All You Need To Know About The Different Types Of Coronavirus
'Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are known to cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS),' says the World Health Organization. Coronaviruses are named for the spiky projections on their surface, which resemble the points on a crown, known as 'corona' in Latin. There are hundreds of coronaviruses, however, only seven are known to affect human beings. These seven coronaviruses are divided into two groups, ?Common Human Coronavirus' and ?Other Human Coronavirus.'
1. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome According to WHO, SARS-CoV is the virus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and its first human case appeared in southern China in November 2002. SARS-CoV may have originated in bats and then transmitted to other animals before infecting humans, says the organisation. During the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic, more than 8,000 people in 26 countries around the world contracted the virus and as a result, 774 people died. The outbreak was contained in mid-2003 by implementing infection control practices like isolation and quarantine. There are currently no reported cases of SARS transmission in the world but experimental vaccines are under development, says WHO.
2. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome MERS-CoV causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and according to the WHO, it emerged in September 2012 in Saudi Arabia, although initial cases were later traced back to Jordan. Humans contract MERS-CoV through contact with infected camels. The virus is also transmitted from infected humans to other humans. No vaccine or specific treatment is currently available and the disease is controlled through isolation and quarantine, however, several MERS-CoV specific vaccines and treatments are in development. Since 2012, 27 countries have reported more than 2,400 MERS cases, with the majority of cases reported from Saudi Arabia. Health authorities around the world continue to monitor MERS cases.
3. COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 or novel coronavirus causes COVID-19. This new coronavirus was first reported in Wuhan, China, in late December 2019, after the Chinese health officials noticed an increase in pneumonia cases without any known cause. WHO says that while the virus is likely to have evolved from an animal, its exact source is unknown. Within a few months, SARS-CoV-2 has spread to 210 countries around the world after being transmitted by person-to-person contact. At the end of June, the world had over 10 million infected cases of COVID-19 and has reported over 500,000 deaths due to the virus.
Nearly 20 lakh children live on the streets of India, without an identity, a name to call their own, a place to call home, sleeping on empty stomachs for days and nights. These twenty lakh are children, who have dreams, who have rights, who are our tomorrow. They are living in the shadows today.
During these unprecedented times, not everyone can afford the privilege of social distancing. And not everybody can stay home during the lockdown, simply because they don’t have a home. Those living in poverty are extremely vulnerable, struck with a sudden lack of funds, food, mobility and a struggle for survival. And, as with all humanitarian crises, it is the children who have been affected the most.
It is always the children on the street who are subjected to some of the harshest realities of life. Today they are battling a catastrophic crisis, and it’s time we step in to protect them.
As a part of our COVID-19 response, Save the Children is working across various regions and has already directly reached over 18,000 children and adults to cover their basic needs. The organisation is ensuring their daily needs and their dignity and hygiene are also being cared for. Save the Children has identified 2.5 lakh children in cohorts, across 10 cities in India. Reaching out to these children with emergency relief is a top priority. But this cannot be done alone.
Save the Children and NDTV join hands to bring focus to the lives of children living in street situations. As India fights the Coronavirus, we must not forget one of the most marginalised and excluded groups whose lives have been long ignored – street-connected children. The 21-day campaign will generate public interest and raise funds to ensure these 20 Lakh+ children who live, earn, sleep and eat on our streets are cared for and protected. Amidst the crisis the world is facing, they are most vulnerable, exposed to infection and disease.