COVID-19 is more "contagious" than SARS, more like HIV. (Image via Tirto.ID)

Experts: COVID-19 is 1,000x more lethal than SARS

Alfonsus Adi Putra
Business & Industry
Medical and Health
Feb 29, 2020
1923
A new finding showed that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection’s lethality is similar to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The joint study involving Chinese and European scientists found that the COVID-19 has a similar mutation as HIV, meaning that it has the ability to bind itself into cells 1,000 stronger than Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

The study analyzed the sequence of COVID-19 genomes and compared it with other viruses such as coronavirus-associated SARS, HIV, and Ebola. While the scientists did not find the mutated genes in SARS, the COVID-19’s genes have the same mutation found in HIV and Ebola.

Published in Chinaxiv, the researchers said that the packaging mechanism found in COVID-19 is really similar to what was found in HIV. Gene mutation in COVID-19 results in cell division causing a surge in virus protein within the body and binding cells, similar to what happens to HIV.

While SARS only binds receptor protein to the cell membrane, the novel method binds cell 1,000 stronger.

Another study in China also supported the first research. The further study found out that the mutation in COVID-19 could not be found in SARS and MERS, both associated with coronavirus. The researchers pointed out that the mutation most likely is the reason behind the rapid infection.

Furthermore, another study from France also stated the same. The cell division of COVID-19 is unprecedented to the previous coronavirus.

The new finding shed a light on how to tackle the COVID-19. Currently, COVID-19 has infected 83,381 people and killed 2,858 people in its wake. Fortunately, about 36,595 people recovered from the disease.

Source: https://bit.ly/38aH1Kj

Medical , Health , Disease , Outbreak , Pulmonary , Pneumonia , Coronavirus , COVID-19 , Science , Research