Uploaded January 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Subscribe for more awesome biomedical research: bit.ly/2SRMqhC
In the last weeks, media all around the world have reported about an epidemic which is caused by a novel coronavirus called 2019-nCoV. There are no effective treatments or vaccines against this virus and different governments have already taking actions. But what do scientists really know about the virus? Let's find out!
The novel coronavirus, also called 2019-nCoV, belongs, as the name suggests, to the large family of coronaviruses. Besides causing the common cold, coronaviruses can also provoke more severe diseases such as the middle east respiratory syndrome or the severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS. In 2002, a SARS epidemic resulted in over 8000 cases and 700 deaths across 37 countries, which is one of the the reasons why 2019-nCoV is seen as particularly vicious.
But what are the symptoms of the novel coronavirus? We mostly observe flu-like symptoms. This commonly includes fever and breathing difficulties but occasionally also chills, sore throat and headache. However, there have also been more severe and several fatal cases especially in elderly and people with other medical conditions. It is currently not entirely clear if the novel coronavirus can remain asymptomatic or how long it is dormant (meaning how long it takes until first clinical symptoms arise).
Where does this virus originate from? Researchers conducted genetic tests, which leads to the conclusion that this viral strain evolved from one unknown coronavirus and another one found in bats. The process by which viruses can infect new species is called zoonosis (and roughly 75% of all human infectious diseases arise from zoonosis).
Unfortunately, there are currently no effective or fully developed vaccines against Coronaviruses. Some vaccines have only been tested in animals. However, researchers have recently developed a test to quickly diagnose the novel coronavirus and are nor trying to make it publicly available.
For your further research:
thelancet.com/pb-assets/Lancet/pdfs/S0140673620301549.pdf
thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30183-5/fulltext
ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(20)30011-4/fulltext
medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.01.23.20018549v1
charite.de/en/service/press_reports/artikel/detail/researchers_develop_first_diagnostic_test_for_novel_coronavirus_in_china
Music:
Intro:
Light Sting by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com
Transitions:
Light Thought var 3 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: incompetech.com
About Clemens Steinek:
CLEMENS STEINEK is a postgraduate student/youtuber (LifeLabLearner) who is currently conducting stem cell research in Germany.
Subscribe for more awesome biomedical research: bit.ly/2SRMqhC
In the last weeks, media all around the world have reported about an epidemic which is caused by a novel coronavirus called 2019-nCoV. There are no effective treatments or vaccines against this virus and different governments have already taking actions. But what do scientists really know about the virus? Let's find out!
The novel coronavirus, also called 2019-nCoV, belongs, as the name suggests, to the large family of coronaviruses. Besides causing the common cold, coronaviruses can also provoke more severe diseases such as the middle east respiratory syndrome or the severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS. In 2002, a SARS epidemic resulted in over 8000 cases and 700 deaths across 37 countries, which is one of the the reasons why 2019-nCoV is seen as particularly vicious.
But what are the symptoms of the novel coronavirus? We mostly observe flu-like symptoms. This commonly includes fever and breathing difficulties but occasionally also chills, sore throat and headache. However, there have also been more severe and several fatal cases especially in elderly and people with other medical conditions. It is currently not entirely clear if the novel coronavirus can remain asymptomatic or how long it is dormant (meaning how long it takes until first clinical symptoms arise).
Where does this virus originate from? Researchers conducted genetic tests, which leads to the conclusion that this viral strain evolved from one unknown coronavirus and another one found in bats. The process by which viruses can infect new species is called zoonosis (and roughly 75% of all human infectious diseases arise from zoonosis).
Unfortunately, there are currently no effective or fully developed vaccines against Coronaviruses. Some vaccines have only been tested in animals. However, researchers have recently developed a test to quickly diagnose the novel coronavirus and are nor trying to make it publicly available.
For your further research:
thelancet.com/pb-assets/Lancet/pdfs/S0140673620301549.pdf
thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30183-5/fulltext
ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(20)30011-4/fulltext
medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.01.23.20018549v1
charite.de/en/service/press_reports/artikel/detail/researchers_develop_first_diagnostic_test_for_novel_coronavirus_in_china
Music:
Intro:
Light Sting by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com
Transitions:
Light Thought var 3 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: incompetech.com
About Clemens Steinek:
CLEMENS STEINEK is a postgraduate student/youtuber (LifeLabLearner) who is currently conducting stem cell research in Germany.
