Coronavirus explained (as much as one knows)
I would like to share with you some information on coronavirus or COVID-19 as is hot off the press from Metagenics Australia which might shed a little light on things.
Covid-19.... the facts it would seem.....
By now, you will have heard about a new, or novel, strain of coronavirus, originally known as novel coronavirus and now called COVID-19. With growing concerns surrounding COVID-19, it is important to remain informed of the facts regarding this viral outbreak. Let’s take a deeper look at the coronavirus and exactly how you can protect yourself, your loved ones and your patients.
What is coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, seven of which are currently known to infect humans. Four of these strains cause minor symptoms similar to the common cold and two are more severe diseases including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). COVID-19 is the latest strain to have been identified within this family of viruses.
What is novel coronavirus (COVID-19)?
At first, COVID-19 was known as ‘novel coronavirus’, which means a new strain of coronavirus. Once scientists discovered what this strain of coronavirus was and how to identify it in tests, they gave it the name: SARS-CoV-2. When someone gets sick with this virus the illness is called COVID-19. For simplicity, the virus and the disease are being referred to by the same name, COVID-19.
Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was discovered in 2019 when an unusually high number of people in Wuhan, China, became ill with pneumonia after having an illness similar to the flu. When doctors tested them, they found these people had a type of coronavirus they hadn’t seen before.
Why is it spreading so quickly?
The reason COVID-19 is spreading so quickly is simply that it is a new virus the body does not recognise, and as such has little defence against. To explain this further, viruses are thought to evolve via two mechanisms:
Antigenic drift: Occurs when small changes (or mutations) in viral genes lead to changes in the surface proteins of the virus, known as hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA).
Antigenic shift: Occurs when a major change in viral genes creates new HA and/or new NA proteins, resulting in a new virus subtype. Antigenic shift is theorised to occur when a virus from an animal population gains the ability to infect humans — a proposed mechanism behind the origin of COVID-19.
As a result of this antigenic shift, the body’s immune system may not recognise the surface proteins of the evolved virus, resulting in increased susceptibility to infection due to humans having no pre-existing immunity.
How is it spreading?
Transmission of COVID-19 occurs when infected droplets are distributed via human-to-human contact, usually when a sick person coughs or sneezes. It may also be spread via contact with contaminated objects as human coronaviruses can remain infectious on inanimate surfaces for up to 9 days. Airborne spread has not been reported for COVID-19 and it is not believed to be a major driver of transmission.
What are the symptoms of coronavirus?
Symptom severity of COVID-19 varies, with mixed reports of severe flu-like symptoms in addition to milder presentations. Primary symptoms to be aware of include:
Fever, cough and shortness of breath/breathing difficulties.
Affected individuals may also experience additional flu-like symptoms including:
Headache, muscular stiffness and pain, loss of appetite, malaise/extreme generalised fatigue, chills, confusion, dizziness, rash, night sweats, and gastrointestinal upset.
Who is most at risk?
Individuals at highest risk for severe disease include people aged over 60 years and those with underlying medical conditions. Susceptible individuals include:
The elderly
Immunocompromised individuals
People with serious or chronic medical conditions including heart disease, diabetes and lung disease
People who have recently travelled to mainland China, South Korea, Iran and Italy
Individuals in close contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus, particularly during the infectious period
The case fatality rate is approximately 3.6% of confirmed cases reported globally, with an estimated 80% of laboratory confirmed patients experiencing only mild to moderate symptoms followed by recovery. Additionally, disease in children appears to be relatively rare. Approximately 2.4% of the total cases reported involved individuals aged under 19 years.
How you can protect yourself from coronavirus?
As COVID-19 is a novel virus, there is no vaccine currently available. However, practising good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene provides the best defence against viral infections. These include:
Washing your hands frequently with soap and water, before and after eating, and after going to the toilet.
Covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, immediately disposing of tissues and using alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
If unwell, seek immediate guidance from a medical professional. You may be advised to isolate yourself from the general population for up to 14 days to stop viral spread.
The onset and severity of infection in response to viral pathogens is greatly influenced by the virulence of the pathogen and the host’s immune defences. While little can be done regarding the virulence of COVID-19, improving an individual’s immune response is the most effective strategy to protect against any pathogen.
Immune-enhancing ingredients that may be of assistance
Andrographis paniculata (andrographis) - Andrographis has extensive evidence in reducing the incidence, severity and duration of acute respiratory infections.
Zinc – This is particularly critical for the intracellular signalling pathways in both innate and adaptive immunity and is essential for the development of acquired immunity.
Vitamin C - Vitamin C supplementation has been shown to reduce the duration and severity of colds and is increasingly efficacious when combined with zinc.
Vitamin D - It is well known that vitamin D plays an important role in regulating immune function, with deficiency impacting the activity of T regulatory cells as well as the production of antibodies.
Medicinal Mushrooms - Japanese mushrooms, including Cordyceps sinensis (cordyceps), Trametes versicolor (coriolus), Ganoderma lucidum (reishi) and Lentinula edodes (shiitake) enhance the body’s immune response and provide antiviral actions.
Strain specific probiotics - Strain specific probiotics, with proven human health benefits, are useful to boost and regulate immunity. Studies have demonstrated Lactobacillus plantarum (HEAL9), Lactobacillus paracasei (8700:2) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG®) all have the capacity to protect against influenza.
What to do if you develop symptoms?
If you do develop symptoms associated with COVID-19, including fever, cough, sore throat, tiredness or shortness of breath, seek immediate guidance from a medical professional. You may be advised to isolate yourself from the general population to stop viral spread.
Individuals who have recently travelled to an international high-risk area or who have recently been in contact with a confirmed case are at an increased risk of developing COVID-19 and are advised to contact a medical professional for assistance.