Talk:Viruses and mitochondrial medicine

News: Coronavirus - COVID-19 or 2019-nCoV

2019-nCoV (WHO), SARS-CoV-2 (International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses)

• COVID-19 — New insights on a rapidly changing epidemic del Rio C, Malani PN (2020) JAMA. Published online February 28, 2020. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.3072

• As of February 27, 2020, more than 82 000 cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2) and 2800 deaths have been reported, of which approximately 95% of cases and 97% of deaths are in China.1 Cases have now been reported in 49 other countries.
• The reproductive number (R0) (the expected number of secondary cases produced by a single infected person in a susceptible population) for SARS-CoV-2, although still preliminary, is estimated between 2 and 3, suggesting a higher pandemic potential than SARS.

• Coronavirus disease 2019 and influenza Livingston E, Bucher K, Rekito A (2020) JAMA. Published online February 26, 2020. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.2633

• Although a great deal of attention has been given to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, it is most severe in one area of China and appears to have limited clinical ramifications outside of that region. Lost in the discussion about COVID-19 is the fact that the US is experiencing a severe influenza season that has already resulted in more than 16 000 deaths.

• Coronavirus infections — more than just the common cold Paules CI, Marston HD, Fauci AS (2020) JAMA 323:707-8.

• Human coronaviruses (HCoVs) have long been considered inconsequential pathogens, causing the “common cold” in otherwise healthy people. However, in the 21st century, 2 highly pathogenic HCoVs — severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) — emerged from animal reservoirs to cause global epidemics with alarming morbidity and mortality. In December 2019, yet another pathogenic HCoV, 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), was recognized in Wuhan, China, and has caused serious illness and death. The ultimate scope and effect of this outbreak is unclear at present as the situation is rapidly evolving.
• The emergence of yet another outbreak of human disease caused by a pathogen from a viral family formerly thought to be relatively benign underscores the perpetual challenge of emerging infectious diseases and the importance of sustained preparedness.

• The novel coronavirus originating in Wuhan, China. Challenges for global health governance Phelan AL, Katz R, Gostin LO (2020) JAMA 323:709-10.

• China rapidly isolated the novel coronavirus on January 7 and shared viral genome data with the international community 3 days later.
• The sheer scale of China’s cordon sanitaire across Hubei Province is unprecedented.
• The health system should facilitate and encourage individuals to promptly seek testing and treatment, as well as to cooperate with containment measures such as isolation and contact investigations.
• The 2019-nCoV outbreak is currently not under control, with a high risk of spread in China and globally. Managing the outbreak requires international cooperation using traditional public health strategies that ultimately succeeded with SARS. The scientific community must fully characterize 2019-nCoV; epidemiologists must conduct intensive contact investigations; researchers should move rapidly toward development of medical countermeasures; and supply chains must mobilize to meet human needs for food, water, and medicine.