COVID-19: A Savage Pandemic

By Amatul Ameen | 24th Dec 2022

Introduction

Covid-19 is an infectious and contagious disease caused by sars-cov2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. It has been the second-most dreadful pandemic since the influenza pandemic in 1918. COVID-19 has been declared a global pandemic, resulting in the loss of many lives and rippled the global economy. The USA has experienced the highest number of deaths among all the countries, followed by India and Brazil.

Omicron BF.7. Variant: current cause for COVID-19

The fifth variant of concern in current times and the recent past is Omicron. Omicron variant B.1.1.529 was first seen in South Africa on November 23, 2021. BF.7 is the sub-lineage of Omicron BA.5, and the current COVID-19 situation in China is due to the Omicron sub-variant. BF.7. Due to the high transmission ability of this SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19), the disease is already spreading at a millennial speed in China. It will reach other parts of the world in no time unless proper measures are taken to contain it.

The information on coronaviruses, like the severity of disease and the appearance of symptoms in the omicron and delta sub-variants, is yet to be completely discovered. However, current and previous research could classify variants to understand how they cause and spread the disease, which is an important step toward disease management.

Characteristic features and symptoms of BF.7

According to a PTI news report, BF.7 is distinguished by its ability to spread rapidly, have a short incubation period (the time between virus entry and the appearance of symptoms), and infect both unvaccinated and vaccinated people.

As per the journal “Cell Host & Microbe,” the BF.7. The variant has a 4.4-fold higher resistance than the original coronavirus. The new variant has similar symptoms, like upper respiratory tract infections, sore throat, fever, running nose, and cough.

Who is at risk of Covid-19 infection?

The people who are at risk of getting COVID-19 are elderly people, people with weak immune systems, and those who are not vaccinated for COVID-19.

The cause of the high transmission of BF.7. Variant

The omicron BF.7 Ro value (Ro is a measure of the disease spread rate) is very high; one person can spread COVID-19 to 10-18.6 others. The R-346 mutation in BF.7 is responsible for the rapid transmission of Corona disease.

Genomic Sequencing: Significance in COVID-19

Genomic sequencing is a step towards informing public health decisions. The purpose of the genomic sequence is to tell when to go into lockdown and prepare for any medical situations and emergencies. It also helps decide the correct vaccine to fight Corona disease. From the start of the pandemic, genomic sequencing has given us a significant advantage in controlling it.

Safety practises fighting COVID-19

COVID-19 inappropriate behaviour should be mandated to control disease spread, as the risk is exceptionally high with Christmas and New Year’s approaching.

Wear a mask properly when physical distance and poorly ventilated places exist.
Get vaccinated as soon as possible and follow the local authorities’ guidance.
Clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water when touching public surfaces.
Maintain social distancing properly; maintain a 1-meter distance all the time.
If you observe any symptoms of COVID-19, do get tested.
In case of a positive test result, isolate yourself.
Cover your nose and mouth adequately when sneezing and coughing. Dispose of the cloth and tissues properly, and wash your hands thoroughly.

Prevalence of COVID-19 across age and gender

COVID-19 spreads among all age groups. The vulnerable group, however, are people over 60 and those with comorbidities (comorbidities include obesity, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung disease, cancer, stem cell transplant patients, smokers, hematopoietic, and solid organ transplant patients). As evidenced by the above statement, during COVID-19, hospitalised patients were six times more than those without comorbidities and younger than 60.

Gender studies and data show that males are more likely than females to develop severe COVID-19 and fatal complications. The severity and deaths due to COVID-19 vary by ethnicity, too; racial and conservative minority groups were hospitalised more than white patients.

Manifestation of COVID 19

Patients exhibit signs and symptoms within 1.5 days of infection.
COVID-19-infected patients are estimated to be asymptomatic in 17.9% to 33.3 % of cases.
The remaining vast majority of cases presented symptoms like fever, cough, shortness of breath, and a few less common symptoms like anorexia, nausea, anosmia, myalgias, diarrhoea, sore throat, and malaise.
The clinical illness of COVID-19 is characterised by acute respiratory failure, which requires ventilation, septic shock, and multiple organ failure.

Vaccination against COVID-19

Besides applying preventive measures to defeat COVID-19, vaccination is the other most important aspect of defeating COVID-19. Discovering vaccines in such a short span is nothing less than a miracle. Vaccination triggers the immune system to produce neutralising antibodies against coronavirus.

Conclusion:

The COVID-19 pandemic started two years ago and continues to haunt us. But we have defeated this pandemic through our sheer intelligence and bravery in developing accurate medicines and vaccines. The continuous surge of COVID-19 worldwide and a few cases in India still challenge us to continue the journey to innovate and save mankind. Recent discoveries like vaccines, medicines, and support mechanisms have given us strength and more hope that we can still give our best. Avail teleconsultation from our expert doctors on our online pharmacy when you place an order for medicines, or you can also download our Truemeds app to do the same. Get branded as well as generic medicines by uploading your prescription on Truemeds. When placing an order for medicines online, you may save more money by selecting alternative or generic medicine advised by Truemed’s expert doctors. And also, save up to 72% on your purchase and get free home delivery pan India.

References:

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#omicron