Recall the diseases caused by coronaviruses.
Coronavirus were first identified in 1937, responsible for causing a type of bronchitis in poulty animals. It is named so because of its crown like appearance. The projections on its surface are protein receptors. They belong to the family Coronaviridae. Covering the mouth and nose can prevent the spread of this virus. Two of the most severe illnesses caused by coronaviruses are SARS-CoV in 2003 and MERS in 2013.
SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is a viral strain that is responsible for causing respiratory illness. Viruses remain inactive outside the host but once they infect the host by getting incorporated into the host cell, they start replicating their genome. Thus, increase their number rapidly.
SAR-C0V-2 is a single-stranded RNA virus and is contagious to humans. They have the receptor-binding domain in the spike protein. Its origin could be due to natural selection in an animal host before the zoonotic transfer or natural selection in humans following the zoonotic transfer.
The disease could be spread through close contact and via respiratory droplets from cough and sneeze and enters the body by binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors. It leads to a life-threatening form of pneumonia as it affects both the upper as well as the lower respiratory tract. SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped RNA virus that causes severe respiratory illness.
Symptoms of this disease include breathlessness, chills, diarrhea, aches, dry cough, and development of pneumonia, organ failure (lungs, heart, or liver) in the advanced stage.
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