Impact of Viruses and Lessons Learnt

Impact of Viruses and Lessons Learnt

-Dr. Lalit Kumar Setia

Disclaimer: The purpose of this article is just to spread awareness about health issues. No content is written to harm others. It is a must to consult doctors and medical experts before adopting any advice-driven from this article.

Ideas for post Covid recovery of Indian Economy

The seven points agenda for recovery of Indian Economy after Corona period, is working well. The Indian citizens who love nation are committed to use these seven formula to put the economy again in double digit economic growth.

Vaccination to cure Corona Covid-19:

The countries around the world used vaccination to stop the Covid and covid variants. However, it was observed that the rich countries ordered more vaccines than their requirement to face the pandemic.  

The vaccination is proved as a boon to safeguard from the viruses, however the threats are still there about the long term use of vaccine to safeguard from the Corona virus.

While the poor countries faced dire shortages of the vaccines. But experts advised not to forget that even if the pandemic stays in poor countries, it is adverse for all countries in long run. Therefore, there is a need to spend more on medical research especially to fight against the Covid variants. The Delta and Omicron variants of Corona affected more adversely than its earlier Alpha, Beta, Gamma variants. 

Those who followed the SoP for preventing Covid remained successful by just washing hands and using Sensitizer in these five rounds of mutation, however, the virus is expected to spread again and again, even today. The history tells the viruses are not dead instead they become inactive for few years and again reactive for the destruction to the mankind. 

Whether Covid Vaccine are permanent Solution or not

The vaccination campaign around the world safeguarded human beings from Covid-19 and its Variants. However, the persons who had been vaccinated, also be affected by Covid after the Vaccination. The overall protection was the immunity level of the body. The vaccine also tried to boost immunity.

 

In such circumstances, the suspense was not ended on how to safeguard from not being affected by Covid. How to stay safe, is still a question mark and the world is witnessing the third wave of the Covid-19. It is a must to understand the pandemic, the reasons behind it, and how to safeguard:

What to do if someone in the Family is infected from Covid Corona?

The WHO issued the above-mentioned precautions.

Do you know?

At a restaurant, you should wash your hands after ordering. The menu is generally the dirtiest thing you can touch! It means each minor step, a person is taking, needs to be a thing again whether it is an invitation to a non-hygenic environment or not. 

As per the history book, there had been a lot of pandemics happening in the world before the COVID-19, it explained that the Antonine Plague came in 165 AD and killed over 5 million people at that time. Thereafter the Bubonic Plague killed 25 million people in 541 AD and over 100 million people from 1346 to 1353 AD. In the 19^th Century, from 1852 to 1860 nearly 1 million people were killed with Cholera, and the same again killed over 8 Lacs from 1910 to 1911. Even Flu which spread due to Influenza killed over 1 million from 1889 to 1890, over 20 million in 1918, over 2 million from 1956 to 1958, and over 1 million in the year 1968. From 2005 to 2012, HIV- AIDS killed over 36 million people, and now the COVID-19 of the year 2019, affected crores of people around the world.

Omicron - New Variant of Concern

In November 2021, the cases of one new variant of Corona virus identified and it is given the name 'Omicron'. It is third variant of Corona Virus. The Covid-19 followed by Delta Variant affected the world and be cause of deaths during 2019 to 2021 and in the year 2022, it is expected that Omicron will be the new threat. The medical science is doing research and it is less tracible as on today. 

Viruses:

Just for the sake of humor, I would recall the scene of the 3 idiots movie in which a student named his teacher "Virus" by looking at his nature to affect others and change the philosophy for making successful by ensuring excess than required discipline. Excess of everything leads to some crisis. The attack of deadly coronavirus is due to the excessive dependence of humankind upon non-vegetarian food without knowing the drawbacks of what they are eating. The deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) as per the findings became viral due to eating bats which are a host of various categories of viruses. Each virus requires its own treatment in allopathy and experiments are required to find out the anti-dot of the same. Just a few times back, there was an attack of the deadly Nipah Virus.

The National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) worked to provide training to the doctors and health workers for dealing with the cases of dangerous viruses including the Nipah virus. The N95 and three-layer masks are used to prevent the disease from being viral. The viruses are active particularly due to a lack of immunity and the viruses target the weak persons first. New research by Australia's Griffith University found Cancer, Chronic Kidney Disease, Diabetes, and Hypertension; the four main comorbidities leading to deaths from Covid-19. The research took a sample of 3,75,859 persons from 14 countries to find out the common medical problems in the patients affected from the Covid-19. Persons with hypertension and diabetes are found at higher risks to be affected by the viruses.

