The outbreak of COVID-19: An overview

• Published in: Journal of the Chinese Medical Association Vol. 83; no. 3; pp. 217 - 220
• Main Authors: Wu, Yi-Chi, Chen, Ching-Sung, Chan, Yu-Jiun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands the Chinese Medical Association 01.03.2020; Wolters Kluwer Health
• Subjects: Asia - epidemiology; Betacoronavirus - pathogenicity; China - epidemiology; Coronavirus Infections - diagnosis; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronavirus Infections - transmission; COVID-19; Global Health; Humans; Infection Control - methods; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; Pneumonia, Viral - diagnosis; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral - transmission; Review; SARS-CoV-2; United States - epidemiology; Asia; United States; China
• ISSN: 1726-4901; 1728-7731; 1728-7731
• DOI: 10.1097/JCMA.0000000000000270

In late December 2019, a previous unidentified coronavirus, currently named as the 2019 novel coronavirus#, emerged from Wuhan, China, and resulted in a formidable outbreak in many cities in China and expanded globally, including Thailand, Republic of Korea, Japan, United States, Philippines, Viet Nam, and our country (as of 2/6/2020 at least 25 countries). The disease is officially named as Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19, by WHO on February 11, 2020). It is also named as Severe Pneumonia with Novel Pathogens on January 15, 2019 by the Taiwan CDC, the Ministry of Health and is a notifiable communicable disease of the fifth category. COVID-19 is a potential zoonotic disease with low to moderate (estimated 2%–5%) mortality rate. Person-to-person transmission may occur through droplet or contact transmission and if there is a lack of stringent infection control or if no proper personal protective equipment available, it may jeopardize the first-line healthcare workers. Currently, there is no definite treatment for COVID-19 although some drugs are under investigation. To promptly identify patients and prevent further spreading, physicians should be aware of the travel or contact history of the patient with compatible symptoms.