Question

Discuss what you know about viruses. What are they? What is the difference between the winter flu virus that we normally get vaccinated for and this one that is a pandemic? After answering these questions, please talk about what your major concerns about Cov 19 are.

Answer 1

1. Virus

A submicroscopic non cellular structure consisting of a core of DNA and RNA surrounded by a protein coat, that requires a living host cell to replicate, and often cause diseases in the host organism , is called a Virus. Virology is the study of virus, and this branch is a sub speciality of Microbiology ( study of Microbes).

Virus , when it is outside the host cell,existing in the form of Virions. This virions have an outside envelop of lipid and after that a protein coat that covering the virus' Genetic material ( RNA or DNA). Ones the virus enter the host cell, it starts to produce numerous copies of it by using the host cells' nucleus. Usually Virus shape may simple helical and/ or Icosahedral forms.

The common examples of viruses that causes disease in human are Influenza virus, rota virus, Chicken pox virus, Human paplilloma virus, HIV virus ( Human Immunodeficiency Virus) , Corona Virus etc. Virus usually spread through airborne droplets through coughing and sneezing, body fluids , or through Vectors or insects that carry viruses..etc. Virus can initiate immune response ones it is infected a cell and can produce various diseases in human host.

2 Difference between Winter flu and COVID 19

Winter flu is a viral infection, caused by influenza virus. Influenza is an acute contagious disease of the upper airways and lungs caused by the influenza Virus , which rapidly spreads around the world in seasonal epidemics. It is also called as flu, or winter flu. This disease is more common during winter season as the virus can live longer in indoors during winter and most of the people will be in indoors during winter.

When comparing with the flu, the current Pandemic COVID 19, may produce the same symptoms during initial days. The incubation period in flu is 1 to 4 days , but for Covid it is 1 to 14 days,it may extend to 5 to 21 days also. The symptoms appearance are abrupt in flu and it is gradual in COVID19. Head ache and body pain is common in flu but it occurs sometimes only in COVID 19. Respiratory issues and shortness of breath is common in COVID but not common during flu. COVID 19 is more deadly than flu and no vaccination yet for COVID , but for flu , there is vaccination for the prevention of occurrence.

Major concerns about COVID 19.

COVID 19 or the Corona Virus Disease is a deadly disease, reported in 2019 in Wuhan , China. Within few months  this Virus and infection spread to the most of the countries in the world both developed and developing countries. This infectious disease caused the death of around 1, 76, 926 people in world wide. United States is suffering a bad time with COVID 19 as it claimed around 45, 100 deaths within some weeks.  

This contagious disease is spread through airborne droplets or droplet nuclei that may be present in the air, surfaces of the objects. Social proximity may increase the chance of spreading. Hand hygiene, Social distancing and quarantine are the effective way to prevent COVID19. Health care workers should use Personal Protective clothing and Equipments to prevent COVID 19 spread.  

Countries declared Lockdown for preventing the spread of COVID19. Countries that observed strict Lockdown policies could reduce the incidence of COVID 19. Even though there will be reduction in Country's GDP ( Gross domestic product) , through Lockdown we can save our nation from this  deadly disease untill an effective vaccine against COVID 19 develops.