Coronaviruses: Insights and Implications

Description

This lecture by the instructor covers a comprehensive overview of coronaviruses, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for COVID-19. It delves into the origins of coronavirus infections, symptoms, transmission, and the impact on human health. The presentation also discusses the global epidemiology of COVID-19, the typical course of acute viral infections, and the incubation periods of various diseases. Furthermore, it addresses critical questions surrounding COVID-19, such as the real infection rates, contagiousness of asymptomatic individuals, potential cross-immunity, and the seasonal patterns of the epidemic. The medical status quo regarding treatment, antiviral drugs, vaccine development, and the importance of preventive measures are highlighted.

Official source

https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/0_ldkivg93

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Vaccine

A vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious or malignant disease. The safety and effectiveness of vaccines has been widely studied and verified.

COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickly spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‐19 are variable but often include fever, cough, headache, fatigue, breathing difficulties, loss of smell, and loss of taste. Symptoms may begin one to fourteen days after exposure to the virus. At least a third of people who are infected do not develop noticeable symptoms.

Viral disease

A viral disease (or viral infection) occurs when an organism's body is invaded by pathogenic viruses, and infectious virus particles (virions) attach to and enter susceptible cells. Basic structural characteristics, such as genome type, virion shape and replication site, generally share the same features among virus species within the same family. Double-stranded DNA families: three are non-enveloped (Adenoviridae, Papillomaviridae and Polyomaviridae) and two are enveloped (Herpesviridae and Poxviridae).

Polio vaccine

Polio vaccines are vaccines used to prevent poliomyelitis (polio). Two types are used: an inactivated poliovirus given by injection (IPV) and a weakened poliovirus given by mouth (OPV). The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends all children be fully vaccinated against polio. The two vaccines have eliminated polio from most of the world, and reduced the number of cases reported each year from an estimated 350,000 in 1988 to 33 in 2018. The inactivated polio vaccines are very safe.

COVID-19 vaccine

A COVID19 vaccine is a vaccine intended to provide acquired immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19). Prior to the COVID19 pandemic, an established body of knowledge existed about the structure and function of coronaviruses causing diseases like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). This knowledge accelerated the development of various vaccine platforms during early 2020.