Micrografia elettronica a trasmissione di particelle di virus SARS-cov-2, isolate da un paziente. Immagine acquisita e colore migliorato presso il NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) di Fort Detrick, Maryland.
2400 x 2400 px | 40,6 x 40,6 cm | 16 x 16 inches | 150dpi
Data acquisizione:
25 marzo 2020
Ubicazione:
USA
Altre informazioni:
Questa immagine potrebbe avere delle imperfezioni perché è storica o di reportage.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).[6] The disease was first identified in 2019 in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei, China, and has since spread globally, resulting in the 2019–2020 coronavirus pandemic.[7][8] Common symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Other symptoms may include muscle pain, sputum production, diarrhea, sore throat, abdominal pain, and loss of smell or taste.[4][9][10] While the majority of cases result in mild symptoms, some progress to pneumonia and multi-organ failure.[7][11] As of March 25, 2020, the overall rate of deaths per number of diagnosed cases is 4.5 percent; ranging from 0.2 percent to 15 percent according to age group and other health problems.[5] The virus is mainly spread during close contact and via respiratory droplets produced when people cough or sneeze.[12][13] Respiratory droplets may be produced during breathing but the virus is not considered airborne.[14] [12] People may also catch COVID-19 by touching a contaminated surface and then their face.[12][13] It is most contagious when people are symptomatic, although spread may be possible before symptoms appear.[13] The virus can live on surfaces up to 72 hours.[15] Time from exposure to onset of symptoms is generally between two and fourteen days, with an average of five days.[16][17] The standard method of diagnosis is by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) from a nasopharyngeal swab.[18] The infection can also be diagnosed from a combination of symptoms, risk factors and a chest CT scan showing features of pneumonia.[19][20] Recommended measures to prevent infection include frequent hand washing, social distancing (maintaining physical distance from others, especially from those with symptoms), covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or inner elbow, and keeping unwashed hands away from the face.
