Chapter 1 – What is a Coronavirus?
A coronavirus is a virus that typically causes respiratory symptoms in affected persons. It’s name comes from the tiny projections extending from the membrane that contains the viral DNA, which have the appearance of a crown, or corona in Greek (see the photo above, courtesy of the CDC). COVID-19, the virus causing the latest outbreak, is one of a family of human coronaviruses that includes the original SARS virus, first identified in 2003 and which causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS; MERS-CoV, which causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome; and at least 4 other human strains that commonly infect people around the world (read more here). It’s thought that COVID-19 is an animal coronavirus that evolved to make people sick, much like SARS and MERS-CoV. COVID-19 was first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and most of the identified cases are in mainland China and Asia. The virus has spread globally, with 15 identified cases in the US as of this post, and several hundred people quarantined. Coronaviruses, including COVID-19, can cause mild to severe respiratory illness, with symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. The incubation period is 2-14 days, and the virus can be transmitted during that time. It is not clear how the new coronavirus spreads, but most often viruses spread through person to person contact (within 6 feet); this is the reason for the quarantine. Read more about coronaviruses and COVID-19 at the CDC web site for the outbreak.
In my next post I’ll discuss the FDA’s emergency authorization of a diagnostic test for COVID-19.
Reach out to me if you want to know more or discuss your medical product development challenges.
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Text Copyright © 2020 Katrina Rogers
Image courtesy of CDC