Coronavirus: Origin And Fight Against SARS-CoV-2

There is still no certainty about the origin of the new coronavirus. We also do not know what options there are to definitely prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and new waves of infection. Unless this pathogen behaves differently from other viruses, it will gradually weaken as scientists develop effective treatments to limit the effects. 

The corona pandemic has changed our lives and makes headlines every day. But the information about the origin of SARS-CoV-2 has not yet been confirmed and we also do not know how we can definitely fight this disease. 

Since the beginning of the Corona crisis, we have received a wide variety of theories and also incorrect information, which is distributed in particular in social networks. Is it a secret plot, a biochemical attack, or the fulfillment of a prophecy? Conspiracy theories are numerous,  but the fact is that the exact origin of this pandemic is still unknown. 

The question of how we can definitely put an end to the COVID-19 disease is also not yet known. We then take a closer look at the possible origin and possible solutions.

The origin of the SARS-CoV-2

There is still great uncertainty about the exact origin of this new virus, as well as about many other aspects of SARS-CoV-2. We are currently talking about various theories, but none of them have been definitively confirmed. Some are more evidence-based than others, but none of them are demonstrable.

What we do know is that coronaviruses are plentiful and this is not the first time they have been transmitted from animals to humans. 

One of the most widely accepted theories is  that the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 was transmitted from bats to humans through indirect contact. These are said to have transmitted the virus to pangolins, which were sold on an exotic animal market and thus enabled transmission to humans. Pangolins are used as food and also for medicinal purposes in various countries.

Another theory is the direct transmission of  the new coronavirus from pangolins to humans without the involvement of bats. A team of scientists was able to discover two coronaviruses very similar to SARS-CoV-2 in pangolins.

Many of the viruses that humans have faced throughout history come from animals. Therefore, the explanation that SARS-CoV-2 is also a zoonotic pathogen seems to be plausible. 

But another, very worrying question is always heard: Was this new coronavirus bred in the laboratory? There is no clear answer to this question either, only speculation. 

The fight against SARS-CoV-2

We have been fighting a wide variety of viruses and bacteria since time immemorial, but in many cases not very successfully. So far, only smallpox and rinderpest have been completely eradicated. 

The new coronavirus is not the first pathogen, nor is it the worst. The danger of SARS-CoV-2 does not lie in its fatality, but in its infection rate. The problem is that many people become infected with it at the same time and the virus spreads very quickly. This in turn has led to the collapse of the health system in various countries.

Under ideal circumstances, that is, when there is an opportunity to  properly treat all patients, the death rate would likely be less than one percent. But the reality is different: Mortality is higher in many countries because not all people with serious Covid 19 disease can receive medical care quickly.

The further development 

Since SARS-CoV-2 has now spread worldwide and has become a pandemic , this pathogen is unlikely to go away either. Viruses usually get weaker over time because their goal is not to kill the host, as they ultimately need it to survive. Their goal is to spread with the help of the host in order to guarantee their survival.

Since SARS-CoV-2 is new, we still know relatively little about its behavior. But if this develops in a  similar way to other comparable viruses, this new pathogen will also be less aggressive over time in  order to adapt to humans. Many also assume that the infection rate will decrease in the summer months, but that a new wave can be expected in autumn or winter.

In the meantime, many researchers around the world are trying  to develop antiviral drugs against Covid-19. These could prevent the virus from multiplying in the body. Vaccination could also be available in the next 10 to 18 months.

Learning to live with SARS-CoV-2, even if we don’t know the origin

After outbreaks of various viruses, mankind has learned to live with these pathogens. The viruses remain, but the infection rate stabilizes over time. Even if we do not know whether we will find out the exact origin of the virus, it  is very important for the population to learn more about the future and the development of SARS-CoV-2.