SARSCoiv2

SARS-CoV-2, also known as the virus that causes COVID-19, is a betacoronavirus that was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The virus is transmitted primarily through respiratory droplets when an infected person talks, coughs, or sneezes. It can also spread through contact with contaminated surfaces and objects. The virus primarily affects the respiratory system, causing symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, and loss of taste or smell. In severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and even death.

The virus has a single-stranded RNA genome and is enveloped with a lipid bilayer. It belongs to the family Coronaviridae, which includes other coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. SARS-CoV-2 has a high mutation rate, which has led to the emergence of variants with different levels of transmissibility and severity. The virus is diagnosed through molecular tests such as reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and antigen tests.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on January 30, 2020, and a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The virus has since spread globally, causing millions of infections and deaths. Vaccines developed against SARS-CoV-2 have been shown to be effective in preventing severe disease and death. The virus is also known to cause long COVID, a condition characterized by persistent symptoms that can last for months or even years after the initial infection.