Transmission, Medical Consequences, and Prevention/Treatment of COVID-19 Infection

Khan, S.; Siddique, R.; Bizhanova, A.

A novel coronavirus named as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2019 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in the city of Wuhan, China, during December 2019. This virus spread quickly across the globe and posed Public Health Emergency, which was declared as a global pandemic during March 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO). Until now, several characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 are not confirmed such as exact mode of transmission, animal origins, and antiviral therapeutics. However, it is now well known that this virus infects lungs, causes difficulties in breathing process, and affects taste and smell. The disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 is known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Despite all the investigations and strategies developed, it is deemed necessary that new protocols should be launched for the development and evaluation of vaccines and therapeutics. In this chapter, we discuss the spread and/or transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the associated complications. Moreover, we summarize the therapeutic and prevention options and the most salient features of COVID-19.