History

History of COVID-19 - How, When and Why It Emerged

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most significant health events of the 21st century, affecting millions of people around the world. To understand how it emerged, it is useful to look at the history and mechanisms that led to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Origins of the pandemic

It all started in late 2019, when a series of cases of pneumonia of unknown etiology were reported in the city of Wuhan, in China's Hubei province. In December 2019, Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about the cases. Soon after, it was discovered that the cause was a new strain of coronavirus, which was later named SARS-CoV-2.

Origin of the virus

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is closely related to other coronaviruses, such as SARS-CoV, which caused the 2002 SARS outbreak, and MERS-CoV, responsible for the 2012 MERS outbreak. Like these viruses, SARS-CoV-2 is believed to be of animal origin, and its original host may have been bats. The virus is believed to have spread to humans via another animal intermediate host at one of the wet markets in Wuhan.

Spread of the virus

After spreading rapidly in Wuhan, the virus began to spread to other regions of China and beyond. In January 2020, the WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern. In March 2020, when the virus reached almost every corner of the world, the WHO declared the situation a pandemic.

Why has COVID-19 become a global challenge?

Several factors have contributed to the rapid spread of COVID-19:

• Human-to-human transmission: The virus spreads easily between people through droplets excreted when coughing, sneezing or speaking, as well as through contact with contaminated surfaces.
• Incubation period: SARS-CoV-2 has a relatively long incubation period of 2 to 14 days, making it difficult to control its spread, as infected people may not show symptoms and yet infect others.
• International travel: Globalization and intense international travel have accelerated the transmission of the virus between countries and continents.

Impact of the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has had and continues to have a huge impact on public health, economies and societies around the world. It caused a health crisis, forced numerous restrictions and changed our daily lives.

Thanks to the efforts of scientists and health professionals, vaccines were developed in record time and became a key tool in the fight against the pandemic. But the story of COVID-19 is not only about the virus, but also about global solidarity and determination to overcome this common challenge.