The CORONA VIRUS, officially known as COVID-19, is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. First identified in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, it rapidly spread across the globe, leading to an unprecedented global health crisis. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a pandemic in March 2020.

Origins and Transmission

COVID-19 is believed to have originated from an animal source, with bats likely being the original hosts and possibly another animal acting as an intermediate carrier. The virus spreads primarily through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. It can also spread by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the face.

Symptoms-

Common symptoms of COVID-19 include:

Fever or chills

Cough

Shortness of breath

Fatigue

Loss of taste or smell

Muscle or body aches

Vaccines and Treatments

Several vaccines, such as those developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and AstraZeneca, were rapidly developed and distributed worldwide starting in late 2020. Vaccination has played a crucial role in reducing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death rates. Antiviral treatments like Paxlovid and monoclonal antibody therapies have also been used.

Lessons and Future Outlook

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed gaps in global health systems but also accelerated innovation in vaccine development, telemedicine, and crisis response. Ongoing surveillance and new variants remain concerns, but global preparedness has significantly improved.