* A summary of key findings about [http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/lab/index.html COVID-19] can be found at The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) devoted
* A summary of key findings about [http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/lab/index.html COVID-19] can be found at [https://www.cdc.gov/ The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)] devoted
This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically. A novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in 2019. The illness caused by this virus has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Photo credit: Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAMS
A recent study by Gautret et al. (2020) showed, despite its small sample size (20 patients treated), that hydroxychloroquine treatment is significantly associated with viral load reduction/disappearance in COVID-19 patients and its effect is reinforced by azithromycin.[1]
Scientists are endeavoring to find antivirals specific to the virus. Several drugs such as chloroquine, arbidol, remdesivir, and favipiravir are currently undergoing clinical studies to test their efficacy and safety in the treatment of COVID-19 in China; the summary of some promising results are summarized. [2]
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↑Gautret, et al. "Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin as a treatment of COVID-19: results of an open- label non-randomized clinical trial: Intl J Antimcrob Agents" (in press) 2020 [1]
↑Dong L, Hu S, Gao J. Discovering drugs to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Drug Discov Ther. 2020;14(1):58-60. doi: 10.5582/ddt.2020.01012. PMID:32147628 doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.5582/ddt.2020.01012