The new coronavirus and the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19



[Valencià](/upo/rest/publicacion/idioma/ca?urlRedirect=https://www.uji.es/com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2020/4/opinio-ana-sanchez/&url=/com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2020/4/opinio-ana-sanchez/&urlRedirect=https://www.uji.es//com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2020/4/opinio-ana-sanchez/ "Cambiar idioma a català")
[Español](/upo/rest/publicacion/idioma/es?urlRedirect=https://www.uji.es/com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2020/4/opinio-ana-sanchez/&url=/com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2020/4/opinio-ana-sanchez/&urlRedirect=https://www.uji.es//com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2020/4/opinio-ana-sanchez/ "Cambiar idioma a español")
[English](#0)

Mobile menu

* [Profile](#0)
  + [Future students](/perfils/futurs/)
  + [UJI students](/perfils/estudiantat/uji/)
  + [PDI-PI](/perfils/pdipas/base/pdi/)
  + [PTGAS](/perfils/pdipas/base/pas/)
  + [AlumniSAUJI](/serveis/alumnisauji/)
  + [Companies and institutions](/perfils/empresa/)
* [Tools](#0)
  + [Virtual Classroom](https://aulavirtual.uji.es/)
  + [CAU](https://cau.uji.es/)
  + [Directory](//www.uji.es/institucional/contacta/)
  + [Gmail](http://gmail.uji.es/)
  + [Intranet (IGLU)](//www.uji.es/upo/rest/iglu/)
  + [Virtual Office](/seu/)
  + [Academic information (SIA)](http://sia.uji.es/)
  + [Others](//www.uji.es/serveis/scp/eines/)
* [Valencià](/upo/rest/publicacion/idioma/ca?urlRedirect=https://www.uji.es/com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2020/4/opinio-ana-sanchez/&url=/com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2020/4/opinio-ana-sanchez/&urlRedirect=https://www.uji.es//com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2020/4/opinio-ana-sanchez/ "Cambiar idioma a català")
  [Español](/upo/rest/publicacion/idioma/es?urlRedirect=https://www.uji.es/com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2020/4/opinio-ana-sanchez/&url=/com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2020/4/opinio-ana-sanchez/&urlRedirect=https://www.uji.es//com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2020/4/opinio-ana-sanchez/ "Cambiar idioma a español")
  [English](#0)

[# Universitat Jaume I](/)

* [# Universitat Jaume I](/)
* [Profile](#0)
  + [Future students](/perfils/futurs/)
  + [UJI students](/perfils/estudiantat/uji/)
  + [PDI-PI](/perfils/pdipas/base/pdi/)
  + [PTGAS](/perfils/pdipas/base/pas/)
  + [AlumniSAUJI](/serveis/alumnisauji/)
  + [Companies and institutions](/perfils/empresa/)
* [Tools](#0)
  + [Virtual Classroom](https://aulavirtual.uji.es/)
  + [CAU](https://cau.uji.es/)
  + [Directory](//www.uji.es/institucional/contacta/)
  + [Gmail](http://gmail.uji.es/)
  + [Intranet (IGLU)](//www.uji.es/upo/rest/iglu/)
  + [Virtual Office](/seu/)
  + [Academic information (SIA)](http://sia.uji.es/)
  + [Others](//www.uji.es/serveis/scp/eines/)
* [Studies](/mapa/estudis/)
  + [Studies](/mapa/estudis/)
  + [Bachelor’s degrees](/estudis/)
  + [University master’s degrees](/estudis/?p_estudio=m)
  + [Doctoral studies](/estudis/oferta/doctorat/)
  + [Lifelong learning](/estudis/base/formacio-permanent/)
* [Research and innovation](/investigacio/)
  + [Research and innovation](/investigacio/)
  + [Research portal](/investigacio/)
  + [Innovation](/innovacio/)
  + [Doctoral studies](/centres/escola-doctorat/)
  + [HRS4R](/investigacio/hrs4r/)
* [International](/internacional/)
  + [International](/internacional/)
  + [International Students](/internacional/base/estudiantat/estudiantado-internacional/)
  + [Exchange Programmes](/serveis/ori/base/programes-intercanvi/)
  + [Study Abroad](/internacional/base/study-abroad/)
* [UJI](/mapa/uji/)
  + [UJI](/mapa/uji/)
  + [Get to know the UJI](/mapa/uji/coneix-uji/)
  + [Structure and organisation](/institucional/estructura/)
  + [Strategy and quality](/institucional/estrategia/)
  + [Transparency](/transparencia/)
  + [Public integrity](/transparencia/liniaetica/)
  + [News](/actualitat/)
  + [Contact the UJI](/institucional/contacta/)
* [University life](/mapa/vida-universitaria/)
  + [University life](/mapa/serveis/)
  + [Library](/serveis/cd/)
  + [Campus](/mapa/uji/coneix-uji/campus/)
  + [Culture](/cultura/)
  + [Sports](/esports/)
  + [InfoCampus](/serveis/infocampus/)

[UJI](/)
[News](/com/sumari/noticies/)

## The new coronavirus and the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19

05/05/2020 |
SCP

Compartir

Compartir

×

Linkedin

BlueSky

Facebook

Mastodon

Whatsapp

Gmail

Imprimir

* [![ opinio-ana-sanchez foto](/com/investigacio/arxiu/noticies/2020/4/opinio-ana-sanchez/foto.jpg)](#)

These days, no one is unaware that the coronavirus causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Since respiratory stress syndromes (pneumonias) can be caused by different pathogens, the disease caused exclusively by the coronavirus is called COVID-19 (**Co**rona**V**irus-**I**nduced-**D**isease). The WHO figures on COVID-19 from [9 April 2020](https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019) (3 p.m., Spain) are 1,438,994 cases and 85,586 confirmed deaths in 214 countries since the beginning of the outbreak, which occurred in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019.

