COVID-19 Pandemic: A Concise Appraisal of the Current Status
Otolorin Gbeminiyi Richard
*
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Akefe Isaac Oluwatobi
Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia.
Olufemi Olaolu Tosin
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Esonu Daniel Obinna
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
Dunka Hassana Isaac
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Adanu Williams Adanu
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Danjuma Friday Audu
Department of Theriogenology and Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Kia Grace Sabo Nok
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
Ovwighose Naomi Oghenefega
Department of Veterinary Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Mshelbwala Philip Paul
University of Queensland Spatial Epidemiology Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton 4343, Australia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Covid-19 is caused by the Betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2) which is an enveloped RNA virus causing diseases in both humans and animals. This research involved a systematic review with the aid of computerised literature search from PubMed, Scopus, Medline, ScienceDirect, Embase and Google Scholar and other recently published editorials. Specific words/phrases used for the search included COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 vaccines development, SARS-CoV-2 and COVAX.The rapid velocity by which the virus spreads, based on its unexpectedly high infectivity, requires urgent action towards both the development of a vaccine and effective viral inhibitors to decrease the virulence or eliminate symptoms. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused marked effect on global health and the economy worldwide being that it is shrouded in numerous uncertainties as scientist worldwide are yet to fully understand the virus. Although significant progress have been recorded by scientists, new information of the virus keeps emerging especially with the emergence of new variants and the capability of the virus to infect a multitude organ types apart from the respiratory tract. Consequently, there is a need for scientists all over the world to be constantly updated with recent information evolving from current research. This review is a concise appraisal of the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic across various regions of the world.
Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, vaccines, pandemic, global health