BIOGRAPHY OF VIRUSES!!!

OUR VIRUS WORLD...

Cells are considered the foundation of life, but viruses—with all their genetic diversity—may share in that role. Our planet’s earliest viruses and cells likely evolved in an intertwined and often symbiotic relationship of predator and prey. Evidence even suggests that viruses may have started out as cells but lost their autonomy as they evolved to thrive as parasites on other cells. This dependent relationship began a long history of coevolution. Viruses living in cells cause their hosts to adapt, and those changes then cause viruses to adapt in a never-ending cycle of one-upmanship.

History

The Spanish flu pandemic, from 1918 to 1920, claimed 100 million lives. Experts consider it the most severe pandemic in history. The Black Death was fatal for more than 75 million people in the 14th century.

Some pandemics that have occurred throughout history include:

• 541–542: Plague of Justinian
• 1346–1350: The Black Death
  
  
  
• 1899–1923: Sixth cholera pandemic
• 1918–1920: Spanish flu (H1N1)
• 1957–1958: Asian flu (H2N2)
• 1968–1969: Hong Kong flu
• 2009–2010: Swine flu (H1N1)
• 2020: COVID-19

Animals carry some viruses that rarely spread to humans. Sometimes, these viruses can mutate and become transmissible to and between people.

When an animal virus first passes to humans, health authorities focus on it as a potential pandemic. This transmission indicates that a virus is mutating and might become highly contagious and harmful.

Swine flu and avian flu are viral diseases that were common in pigs and birds, respectively, but not humans. This changed once an antigenic shift occurred.

In recent years, there has also been concern about viruses that experts have linked to camels (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS-CoV) and monkeys (Ebola).

The COVID-19 pandemic

Writing in March 2020, the current pandemic has had an unprecedented impact across the globe.

COVID-19 is a disease that develops due to infection with a type of coronavirus. The virus started causing infections in Wuhan, China, before spreading internationally.

On the recommendation of the WHO, more than one-third of the world’s population is on lockdown. Several countries — including the United States, United Kingdom, India, and China — have closed their borders, affecting global travel and industry.

People in many countries have also lost employment as a result of “nonessential” businesses closing to restrict the spread of the virus. Restaurants, gyms, religious buildings, parks, and offices have closed in many places.

A pandemic can also increase the pressure on healthcare systems by raising the demand for certain treatments.

People with severe COVID-19 symptoms use more ventilators and beds in intensive care. As a result, resources may be in short supply for others who need this equipment.

However, countries have put in place measures to counter this. For example, the U.S. government has requested that companies, including Ford and General Motors, start making respirators, ventilators, and face shields to meet increased demand.

Authorities hope that these emergency manufacturing measures and the restrictions of movement — which have a worldwide economic and social impact — will slow the spread of the disease.

Countries are collaborating on sourcing medical equipment and developing a vaccine, even though it may not be available for months or even years.