The target of Viruses:

Human bodies are usually targeted by viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Unfortunately, everyone is not aware of such infections and usually becomes targeted. Thereafter a lot of medicines are required to cure the diseases that originated from the infections. On 31^st December 2018, The Hindu newspaper reported that “a 19-year old donor, whose HIV-infected blood was transfused to a pregnant woman from Virudunagar district, died at the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH)”. It happened because the staff at the hospital’s blood bank failed to identify the HIV and Hepatitis B infections in his blood. It is a must to understand the viruses, bacteria, and parasites so that everyone can take care and stay healthy forever. In this article, we will understand each point in very simple terminology.

What is a virus?

In science, we studied that viruses are not visible to human eyes and the microscope is used to see the viruses. The viruses have no cells and they depend upon host cells to survive. Till the time, host cells are not in touch with the viruses, they stay inactive and after the contact of host living cells, they become active and start to reproduce themselves.

Whenever a disease that is spread by viruses is diagnosed, the first thing, the doctor recommends i.e. clinical test to check whether there is an infection by a certain virus or not. Various types of fevers are diagnosed by checking the presence of viruses. Other diseases like smallpox, polio, NIV, HIV, etc.; are originated from certain types of viruses. It is a must to understand how to stay far from such infections.

How does a virus infect?

Due to life without cells, a virus in itself cannot be considered a living thing. A virus cannot multiply and reproduce until having contact or touch with a living thing. For example, a virus identified in pig farmers in 1999, later it is found that it had been originated from pigs affected with mild disease. Out of 300 people, 100 died due to such infection. The investigation found that the pigs were affected by Nipah Virus (NIV). Similarly, other viruses, infect humans through transmission from animals or other living things.

Later on, it is found that the pigs in the case of NiV were the intermediate host to carry the virus and the origin of the NIV was infected fruit-bats. The NIV infection can be prevented only by staying far from the infected living things. The farmers died due to infection from the sick pigs. The pigs were the intermediate hosts and the fruit bats were the natural hosts of the NIV.

Nipah Virus (NiV) in Kerala, India:

Recently, in 2018, three persons died due to infection of NiV in Kerala. In this case, the persons have taken water from a wall in which a fruit-bat died. The water was contaminated due to sick fruit bat affected by NIV. The virus could affect more people but it was controlled.

In the case of NiV infection, fever and vomiting with nausea are usually noticed in a patient. The first thing to prevent the virus from being spread is adopting healthcare precautions including avoiding the touch or contact of NiV affected persons, wearing masks and gloves, etc. As per the report of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Nipah Virus is emerging as a new epidemic and it is a must to understand this new virus and stay protected. The natural host for NiV is fruit-bats.

 

Why natural hosts do not die from infection?

For most of the viruses, there are natural hosts who carry the viruses. For example, in the case of NiV, the fruit bats are natural hosts. In the case of HIV, the natural host is Gorilla. It is interesting to know the origin of HIV; which is the main cause of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). In 1981, HIV-1 was identified in wild-living chimpanzees and gorillas in west Africa. Even today, HIV infection is common in the people of West Africa. The people having contact with chimpanzees in Africa suffered from this virus and then the virus is spread further to other people.

Hepatitis Virus:

There are five types of Hepatitis Viruses i.e. A, B, C, D, and E. The Hepatitis A virus is transmitted through the oral route and Hepatitis B, C, and D are transmitted through the blood or semen of the infected person. The Hepatitis E virus is transmitted from the dirty water supply, which is contaminated.

What is Zoonosis?

 The virus and bacteria are transmitted through contact with infected humans and animals. The disease which is suffered from such infections of viruses is known as Zoonosis.

Bacteria and Parasite:

Like viruses, bacteria are also seen only by using a microscope. These are formed of a single cell. However, the bacteria may also be beneficial and help in improving digestion. The parasite is multi-cell bacteria and they are dependent upon the natural host for their survival. The tapeworms, protozoa are examples of parasites. Bacteria and Parasites both negatively impact the host cells and spread their infection. The diseases like cholera, smallpox are spread with the help of parasites.

