Global Pandemic COVID-19 (2019-nCoV): Novel Deadliest Contagion

Abstract

Global pandemic cause by coronavirus has been reported in Wuhan, China; in late December 2019. Within time duration of few weeks, the newly identified virus designated as 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and it was declared by World Health Organization (WHO). At the time of late January 2020, WHO announced it as the international emergency outbreak because of the rapid spread and increases at the global level. There is no any preventive vaccine is present or any approved therapy/treatment for this viral emergency which is very infectious globally. Till the previous few decades, six strains of coronaviruses were found, but in Wuhan, China in December 2019, a totally new strain of coronavirus was spread across the city. Within few days, it was designated as the novel coronavirus abbreviated as 2019-nCoV by World Health Organization. The rate of virus progression is still not determined and that is why it is very difficult to find the patient zero which is very essential. Phylogenetic analysis of the virus specifies bat origin of 2019-nCoV, its transmission is airborne i.e. human to human, infected person can be identified having the primary symptoms which includes high fever, upper or lower respiratory tract infection. Its diagnosis at the molecular level includes Real-Time PCR for encoding genes for the internal transcribed RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and Spike protein receptor binding domain. It can be confirmed by the Sanger Sequencing including full genome analysis by Next Generation Sequencing, multiplex nucleic acid amplification and microarray based analysis. There are few mRNA vaccines which were developed by few Biotechnology companies, showing positive results against COVID-19 and it is there in 4th phase clinical trial which possibly be the first vaccine available in the market in between mid-2021.