Faculty Publications and Presentations

Publication Date

6-2020

Document Type

Article

Disciplines

Biology | Biotechnology | Immunology and Infectious Disease

Abstract

The current outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, fig. 1), causing a respiratory-tract illness, first started in Wuhan, China, and has been escalating worldwide. The official disease name became known as COVID-19 in mid-spring 2020. It shares some characteristics of the SARS virus of 2002–3. Early on, with many cases in Wuhan, China, it was reported that the outbreak had some association with animal markets, which indicated that there was animal-to-person transmission. Like SARS-CoV-1, the suspected animal source of the virus is bats. We have not seen this virus before, and our bodies were not ready for this, nor was the world ready for the pandemic. The microbiology is fascinating; however, the effects on humanity have been heartbreaking as the virus has become widespread. The highly contagious nature of SARS-CoV-2 is greater than the seasonal flu, SARS 1, MERS, and most diseases that mankind has encountered since the Spanish Flu (Influenza H1N1) of 1918–19. The transmission of the disease has been found to be human-to-human contact. There is no known vaccine that has been tested beyond Phase 2. Additionally, different treatment options are being tested and used in patients who have COVID-19, but universally effective treatment of the virus has not been found yet. In this paper, the origin and genesis of COVID-19 are postulated. Additionally, the epidemiological/ecological aspects of the disease and biblical perspective are shared. Lastly, the epidemiology of the COVID-19 pandemic is projected along with a discussion of the biblical perspective on the plagues and pestilences.

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