Ways of transmission of viral diseases:

There are three ways i.e. through viruses, through bacteria, and through parasites.

(i) Transmission through virus:

In the case of diseases transmitted through viruses, the virus can sustain inactive for a long term and be activated whenever they gain contact with a living organism generally animals and birds. Thereafter, they became activated and transmitted diseases such as HIV, NiV, etc. These diseases are sometimes very dangerous and incurable. With fast transmission from human to human, the disease took the form of an epidemic. The best way to prevent such diseases is to avoid touch and physical contact with animals, birds, and other human beings. It is also a must to be pure vegetarian and eat fresh fruit and vegetables only.

(ii) Transmission through Bacteria:

The bacteria are found everywhere and sometimes beneficial and sometimes harmful. The bacteria also transmit diseases and they can also be originated inside the body. For example, various types of T.B. is originated from bacteria and are also transmitted through bacteria. The plague is also transmitted through bacteria carried by the mice.

(iii) Transmission through parasite:

The parasite cannot survive without the support of host living organisms and the host living organisms transmit the parasite from one to another. The worms inside the human body depend upon the food taken by the person and affect negatively by decreasing the immunity power. Such worms are parasites which are originated due to many reasons including intake of low-quality food. Similarly, the nits and lice usually stay on the scalp of the head and do not drift out of hair. They took blood from the human body and in case, they are taken from the head and thrown away, cannot survive for more time. They are also a parasite, negatively affects the human body. Ringworms, bedbugs, pinworms, etc. are the types of parasites.

Value of Good Health during Pandemic

Every one of us realized the value of good health during the pandemic of Covid-19. The eating of junk food and drinking of cold refrigerator water automatically stopped in the homes, cafes, and hotels. The inhaling of steam and drinking hot water, improved the health of people to fight the Covid-19 virus. Each item is selected carefully in the food so that the immunity boosts further.

Value of positive thoughts during Pandemic

 Not only the Government, even the personalities, film stars, news channels, etc. started to share video clips to stay positive and how can we fight the virus by keeping hands clean and wearing masks. The Yoga and Meditation exercises were adopted suddenly by most of the people who were not believing in such practices. The positive thoughts on social media platforms, infuse energy to fight the pandemic.

Resilience

The schools and colleges were closed during the pandemic period, an entire lockdown was announced in India and each person followed the advisories. Instead of too many constraints in living smooth life, everyone compromised with the free lifestyle. Even most people come ahead with creative solutions to overcome the difficulties of life. Students started to learn online and schools also adopted a pattern to teach online which was never thought of a few years back. The examinations are conducted in the online form without physical proximity and the students made full cooperation in it. The technology uses improved to a great extent and Zoom application offered free of cost. Instead of too many cases of covid-19 positive in nearby locations, everyone stayed firm to remain positive.

Appreciation to people doing welfare activities

During pandemic times, the people who were involved in welfare activities to prevent Covid-19 were called Corona Warriors and appreciated by each citizen, government, and even expressed with words thanking on the social media platforms. The first time, when the Covid-19 outbreak happened nobody was aware of how dangerous it is. But everyone kept working to fight its symptoms and also help others to follow the guidelines of the Government. The cleaning of homes, especially cooking vegetables, sweeping of roads, picking up garbage, almost everything becomes fast in a way to restrict Covid-19 to impact upon more lives. Everyone became conscious to look after the health and comfort of life.

Rich people realized the value of Poor people

In industrial cities, the laborers started to leave the cities for saving their life and suddenly the Government and people of industrial cities tried to stop them to go from there. It is realized that the poor people who belong to labor categories are the foundation on which the economic prosperity and quality of life depend. 

Life is full of happiness and sorrows, the more we learn to tolerate the both, maturity comes in the actions. It's must to learn lessons from the viruses as well.

 *Copyright © 2021 Dr. Lalit Kumar. All rights reserved.

This content was written by Dr. Lalit Kumar Setia; a renowned author and trainer. He completed his Doctorate in Commerce from Kurukshetra University Kurukshetra and MBA in Information Technology from GJU, Hisar. He also wrote two books, 15 research papers, and organized more than 200 Training Courses during his working period since 2006 in Haryana Institute of Public Administration, Gurugram. The article was published on 1st November 2021 and last updated on 1st November 2021. The writer can be contacted on lalitkumarsetia@gmail.com 

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