European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

COVID-19: THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC WAVE – A REVIEW

Afeeda P. A*, Athira Suresh*, S. Chinthu Krishna*, Rinu Raj*, Najma Beegam*, Priya Thomas**

ABSTRACT

An ongoing catastrophic outbreak of a new virus tagged as nCoV-19 (Novel Corona virus-19) and currently designated as SARS-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), has glinted an alarm globally. Secondary infections are reportedly common in hospitalized, severely ill COVID-19 patients leading to increased mortality. The lack of natural immunity and viral replication in the lower respiratory tract lead to severe lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The anxiety and uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and the absence of antiviral drugs with complete cure are probably other contributors to the widespread prescription of antibiotics. Preventive measures such as social distancing, quarantine, prohibition of spitting in public spaces, proper hand washing, cleaning and sterilizing the surfaces are the mainstay for curbing the transmission of this virus. The present review highlights the update of novel SARS-CoV-2 in context to the Indian scenario and the superinfection and co- infections associated with COVID 19.

Keywords: Covid 19, SARS-2, Super infection, Coinfection, Pandemic.