Question

1. SARS emerged in 2003, spread to 26 countries with more than 8000 cases (WHO) with a case fatality rate (CFR – the death rate) of 11%. MERS emerged in 2012 and had a CFR of 35%. It is very difficult to estimate the CFR of COVID-19 worldwide, and CFRs will differ in different countries (due to health systems, and underlying population demographics), but ranges seem to be between 0.5% and 3%. Why is SARS-CoV-2 more dangerous than SARS-CoV-1 or MERS given it has a lower death rate? (~300 words, include a short reference list)

Answer 1

SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) virus identified in 2003.SARS-CoV is thought to be an animal virus from an as yet uncertain animal reservoir, perhaps bats, that spread to other animals(civet cats) and first infected humans in the Guangdong province of southern china in 2002.

A contagious and sometimes fatal respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus. SARS appeared within a few months, although it was quickly contained. SARS is a virus transmitted through droplets that enter the air when someone with the disease coughs, sneezes or talks. No know transmission has occurred since 2004.

Middle East respiratory syndrome(MERS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by a noval coronavirus(Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus or MERS-CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arbia in 2012.

It is a species of coronavirus which infects humans, bat and camels. The infecting virus is an enveloped, positive sense, single-stranded RNA virus which enters its host cell by binding to the DPP4 receptor. The species is a member of the genus Betacoronavirus and subgenus Merbecovirus.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome(SARS).

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease and cancer are more likely to developed serious illness and appear to be more vulnerable.

Numerous coronaviruses first discovered in domestic poultry in the 1930s cause respiratory, gastrointestinal, liver and neurologic diseases in animals. Only 7 coronaviruses are known to cause disease in humans. Three of the seven coronaviruses cause much more severe and sometimes fatal, respiratory infections in humans than other coronaviruses and have caused major outbreaks of deadly pneumonia in the 21st century.

SARS carried a mortality rate of 10%, which is more than a heart attack treated. The mortality rate for MERS has been reported as high as 37%. The take home message is clear the coronavirus is associated with considerable lethality. This is the reason the entire medical world is carefully looking at china. The chinese have already reported 81 deaths and more than 1500 confirmed cases. The mortality rate target is unclear right now, but is close to 5%. But this can vary for litte is known about the toxicity of the virus or the response of response of a victim.