SARS-CoV-2 is primarily transmitted between people through these infectious respiratory particles (droplet and aerosol) when they are inhaled, or come into contact with the eyes, nose or mouth. When someone with COVID-19 breathes, speaks, coughs or sneezes, they release droplet and aerosol particles containing SARS-CoV-2 virus. The UK Health Security Agency ( UKHSA) incorporates this recommended naming system in its surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants, and releases weekly information on SARS-CoV-2 variants. On, the WHO recommended a naming system for SARS-CoV-2 variants that uses the Greek alphabet. Where mutations have the potential to increase how easily the virus spreads, escapes immunity or causes more severe disease, the variant is designated a variant of concern ( VOC). Most of these mutations have little effect. Variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus are being monitored across the globe. These mutations have given rise to new variants. The 2019 emergent SARS-CoV-2 strain, usually referred to as the original or ‘wild- type’ strain has mutated over time. It is less closely related to the coronavirus responsible for MERS ( MERS-CoV). SARS-CoV-2 is genetically related to the coronavirus responsible for the SARS outbreak of 2003 ( SARS-CoV) and to viruses that have been isolated from bat populations. They are a different family of viruses to the influenza viruses that cause seasonal influenza. Some cause less severe disease, such as the common cold, and others cause more severe disease, such as Middle East respiratory syndrome ( MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome ( SARS). Virology and characterisationĬoronaviruses are a large family of related viruses that cause diseases in animals and humans. WHO also publishes weekly international epidemiological and operational updates.Ī summary of key information about the COVID-19 pandemic is published on a dashboard on GOV.UK. The WHO coronavirus dashboard provides information on cases, deaths and vaccine doses administered internationally. For further information see the report from the WHO-convened Global Study of the Origins of SARS-CoV-2 virus. An intermediate host between the source and intoduction into humans has been considered to be ‘likely to very likely’, and investigations are ongoing. Scientific consensus is that SARS-CoV-2 is zoonotic in origin, however the source of the original outbreak is yet to be determined. On 11 March 2020 WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic due to the rapid spread and severity of cases around the world. In February 2020 this new virus was formally named as SARS-CoV-2, and the disease caused by it was named COVID-19, in line with best practice guidance. On 9 January 2020, it was announced that a novel coronavirus had been identified in samples obtained from these cases and initial analysis of virus genetic sequences suggested that this was the cause of the outbreak. On 31 December 2019, the World Health Organization ( WHO) was informed of a cluster of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. This page contains information for professionals and the public on the epidemiology, virology and clinical features of coronavirus (COVID-19), the infection caused by SARS-CoV-2.
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