Today marks two years since Chinese scientists first reported to the WHO the existence of an unknown lung disease that was spreading to an epidemic in Wuhan province.
As of December 31, 2019, the disease did not yet have a name. It came from the Wuhan flea market, where live wildlife was sold for Chinese tables. It had already infected 59 people. Within 14 days, Chinese scientists were able to decode the structure of the virus, its genetic code. A week later the first tests appeared.
The coronavirus or Covid-19 spread rapidly throughout the world. The first cases were reported in France in February, followed by Italy, South Korea and Iran. At the end of the month the first deaths were recorded in Italy and on February 24 the WHO announced that the planet must prepare for a coronavirus pandemic. By March 6, the cases had already reached 100.000.
Since then, a chain reaction has begun with countries imposing strict quarantines, traffic bans, with 4 billion people being placed under house arrest at the same time.
24 months later, the cases have exceeded 285 million while the death toll is approaching 5,5 million. As of December 2020, about 11 months after the outbreak of the virus, after intensive research by scientists working tirelessly, the first vaccinations were given, setting a record speed in the manufacture and distribution of vaccines.
Scientists say we already know the virus quite well, but some things still remain unclear. The virus mutates and is more likely to become more contagious and less deadly, as the recent Omicron mutation shows. 2022 is very likely to be the year that will end the period of the pandemic that cost so many lives and has plagued the world population unimaginably. And when the great danger is over, let us consider what we did right and what we did wrong, so that we can be prepared for a similar situation in the future.
Source: edaily.com