Lab Paper Instructions: Writing About One Emerging Device

Lab Paper Instructions1 In Your Writing About One Emerging Disease

In your writing about one emerging disease – include the following information –

- History behind the disease

- Where it was started

- How it was discovered?

- Pandemic or epidemic

- Responsible pathogen and their characteristics

- Mode of infection

- Write about the pathogen host and disease symptom in pathogen host

- Isolation of the pathogen

- Genetics characteristics

- Vaccine or medicine development and their effectiveness.

- Statistics about the economic conditions

- Present situation

4 – 5 pages with references, graphs and diagrams. Font – Times New Roman. Font size – 12. Line spacing – Double. Reference and citation style is - APA style.

Paper For Above instruction

Emerging infectious diseases pose significant threats to global health, economies, and societies. Understanding their history, modes of transmission, pathogen characteristics, and current status is crucial for developing effective control measures. This paper explores COVID-19, one of the most impactful emerging diseases in recent history, detailing its origin, discovery, pathogen features, epidemiology, and current status.

History Behind the Disease

COVID-19 is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease emerged in late 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Initial cases were linked to a seafood market, suggesting zoonotic spillover. Recognizing its potential severity, health authorities worldwide rapidly identified and sequenced the pathogen. The disease was initially unnoticed, but within weeks, human-to-human transmission was evident, leading to a global pandemic.

Where It Was Started and How It Was Discovered

The outbreak was first identified in Wuhan in December 2019, with symptoms similar to other respiratory illnesses. Chinese health officials isolated a novel coronavirus from patients and shared the genetic sequence internationally. This rapid discovery facilitated the development of diagnostic tests. Early cases pointed to a zoonotic origin, likely involving bats or pangolins, with subsequent human transmission.

Pandemic or Epidemic

COVID-19 quickly escalated into a pandemic declared by the World Health Organization in March 2020. The disease spread globally within months, affecting nearly every country. Its rapid transmission, compounded by asymptomatic spread, made containment difficult, leading to unprecedented public health measures and economic disruptions.

Responsible Pathogen and Their Characteristics

SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped, positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the coronavirus family. Its genome is approximately 29.9 kb, encoding structural proteins such as spike (S), envelope (E), membrane (M), and nucleocapsid (N). The spike protein facilitates attachment and entry into host cells via the ACE2 receptor. Its high mutation rate has led to various variants, affecting transmissibility and vaccine efficacy.

Mode of Infection

The primary mode of transmission is through respiratory droplets expelled when infected individuals cough, sneeze, or speak. The virus can also spread via aerosols and contact with contaminated surfaces, leading to fomite transmission. The stability of the virus on surfaces and in aerosols contributes to its high infectivity.

Pathogen Host and Disease Symptoms

The primary host of SARS-CoV-2 is humans, although the virus likely originated in bats with an intermediate host possibly involving pangolins. In humans, symptoms range from mild respiratory illness to severe pneumonia. Common symptoms include fever, cough, dyspnea, fatigue, and loss of taste or smell. Severe cases can progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), requiring intensive care support.

Isolation of the Pathogen and Genetic Characteristics

The virus was isolated from patient samples using cell culture techniques in early 2020. Genetic sequencing revealed a novel coronavirus with distinctive spike protein mutations that influence infectivity. The rapid sharing of genomic data facilitated the development of diagnostic assays and vaccines, underscoring the importance of genetic analysis in managing emerging diseases.

Vaccine and Medicine Development and Their Effectiveness

Multiple vaccines have been developed against SARS-CoV-2, including mRNA-based vaccines such as Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, and vector-based vaccines like AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. These vaccines have demonstrated high efficacy in preventing severe illness and reducing transmission. Antiviral drugs like remdesivir and corticosteroids have been used to treat severe cases, though no definitive cure exists. Ongoing booster campaigns aim to address variants and waning immunity.

Statistics About the Economic Conditions

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused profound economic disruptions worldwide. Global GDP contracted in 2020, with significant declines in manufacturing, tourism, and retail sectors. Unemployment rose sharply, and governments implemented extensive fiscal stimulus measures. Supply chain disruptions led to shortages and increased prices. Developing countries, with limited healthcare infrastructure, faced disproportionate economic hardship.

Present Situation

As of 2024, COVID-19 remains a public health concern, though widespread vaccination and improved treatments have reduced mortality. Variants continue to emerge, necessitating ongoing surveillance and vaccine updates. Many countries have transitioned to managing COVID-19 like other endemic respiratory viruses, emphasizing vaccination, testing, and public health measures to minimize impact.

Conclusion

The emergence of COVID-19 exemplifies how zoonotic diseases can rapidly evolve into global pandemics, emphasizing the importance of early detection, rapid response, and international cooperation. Continued research into the virus’s genetics, transmission, and vaccine development is critical to prepare for future emerging diseases. The economic impact underscores the intertwined nature of health and economic stability, advocating for resilient healthcare systems and adaptable policies.

References

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  • Gorbalenya, A. E., et al. (2020). The species Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus: classifying 2019-nCoV and naming it SARS-CoV-2. Nature Microbiology, 5(4), 536-544.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-020-0695-z
  • Kumar, S., & Subramanian, S. (2021). COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and variants: An overview. NPJ Vaccines, 6, 27.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-021-00326-9
  • Lu, R., et al. (2020). Genomic characterization and epidemiology of 2019 novel coronavirus: implications for virus origins and receptor binding. The Lancet, 395(10224), 565-574.https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30251-8
  • Liu, Y., et al. (2020). The chimera of coronavirus and its implication in vaccine development. ACS Infectious Diseases, 6(6), 1248-1253.https://doi.org/10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00154
  • World Health Organization. (2020). COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update. WHO. https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/weekly-epidemiological-update---21-december-2020
  • Zhou, P., et al. (2020). A pneumonia outbreak associated with a new coronavirus of probable bat origin. Nature, 579(7798), 270-273.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2012-7
  • Polack, F. P., et al. (2020). Safety and efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine. The New England Journal of Medicine, 383(27), 2603-2615.https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2034577
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