SARS-CoV refers to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus. There are two main strains:- *SARS-CoV-1*: Caused the 2002-2004 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), a viral respiratory disease of zoonotic origin.- *SARS-CoV-2*: Causes COVID-19, the disease behind the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic .*Key Characteristics:*- *Virus Type*: Enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus.- *Genome Size*: Approximately 30 kb, one of the largest among RNA viruses.- *Host Cells*: Infects epithelial cells within the lungs, and can also enter macrophages and dendritic cells.- *Transmission*: Enters host cells by binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor.*Symptoms:*- *SARS*: Initial symptoms include muscle pain, headache, and fever, followed by respiratory symptoms like cough, dyspnea, and pneumonia.- *COVID-19*: Symptoms range from mild to severe and can include fever, muscle pain, lethargy, cough, sore throat, and shortness of breath .*Prevention and Treatment:*- *Vaccine*: A vaccine for SARS was developed and placed in the Strategic National Stockpile as of March 2020.- *Prevention*: Clinical isolation, vaccination, hand-washing, and use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers are effective measures to prevent the spread of SARS.
COVID-19 Cases and Vaccination Efforts- *India’s Active Cases*: The country has reported 49 new Covid infections, bringing the total active cases to 1,463. The national COVID-19 recovery rate is at 98.81%.- *Vaccination Updates*: Gennova’s mRNA jab has received regulator nod, with 1.2 million boosters approved by CDL Kasauli.- *New Variant*: The WHO is tracking a new COVID-19 variant, classified as one under surveillance due to its 30 spike gene mutations.Research and Development- *Long COVID Study*: Researchers have identified critical differences in biomarkers of people with long COVID, paving the way for potential treatments.- *Antiviral Compound*: Australian scientists have developed a novel antiviral that targets the SARS-CoV-2 PLpro enzyme, showing promise in reducing acute and long COVID symptoms.- *New Drug Candidates*: A team at UC San Francisco and Gladstone Institutes has developed new drug candidates against coronaviruses, potentially effective against future pandemics. Global Impact- *Global Healthy Life Expectancy*: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a decline in global healthy life expectancy, dropping to 2012 levels.- *Economic Impact*: China’s policymakers are concerned about low investment and consumer spending, hampering the economy’s post-COVID recovery.
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