HISTORY OF CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

A coronavirus is a group of vicious viruses that cause disease and if not get treated properly, lead to death.

In humans, it causes infection in the respiratory tract which can be mild like cough and the common cold to severe like shortness of breath the same as SARS and presently COVID-19 or SARS CoV 2.


The Evolution of Coronavirus

Before knowing the history of the virus, it is important to know the evolution. This part describes how this virus evolved all through these years.

The ancestor of the recent coronavirus is believed to have evolved near around 8000 BC. However, some models try to establish a point that these evolved as long as 55 million years ago.

The same model correlates it with the existence of the bats and considers that both of them have evolved together.

There has been a categorization of the coronaviruses in the form of alpha, beta, gamma, and delta coronavirus.

The alpha coronavirus is believed to have evolved around 2400 BCE, beta coronavirus around 3300 BCE and gamma coronavirus at around 2800 BCE whereas for delta it is estimated to have evolved around 3000 BCE.

Experts believe that warm-blooded animals, especially bats and birds are the most suitable hosts for the coronaviruses. While alpha and beta coronaviruses can be related to bats; the other two are associated with the birds.

But, the human coronavirus is believed to have diverged in the 1890s. Experts also cite that the most recent ancestor of human coronaviruses dates back to the 1950s.

The study of evolution also states that bat coronavirus and human coronavirus shared the most recent ancestor not earlier than 800 years ago. The SARS coronavirus is expected to have evolved around 1986.


History Of Coronavirus - 

The very first time this virus found its name described was in the year 1931. However, the first discovery was made in the late 1960s; to be specific in 1965. It was named HCoV-229E and was isolated from human beings.

The viruses were found from human embryonic tracheal organ cultures of an adult who was suffering from cold and respiratory tract infection.

However, the next serious case was highlighted in the year 2002 with the outbreak of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).

It was named as SARS-CoV. Before this outbreak, there was another one apart from HCoV-229E. It was HCoV-OC43.

After the identification of SARS-CoV, two more coronaviruses were discovered. Later on, these were grouped into three categories which are as follow—

• Group I- comprised of HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-229E

• Group II- has HCoV-HKU1 & HCoVOC43

• Group III- has yet to make any entry

The Study of First Detected Coronavirus

Coronaviruses are spherical in shape and have bulbous surface projections. The size of these viruses remains approximately 120 nm (diametrical length).

The detailed morphology of the virus is as follows—

It has a lipid bilayer that forms the envelope of the virus structure onto which envelope, M-protein, RNA and N protein, E protein is anchored.

The member encapsulates the nucleocapsid which is the result of multiple copies of the N (nucleocapsid) protein.


The Etymology Of The Coronavirus


The name is given to the virus based on the shape and structure it has. When viewed through an electron microscope, the virus shows bulbous surface projections resembling a solar corona or crown.

The word is taken from the Latin word Corona that means 'crown'. Though the root of this Latin version is believed to be from the Greek word- korṓnē.


Relation Between Coronavirus And Human Beings

The impact of coronavirus on human beings differs as per the risk factor. Though some are considered to have a mild impact, there are few in the list that is notorious and is considered to be pandemic.

There are seven strains of human coronavirus known. The following are known to cause very slight symptoms of a common cold—

• Human coronavirus NL63

• Human coronavirus 229E

• Human coronavirus HKU1

• Human coronavirus OC43

And the following variants are considered to cause havoc and death of millions of people as soon as the

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus or SARS-CoV and was first reported in 2003

The Middle-East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus or MERS-CoV first recognized in 2012 in 21 countries of the Middle East world

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus or SARS-CoV 2 or COVID-19 or 2019-nCoV is believed to have spread from Wuhan, China, and has turned to be pandemic

In India, the Coronavirus pandemic is on the rise. Along with the major players, Metropolis Healthcare Labs is one of the prominent Pathology Labs in India that has received authorization for the COVID-19 Testing from ICMR. 

It is actively providing Coronavirus Testing in Delhi, NCR, Chennai Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, and Aurangabad.