COVID-19: Exploring the Disease Transmission Dynamics

Abstract

The Immuno-Thrombo-Inflammatory Disease: COVID-19 is an acute immuno-thrombogenic inflammatory viral disease manifested by dysfunctions related to multiple organs involved in its pathogenesis. Its incidence and prevalence is related to environmental viability of the virus, various transmission factors associated with the agent and the host, possible modes of transmission, period of infectiousness, and composition and susceptibility of the population. Whereas respiratory route is dominant mode of transmission, transmission through direct contact and fomite transmission do occur. SARS-CoV-2: Understanding the Agent Factors: Understanding of SARS-CoV-2 or hCoV-19 structural components is important for understanding the dynamics of the disease transmission and propagation. The virus has a lipid shell, a singlestranded RNA genome containing 29891 nucleotides, spike, envelope, and membrane and hemagglutinin-esterase dimer proteins. The SARS-CoV-2 structural components have been related to the COVID-19 pathogenic mechanisms. The Kinetics of Transmission and Propagation: Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to cause COVID-19 requires that a minimum but unknown dose of replication-competent virus be delivered to an appropriate anatomical site in a susceptible and vulnerable host. A combination of various agent (viral), host, and environmental factors influence the transmission and course of the disease. Fear, Confusion, and Impact on Mass Behavior: The un-relented spread of COVID-19 pandemic is a major public health concern threatening general and mental health and safety of the human life all over the globe. The associated anxiety and emotional stress levels are often high. The healthcare professionals, too, suffer with various concerns like long and strenuous working hours, being able to provide competent medical care, their safety at the workplace and taking the infection home to their family, and uncertainty about their organizational support for their personal and family needs. Conclusion: The Lessons for Pandemic Control: The human subjects produce respiratory droplets ranging from 0.1 to 1000µm. Depending on droplet size, inertia, gravity, and evaporation factors, the emitted droplets and aerosols disperse in air. There are two obvious transmission pathways: the airborne inhalation and contracting through the contaminated surfaces. It appears that the contaminated surfaces may play less significant role as compared to the infected airborne droplets and the aerosol in the disease transmission.