Re. Coronavirus COVID-19 - World War III By Microbes - M..A.A.Aleem in BMJ 2020;368:m1090

BMJ British Medical Journal 

Feature

Global Health

Covid-19: how doctors and healthcare systems are tackling coronavirus worldwide

BMJ 2020; 368 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1090 (Published 18 March 2020)

Cite this as: BMJ 2020;368:m1090

Response

    

Re: Covid-19: how doctors and healthcare systems are tackling coronavirus worldwide

Dear Editor

Coronavirus COVID-19 - World War III By Microbes

As of today the coronavirus COVID-19 is affecting 94% (183) of countries and territories around the world and 1 international conveyance (the Diamond Princess cruise ship harbored in Yokohama, Japan). There are more than 2.5 lakhs (255 901) confirmed cases with a 10% (10 495) death rate. About 90% (89918) of cases have recovered from illness.

Now the epicenter of the coronavirus is in Europe, with almost all the countries in Europe reporting coronavirus infection. In the coming days the epicenter of coronavirus infection may be shifted to the USA as predicted by CDC.

World countries which are used to tissue paper hygiene are mostly affected with coronavirus infection.

Countries which are used to water based hygiene like India, Africa and some of the Southeast Asian countries are comparatively less affected as of today.

The specific drugs for the coronavirus infection are yet to be found out.

There is some ongoing research with drugs like Antivirals (Remdesiviran, Danoprevir and Ritonavir), Antimalarials (Hydroxychloroquine), Antibacterials (azithromycin) and some Antibody agents are in progress.

As of now, it will take one year to have vaccines for coronavirus prevention.

So washing hands, adopting social distance (without touching, hugging and kissing), personal hygiene (without touching the eyes, nose, mouth) and respiratory hygiene are the only ways to beat and break the chain of coronavirus spread all over the world irrespective of habits, cultures and traditions.

Competing interests: No competing interests

20 March 2020

M.A.. Aleem

Emeritus Professor of Neurology * Visiting Specialist in Neurology ** Consultant Neurologist ***

The Tamilnadu Dr.M.G.R. Medical University * Dhanalakshami Srinivasan Medical College ** ABC Hospital ***

Chennai 600032* Perambalure 621212** Trichy 620018*** Tamilnadu India

@drmaaleem