Coronavirus Disease-2019: An Overview and Update

Abstract

There is current worldwide outbreak of a new type of coronavirus (COVID-19), which has originated from Wuhan, China, and has now spread to 140 other countries including India. As per recent available data, it can be said that spread to human has occurred via transmission from the wild animals sold in Wuhan seafood market. It spread rapidly through China affecting more than 85,000 people. Within a few months, it engulfed Europe causing massive loss of lives and property in Italy, Spain, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and then the United States. It is now gaining a foothold in India, which has the second largest population in the world. As per current data, 4,429,969 people have been infected and 3 lakhs have succumbed to the illness all over the world. The WHO announced that COVID-19 has become a global health problem on March 11, 2020. Before March 3, India had three cases of coronavirus in Kerala, all of which were treated and discharged. On March 3, India’s fourth case was diagnosed in the state of Rajasthan and it was later found that this patient had infected 17 other Italians who were on a tour to India. Till the date of writing this article, India has 78,003 confirmed cases and 2,549 deaths have taken place. Maharashtra, Delhi, and Tamil Nadu are the three most badly affected states.