The Covid-19 Pandemic.

 

Table Of Contents:

1. Concept of Global Epidemics.
2. What is Corona Virus?
3. What is Covid-19?
4. How does Covid-19 spread?
5. Symptoms of Covid-19.
6. What precautions can be taken to avoid Covid-19?
7. Effects of Covid-19 on pregnant women and children.
8. Can a mother infected with Covid-19 breastfed her child.
9. What kind of safeguards should be taken in case of travel.
10. Corona virus mobile apps.
11. Conclusion.

Concept of Global Epidemics:

A global pandemic refers to a disease that affects a large number of people spreads across multiple continents or over a large area of the world. If the number of victims remains constant, it isn't called an epidemic. Global pandemic occurs on a scale that transcends international boundaries, usually affecting people worldwide. And many people died from it. It must be contagious. For example, many people die from cancers but it is not considered an epidemic because the disease is not contagious.

The history of epidemics is as ancient as human civilization. Infectious diseases have spread to certain areas at times, sometimes worldwide. Plague, cholera, tuberculosis, leprosy, influenza, smallpox various diseases have become epidemics different times. Some of these pandemics are discussed below:

In 430 BC (plague of Athens):

 In 430 BC, plague broke out in Athens, the capital of Greece. Outbreaks appeared to have been exacerbated during the Peloponnesian war. The epidemic, which lasted for  about five years, killed nearly 100000 people. The main cause of the disease was fever, extreme thirst, bleeding of the throat and tongue, reddening of the skin and scarring.

In 541 AD (Justinian Plague):

According to CNN, the epidemic began in 541 AD, but lasted for almost two centuries. The epidemic killed at least 50 million people in the Middle East, Asia and Mediterranean. The bacterial disease was transmitted by rats. It was estimated that 10 percent of the world's population died at the time. Many believed that the disease originated in the Northeastern region of India and China. The disease spread swiftly by  the sea.

In 1346 AD ( The Black

 Death):

The Black Death is one of the deadliest epidemics in Europe. According to Live Science, the plague broadly spread from Asia to Europe. According to many, the epidemic killed nearly half of the Europe's population. The dead were buried in mass graves.

The Cholera Epidemic:

In 1817 the first cholera epidemic occurred in Russia. It's a waterborne disease. The disease killed about one million people in Russia. British troops from Russia came to India carrying cholera germs. Cholera was spreading in India rapidly and millions of people were dying. The disease spread to the entire British Empire, Spain, Africa, Indonesia, China, Japan, Italy Germany and America and millions of people were died. Although the vaccine was invented in1885, it took a long time to get it under control.

The Spanish Flue (1918-1920:

The Spanish Flu is the worst epidemic in the history. It appeared in 1918. Approximately 20 million people died of this disease in just two years. According to Live Science.com, about 500 million people were infected from the South Sea to the North Pole and half of them died. Many indigenous groups became  extinct. The cause of this flue was H1N1 virus.

Asian Flue (1957-1958):

The flu that started in Hong Kong in 1957 was called Asian Flu. It spread to many countries, including China, England and the United States. Its prevalence lasted till 1956. It killed 11 million people. The flu was caused by the H2N2 virus. Later it was possible to prevent this epidemic with vaccines.

AIDS (1981):

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic disease caused by the Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The disease was first identified among homosexual in America in 1981. It destroys the body's immune system. As a result, an AIDS patient can easily become infected with any contagious disease. Which could eventually lead to his death. The disease has become one of the most devastating epidemics in history as no cure has yet been discovered.

SARS (2003):

The first infectious disease that caused panic in the 21st century was SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). It is also a type of corona virus which is known as SARS CoV.  The first case of SARS was reported in China. According to the World Health Organization, the virus was detected in late February 2003. The flu had infected more than 8000 people in 17 countries and killed at least 700. When the SARS virus enters the body, it initially causes a headache, fever and a dry cough within a week, which sometimes turns into Pneumonia. In just six months, SARS came under global control.

Ebola Virus:

The first outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus occurred in 1976 in two regions of the Congo and South Sudan simultaneously. The virus later became known as Ebola when it broke out in a village on the banks of the Ebola River. According to the World Health Organization, the death toll  from this deadly disease is about 50 %.  Although Ebola was first detected in 1986, its biggest impact came in West Africa in 2014-2016. The virus first started in Ginnie in West Africa and then spread to several countries, including Liberia and Sierra Leone. In 2014-2016, 14124 people were affected in Sierra Leone and 3956 of them died. In those two years, 10675 were infected in Liberia and 4809 of them died. In Ginnie, 3811 people were affected and 2543 died.

  Covid-19: 

On December 1, 2019, a new virus that invaded the human body and killed millions of people in the city of Uhaop, Hubei Province, China, became known throughout the year as the SARS CoV2 Virus and the disease was named Covid-19. It's the fastest growing epidemic in the world. In the meantime, about 260 millions people have been infected with this disease in the world and nearly 5.2 millions people have died. The World Health Organization declared the Corona Virus crisis an epidemic on March 11, 2020.

What is Coronavirus?

The Coronavirus a large family of many viruses that can cause illness in animals or humans. A number of Coronaviruses can cause common colds  and coughs in humans as well as cause serious illness such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome(SARS), Covid-19.

