Novel Coronaviruses including COVID-19
Mutations, Variants, and Vaccines
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LEARNING OUTCOME AND OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the pathophysiology of novel coronaviruses and the impact of such viruses on health. Specific learning objectives to address potential knowledge gaps include:
- Explain the etiology of novel coronaviruses.
- Describe the pathophysiology of novel coronaviruses.
- Discuss coronavirus mutations.
- Identify the types of vaccines used in the prevention of novel viruses.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Novel Coronaviruses and Their Etiology
- Pathophysiology of Coronaviruses
- Virus Mutations and Variants
- Vaccines
- Conclusion
- Resources
- References
NOVEL CORONAVIRUSES AND THEIR ETIOLOGY
It is imperative that healthcare professionals understand novel coronaviruses, how they impact humans, and what can be done to prevent spread and adverse impact.
Definitions
The word novel comes from the Latin word novus, which means “new.” In healthcare, novel typically refers to a virus or bacteria that has not been previously known (BRG, 2020).
Novel pathogens can cause both epidemics and pandemics. An outbreak of disease is designated an epidemic when there is a sudden increase in the number of cases of the disease occurring over a wide geographic area and affecting a high proportion of the population. When that disease spreads across several countries and affects large numbers of people around the world, it is then referred to as a pandemic (CDC, 2020a).
SARS-CoV-2 and Other Novel Viruses
Viruses are named according to their genetic structure for the purpose of developing diagnostic tests, vaccines, and medicines. The diseases caused by these pathogens are named in order to facilitate discussion on disease prevention, spread, transmission, severity, and treatment (WHO, 2021b).
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses named for crown-like spikes on their surface. These viruses can cause illnesses ranging from a mild common cold to serious, even fatal diseases. There are literally hundreds of different coronaviruses, and most of these viruses are found in animals. Although coronaviruses can be transmitted from animals to people, it is not a common event. It is even more uncommon for an animal coronavirus to infect people and then spread from person to person. When viruses are transmitted from animals to humans, they generally cause illnesses that affect the upper respiratory tract with varying degrees of severity (BRG, 2020; Billingsley, 2020).
The first human coronaviruses were identified in the mid-1960s. Seven of these viruses are known to affect humans today. This includes SARS-CoV-2, which is the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Four of the seven human coronaviruses typically cause mild to moderate illness and are responsible for 10% to 30% of upper respiratory tract infections in adults. However, the other three viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, can lead to more serious infections (Billingsley, 2020).
SARS-CoV-2 is the first novel coronavirus to cause a pandemic in the last 100 years. Other pandemics were caused by novel influenza A viruses, not coronaviruses (Billingsley, 2020). COVID-19 has claimed millions of lives throughout the world and is among the most serious pandemics recorded.
There are two other novel coronaviruses that have caused severe illness:
- SARS-CoV is the virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). This disease was first reported in Asia in 2003. The disease rapidly spread to 26 countries before being contained. Containment took about four months. There have not been any cases of SARS reported since 2004.
- MERS-CoV is the virus that causes Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). It first emerged in Saudi Arabia in 2012. The disease spread to 27 countries. An estimated 80% of reported cases of MERS were found in Saudi Arabia. In the United States, only two people tested positive and both recovered.
(Billingsley, 2020)
Etiology of SARS-CoV-2
Determining the source of a viral outbreak is typically a complex process. In the case of the virus that causes COVID-19, epidemiologists performed field investigations to determine how this novel virus began. Surveys were conducted in the community and healthcare facilities. Nasal and throat specimens were collected for lab analyses. Survey results showed who was infected, when illness developed, and where they were just prior to becoming ill.
After analyzing the data, epidemiologists determined that the COVID-19 virus possibly came from an animal sold at a market, although its origin remains uncertain. The disease began to spread in Wuhan, China, where it became an epidemic. It then spread rapidly across the world, affecting millions of people (CDC, 2020a).