Question

In your own words, write about:

• Describe COVID-19.
• Evaluate media reports, as well as formal reports from agencies such as the WHO, the CDC, and/or city/county/state governments, or other websites that discuss this pandemic and can provide a glimpse into the public health response to the disaster.
• Consider the effectiveness of the public health response.
• Identify barriers and facilitators associated with the public health response.
• Discuss lessons learned from the public health response.

Answer 1

COVID -19

The SARS corona virus disease abbreviated as Covid 19 emerged from the country China. Since the disease started at the end of the year 2019,the digit 19 is used in the shortform as covid 19.

The infection is caused by a RNA virus called SARS corona virus 2 that can cause severe respiratory distress and some times cause death. The origin of the virus is supposed to be from Wuhan market. Initially the disease only contained in China. After that entire world got infected. World health organization declared covid 19 as pandemic.

Signs and symptoms of infection includes fever, sore throat, throat pain, muscle pain, headache, loss of smell (anosmia), loss of taste sensation, blockage of nose, running nose,cough,diarrhoea.Severe cases may have respiratory distress and death.

The mode of transmission is by aerosols from one individual to other individual. Recently air borne transmission is also suggested.

Risk factors for covid 19 are age above 60 years, diabetes, chronic heart /lung /kidney disease. Any condition that decrease the immunity like cancer, chemotherapy, organ transplant patient.

Treatment include symptomatic treatment for fever and antibiotics like azithromycin and antimalarial like hydroxychloroquine are used. Other drugs like remdesivir is also used recently. Other immunomodulators like tocilizumab ,italizumab are also used. Plasma therapy is also used.

Preventive measures includes use of facemask, social distancing, avoid crowding, proper hand washing.