Viral outbreaks are not new; we have faced SARS, MERS, Nipah, Zika and several other viral outbreaks in the recent past. However, none has made the world stand still as COVID-19 has. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared this outbreak a pandemic due to its high transmission rate. The number of cases and deaths continues to rise as it has spread to over 200 countries, making it a global concern. A drug or vaccine that will help end this pandemic is needed.
COVID-19 was identified by pneumonia causalities at Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. Though early cases were linked to a wet market in the Hubei Province, it is now understood that the virus spread through human-to-human transmission via droplets or direct contact; the infection is estimated to have a mean incubation period of 6.4 days and a basic reproduction number of 2.24–3.58. The major symptoms recorded in COVID-19 infected causalities include fever, cough, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and kidney failure.
COVID-19 is a beta coronavirus, similar to the human coronaviruses SARS and MERS. With this novel outbreak, there are now seven different strains of human coronaviruses (HCoVs): the 229E and the NL63 strains of HCoVs (alpha coronaviruses), OC43, HKU1, SARS, MERS, and COVID-19 HCoVs (beta coronaviruses). As the world braces to fight the global pandemic through social distancing and country-wide lockdown, here’s a snapshot of advances in healthcare technologies that will help transform human lives affected by COVID-19:
Potential COVID-19 treatment avenues
Denne historien er fra May 2020-utgaven av Healthcare Radius.
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Denne historien er fra May 2020-utgaven av Healthcare Radius.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Trigeminal neuralgia patient gains relief
Thumbnail-sized microvascular decompression gives relief to trigeminal neuralgia patient.
IMA forms national alliance to fight AMR
National Alliance of Medical Professionals on Antimicrobial Resistance formed
Abbott launches vertigo awareness campaign
Abbott’s new vertigo awareness campaign, Chakkar Ko Check Kar, aims to raise awareness about the condition that affects about seven-crore Indians.
HCG Cancer Centre hosts fitness challenge for doctors
HCG Cancer Centre Borivali and HCG ICS Khubchandani Cancer Centre, Colaba offer a fitness challenge for doctors on National Doctors’ Day.
IAP launches pediatric cough management awareness campaign
The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) kickstarts ‘Tackling Cough With Care’ initiative to spread awareness about pediatric cough management.
MedGenome invests in GenX Diagnostics lab
Expands presence in East India with stake acquisition
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Godrej Consumer unveils breakthrough mosquito repellent
Indian scientists develop new molecule, Renofluthrin, to combat mosquito-borne diseases.
Narayana Health Insurance offers ₹1 cr coverage for surgeries
Narayana Health Insurance launches ‘ADITI’, a health insurance product offering coverage of up to ₹1 crore for surgeries and ₹5 lakh for medical management at Narayana Health.