What is Covid-19?

Covid-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Virus. The virus causes respiratory infection in humans. In other species it causes different symptoms. In chickens it causes upper respiratory  infections, and in cows and pigs, it causes diarrhoea.

How does Covid-19 spread?

How we can be infected by Covid-19 is discussed below:

• The disease is spread from person to person infected with Covid-19.
• The disease is spread by the droplets that is coming out throughout sneezing and coughing of the nose and mouth of a person infected with Covid-19.
• These droplets or water droplets stick to things or places around people. If someone touches these places or objects and then touches their eyes, nose or mouth, the risk of getting this disease increases.
• If the infected person sneezes, coughs or drops of water from the breath enters the body of others, then the Covid-19 can spread. Therefore, it's very important to stay more than 3 feet away from the sick person.
• In certain situations, the Covid-19 may float in the air and cover a distance of more than 6 feet. When one inhales these particles, Covid-19 can spread.
• According to World Health Organization, no evidence of Covid-19 spreading from food or food packaging has been found so far.

Symptoms of Covid-19:

The Covid-19 Virus affects different people in different ways. Most infected people experience mild to moderate illness. And may recover without being hospitalized. The symptoms of this disease are discussed below:

The most common symptoms:

• Fever
• Caugh
• Tiredness
• Loss of taste or smell

Less common symptoms:

• Sore throat
• Headache
• Aches and pains
• Diarrhoea
• Red or irritated eyes
• A rash on skin,or discoloration of fingers or toes

Serious Symptoms:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
• Loss of speech or mobility or confusion
• Chest pain

If you have severe symptoms, you should seek medical advice immediately. You must call before going to the doctor or health family.

If the general symptoms appear, it's possible to recover through home treatment according to the doctor's advice.

If a person is infected with the virus, it takes 5-6 days for the symptoms to appear. However, in some cases it can take up to 14 days.

What precautions can be taken to avoid Covid-19?

We can take the following steps to get rid of Covid-19:

• Stay Home:

Whether you get vaccinated or not, if you are sick or tasted positive for Covid-19, you must stay at home for at least 10 days.

• Maintain Distance:

You should always avoid crowds, keep a distance of  at least 6 feet at all times.

• Keep Hands Clean

Wash your hands frequently with soap or water or with an alcoholics hand wash product.

• Wear A Mask:

You must use a surgical mask or N99 mask or N95 mask before going out from home.

• Keep The Area Around The House Clean:

You must always keep your house, road and surroundings clean and tidy. Because germs spread more from dirty environment.

• Get vaccinated:

One of the ways to protect yourself and others is to get vaccinated. All adults can easily take the Covid-19 vaccine. Australian Scientists have recommended that children 12 years of age or older should receive Covid-19 vaccine. On the other hand, mothers who are breastfeeding will also be able to get vaccinated. So you must take the Covid-19 vaccine to protect yourself.

• Avoid The Sick Person

You should always avoid a person who has a cold or a fever because you can easily get infected with Covid-19 by contact with an infected person.

• Use A Handkerchief When Sneezing Or Coughing:

You must cover your nose and mouth with elbows or tissues when sneezing or coughing. The tissue used should be immediately placed in the specific place.

• After Returning From Outside, Take A Bath:

You have to take a bath, when you get home from work. You have to keep yourself clean at all times, this will reduce the risk of infection a lot.

• Seek Medical Advice Quickly:

If you or your child has a fever, cough or shortness of breath, consult a doctor immediately without delay.

Effects of Covid-19 on pregnant women and children:

It's a new type of virus and no information has yet been found on how the virus affects children or pregnant women. All we know that people of any age can be infected with the virus.  However, the incidence of Covid-19 infection  among children is still low. We only know that people of any age can be infected by the virus. However, pregnant women must be vaccinated according to the doctor's advice and never go to the hospital or public place without need. 

Can a mother infected with Covid-19 breastfed her child:

According to the World Health Organization, mothers can breastfeed their babies, even if they are infected with the Corona virus. Mother and child should not be separated in anything. The benefits of breastfeeding are far greater than the risk of Corona.

What kind of safeguards should be taken in case of travel:

If you want to travel to a country, you need to check if there are any restrictions on travel to that country. Whether there is a need to stay separate at the time of entry or  if there are other relevant travel tips. There is also a list of countries affected by Covid-19 and details about the restrictions on the International Airlines Website. It's important to know the details of the update information of Covid-19 before traveling and must follow the necessary hygiene rules.

Corona Virus mobile apps:

Corona virus mobile app is a program used by Government, Hospitals, Colleges, Universities and other communities to help the public responsed to Covid-19. These applications and dashboards can track symptoms, provide up-to-date information about the spread of the virus and help limit our communication and much more. The programs help you to find out what you need to know about viruses in a variety of ways. It can be an important tool for keeping track of your health. These apps can guide you through multiple questions about your health and corona virus exposure. It also helps to determine if you should see a doctor. It also shares tips for social distance, self-isolation and symptoms tracking. It's available as an app  for iPhone and on the web.

In conclusion, to protect ourselves from Covid-19, we must always follow the necessary hygiene rules, get vaccinated and pray to God for our recovery.