The infection with new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

The new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, first identified in humans in Wuhan Province, China, in December 2019, has spread rapidly throughout the world, causing World Health Organization (WHO) to declare it a pandemic infection. This pathogenic agent belongs to the genus beta-coronavirus, alongside SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome). The large number of infected patients is mainly due to the modality of transmission, through respiratory droplets. The most common manifestation of the disease/infection COVID-19 is pneumonia, as there are not any specific clinical manifestations that differentiate this disease from other respiratory viral infections. The confirmation of COVID-19 is done by RT-PCR (Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction) of respiratory specimens. In most cases, the damage induced by this infection is not severe, and death occurs most frequently among older patients or with significant comorbidities. To control this pandemic infection, measures such as self-isolation at home or quarantine are recommended. Given both the large number of infected patients, as well as the large number of deaths, it is imperative to conduct studies that identify effective therapeutic measures.