeier says that it binds to similar receptors to SARS-CoV-1, but is more persistent. The virus can enter cells faster, hold onto the cells longer, and spread more rapidly.
When the virus affects the bronchial tubes and lower respiratory tract, it can cause pneumonia.
In response to the intruder, the body creates an inflammatory response. This immune response causes about 15% of people to experience a cyclical immune reaction known as a “cytokine storm”.
Researchers say that “Cytokine Synthesis is an immunological reaction to try and eliminate the virus.” It occurs under normal conditions and peaks in the early stages of the immune response. This aids in the production antibodies and T cells specific to the virus. Some COVID-19 patients may experience a prolonged cytokine response that is too intense.
Researchers believe that the virus could be responsible for significant lung damage. The cytokine storm may also cause damage to the heart, kidney, or coagulopathy (clot formation).
Researchers claim that this can make some people very sick or even cause death. Researchers reported similar cytokine reactions to coronaviruses.
Differences: Flu, Covid-19 and Cause
- COVID-19 There are many SARS-CoV-2 strains. They vary in severity and contagiousness. PCR test can help distinguish them.
- Influenza virus:the cause of the flu. These are the main strains of influenza A and B viruses. Every year, new strains of influenza A and B virus are discovered and spread.
Symptoms
- COVID-19 While many coronavirus-infected people don’t have symptoms, or have only minor symptoms, they can still spread their illness to others.
COVID-19 can sometimes cause people to lose their senses of taste and smell (ageusia). Although this can occur with certain flu viruses, it is not common.
Flu: Although the flu does not usually alter one’s senses of taste or smell it shares many COVID-19-like symptoms. A specific strain of influenza can cause a widespread loss in taste or smell, as was the case during the 1918 flu pandemic.
