Understanding Coronavirus (COVID-19)

In December 2019, the city of Wuhan in Hubei province China, became the centre of a suspected outbreak of pneumonia. At first, no-one was able to establish a cause. Health authorities immediately investigated the nature of the disease and ways to control its spread. In January 2020, Chinese scientists isolated a new coronavirus from the patients in Wuhan; this we now refer to as SARS-Cov-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. It is the seventh virus from this family known to infect humans. In this podcast, I will explain why the virus has been able to spread so rapidly, how viruses in general cause damage to cells and tissues, and will review how patients are tested for viral infections. I'll also examine the 'SOLIDARITY' initiative set up by the World Health Organisation (March, 2020), that aims to overcome COVID-19 by investigating the efficacy of current drugs and vaccines, and the potential for developing new ones. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)