Review on COVID-19 disease: Its outbreak and current status

ABSTRACT

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is diversely found in human beings and wild animals. It is an enveloped RNA virus. There are a total six species which cause disease in humans. They commonly infect respiratory, neurological, enteric, and hepatic systems. There is history of endemic outbreaks in past in the form of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERSCoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome related coronavirus (SARS-CoV).We have seen another outbreak due to a new strain called the SARS-CoV-2 virus which presented as a pneumonia of unknown etiology in patients in Wuhan, China. The epicenter of infection was linked to seafood and exotic animal wholesale markets in the city. It is highly contagious and has resulted in a rapid pandemic of COVID-19. As the number of cases continue to rise, it is clear that these viruses pose a threat to public health. This review will describe clinical features and treatment of COVID-19 patients and raise awareness among healthcare workers and general population during the current pandemic. This review article aims at giving up-to-date information about the disease and counselling of patients. © 2020, Institute of Medico-Legal Publications. All rights reserved.