Covid 19 Global Pandemic: The Story So Far

Abstract

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the current pandemic is caused by a novel coronavirus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS COV-2). This virus was identified in December 2019. Initial cases were identified in Wuhan, China and linked with a popular sea food market. Mode of spread is by droplets or by direct or indirect contact. All over the world, health workers and other individuals have been affected with death recorded on a daily basis from different countries. Fever, cough, myalgia, anosmia, headache, sorethroat, shortness of breath are common presenting symptoms with atypical symptoms seen in older adults with medical comorbidities. Diagnosis is by nucleic acid amplification test. The real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay are used for the detection of viral ribonucleic acid, viral sequencing can also be useful to monitor viral genome mutations. Countries all over the world are using different treatment protocols as the disease condition is evolving. Azithromycin and Hydroxychloroquine combination was used in our institution, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu with positive responses as all the confirmed patients (23) admitted were discharged home. Control of this disease depends on rapid identification of cases, isolation of probable and suspect cases as well as quarantine of contacts. Although the association of this disease with race has not been fully established as almost all races are affected, the contributory factors and causes of the low rate, severity and mortality recorded in the pandemic in sub-saharan Africa so far are yet to be established.

Key words: COVID-19, Nigeria, Mortality