Περιγραφή
Since the identification of the first cases of the coronavirus in December 2019, there has been a significant amount of confusion regarding the origin and spread of the so-called ‘coronavirus’, SARS-CoV-2, and the cause of the disease COVID-19. Conflicting messages from the media and officials across different countries and organizations, the abundance of disparate sources of information, unfounded conspiracy theories on the origins of the virus, unproven therapies, and inconsistent public health measures, have all served to increase anxiety in the population. Where did the virus come from? How is it transmitted? How does it cause disease? Is it like flu? What is a pandemic? In this concise and accessible introduction, a leading expert provides answers to these commonly asked questions. This revised and updated edition now also covers how the virus mutates, how important these mutations are, how vaccines work, and what we can expect in the near and long-term future.
- Revised and updated edition of an essential guide to the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and the disease COVID-19
- New to this edition: virus mutations and variants; vaccinations and immunity; an update on treatment options
- Discusses the first cases, the clinical characteristics, and the inconsistent public health measures adopted across different countries and regions and their impact
- Includes coverage of testing, the immune response to the virus, and how we can treat the virus and prevent infections
- Provides a comparison of the 2019 coronavirus pandemic with the 2003 SARS outbreak, as well as flu pandemics, including the 2018 Spanish flu and 2009 H1N1
- Discusses what data is available, what it means and what can be learnt from it