Since the beginning of January, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded more than 100,000 cases of Covid-19 with more than 4,600 deaths across the world. As of April 14th, there were more than 820,000 cases in more than 75 countries with the death toll standing at more than 45,000.
Hopes for a vaccine soon became a reality when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first coronavirus vaccine. The availability of a vaccine brought with it the need for a clearer understanding of exactly how infectious the virus is and whether or not one has been developed that actually works.
Why Is Coronavirus So Potent?
The world is aware of the serious pandemic that is the result of the COVID-19 strain of coronavirus, but many may not be familiar with the virus itself. A coronavirus is a genus of enveloped viruses that are found in animals and are typically associated with mammals including humans.
Like other coronaviruses, Covid-19 is a very potent virus. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a single dose of the vaccine given intramuscularly provides “sterilizing immunity” against the virus in adults. The vaccine also reduces the duration of illness by about one-third, making it less severe.
This makes the vaccine attractive to those who want to avoid a potentially life-threatening illness. However, it also means that the vaccine is not without side effects. While the vaccine seems to be well-tolerated so far, it may cause inflammation or autoimmune reactions in some people. More research is needed to better understand the side effects of the vaccine.
Does It Attach to Other Viruses?
It is important to determine whether or not Covid-19 has any connection to other viruses. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the novel coronavirus “is most closely related to SARS coronavirus and MERS coronavirus…with 79% identity to SARS coronavirus.”
Although the virus shares some similarities with other coronaviruses, the CDC also notes that it is “distinct from SARS coronavirus and MERS coronavirus.” Additionally, both the CDC and the WHO state that there is no evidence that Covid-19 has ever been transmitted through human-to-human contact.
SARS And MERS
SARS is an abbreviation for the disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome virus. This highly infectious disease was first identified in China in 2003 and resulted in about 800 deaths globally. Most people infected with the virus do not show any symptoms, but some develop severe respiratory problems and pneumonia. Fortunately, existing treatment options are available and many people recover.
MERS is an abbreviation for the disease caused by the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus. This disease was first identified in 2012 and is a less severe form of SARS. Like Covid-19, MERS is also considered a zoonotic virus with camels considered to be the natural hosts. Like SARS, MERS has been shown to be somewhat contagious and has been spread through close contact with an infected person. Unfortunately, not many people are aware of MERS and its symptoms since it has not been officially recognized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Is The Coronavirus Viable?
Viable virus means that the virus is able to replicate itself. Since Covid-19 has not yet been shown to infect and cause disease in other animals, it is generally considered a viable virus. However, that does not mean that the virus is easy to replicate. In fact, as of yet, there is no evidence that Covid-19 can be spread from person-to-person. As such, the most efficient way to contract the virus is from an animal to human. Once an infected human is identified and isolated, they can then be treated and prevented from further spreading the disease.
When Can We Expect A Vaccine?
Scientists are continuing to work hard to develop a vaccine against Covid-19. Unfortunately, it will likely take some time before a safe and effective vaccine can be produced. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already approved a vaccine developed by a Russian pharmaceutical company, but it will take several months of more testing before the vaccine can be made available to the public.
However, given the ongoing pandemic and the world’s need for a safe and effective vaccine, it is still a welcome sight to see pharmaceutical companies stepping up to the plate to help fight this global health crisis.
One of the things that makes Covid-19 such a formidable foe is its high rate of mutation. While the virus may not be able to infect humans, it can still change and adapt to fit its host. This makes the development and implementation of a vaccine all the more difficult. If we are unable to contain and stop the spread of the virus, it may continue to mutate, adapting to fit new hosts. This, in turn, could make the development of a vaccine even more difficult.
We are hopeful that with the World Health Organization (WHO)’s help, we will be able to contain the spread of the virus and stop it from becoming a pandemic. So far, this virus has not affected human health, and without a vaccine, there is no indication that it ever will.