Its family name1 is coronavirus, but its proper name is SARS-CoV-2 (or also "new coronavirus" nCoV-19). The coronavirus family belongs to a large group of many families and is characterised by its genetic material (single-stranded RNA). Other members of this large group, known to cause human diseases, include the following: [the dengue virus](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue), which is transmitted by mosquito bites; the [hepatitis C](https://www.who.int/hiv/pub/hepatitis/hepatitis-c-guidelines/es/) virus (which kills 350,000 people worldwide each year and is transmitted by contact with infected blood); and several members of the influenza family, which causes the well-known [seasonal flu](https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/influenza-(seasonal)). Viruses in this influenza family have been known to occur in humans for at least 100 years since the first outbreak in 1918 (the Spanish flu). The WHO estimates that this family could cause, annually, between 3 and 5 million serious cases, with 290,000-650,000 deaths from respiratory complications. Like SARS-CoV-2, the influenza family is transmitted mostly by droplets from infected people that are expelled when they cough or sneeze. In general, RNA viruses mutate extremely easily, which can lead to disease outbreaks.

SARS-CoV-2 is named after another member of the coronavirus family, SARS-CoV, which in 2003 caused an outbreak in China, which was highly lethal (10%) but not widespread geographically (less than 8,000 infections). Other members of the coronavirus family have been found in bats and also in hedgehogs, even in mice. It is thought that since the 2003 outbreak, a viral reservoir has remained in these animals and several mutations have generated this new virus that has been transmitted to humans. Another very close family member is MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) whose reservoir appears to be the camel. This interspecies transmission ([zoonoses](https://www.who.int/foodsafety/areas_work/zoonose/es/)) is not an isolated case, many others are known (e.g. influenza virus, with recombinations from birds, pigs; AIDS, Ebola, yellow fever, from non-human primates, etc.). One of the problems with animal reservoirs is that they make it very difficult to eradicate these viruses.

Therefore, we are faced with a virus belonging to a known family but with new characteristics, which has caused an extremely contagious outbreak and has saturated the health systems of the affected areas. Without care, it can be fatal for vulnerable people (the elderly or people with previous pathologies, including diabetes and pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases). According to the WHO, unlike other highly lethal viruses (such as [Ebola](https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ebola-virus-disease) or [HIV](https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hiv-aids), the AIDS virus, which in 2018 killed 770,000 people), the immune system manages to defend itself without the need for treatment in 80% of people infected with SARS-CoV2.

COVID-19 is suspected on clinical picture and radiological lung imaging. For the **diagnosis,** it is necessary a very precise method that detects only this virus and not another of the close families that we have commented before and that can also cause respiratory syndrome. To date, the most reliable test is the so-called [RT-PCR](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/RT-PCR) from nasopharyngeal samples. The WHO collects a series of [protocols](https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance/laboratory-guidance) of this technique that have been developed in different institutions or centres of disease control (CDC) in several countries. Different companies are launching quick tests that detect the antibodies that the infected person may have developed against SARS-CoV-2, which could be very useful in detecting immunised people, whether they have had symptoms or not.

Currently, there is no specific **treatment** for COVID-19. In severe cases, in addition to providing oxygen, antiviral treatments (designed for other viruses); anti-inflammatory drugs; or hydroxychloroquine (treatment for malaria), which are in the experimental phase, can be administered.

Some lines of research are studying **passive therapy with antibodies**, that is, the transfusion of serum from people already cured to patients. A review published in the *Journal of Clinical Investigation* ([13 March 2020](https://www.jci.org/articles/view/138003)) has examined the risks-benefits of this type of treatment, collecting data and trials of other viral diseases, including SARS in 2003. The conclusion of the article is that it is a very promising therapy to stop outbreaks like the current one with the right control and safety measures. Shortly after ([27 March 2020](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2763983)), the prestigious journal *JAMA* published the spectacular result in critical patients of COVID 19, recovered with serum from immunised subjects. The article acknowledges the limitations of the study: there is no placebo control group. This means that it cannot be determined whether or not they would have been cured without this treatment. In any case, there are projects in this promising line in several European countries, including Spain.

Regarding a possible [vaccine](https://www.who.int/blueprint/priority-diseases/key-action/novel-coronavirus-landscape-ncov.pdf?ua=1), as of March 20, the WHO has shown a draft of the trials underway; on that date there were two clinical trials in phase 1 and 42 preclinical trials (animal models) carried out by various companies and research centres around the world.

The International Health Regulations Review Committee already warned in 2011 that the world was not prepared for possible [pandemics](http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/communicable-diseases/influenza/pandemic-influenza/pandemic-preparedness), accidents or natural disasters. According to the same [sources](http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/communicable-diseases/influenza/pandemic-influenza/pandemic-preparedness/national-preparedness-plans/publicly-available-plans-prepared-before-2009-pandemic), Italy and Spain had action plans in place before, but not after, the 2009 flu outbreak. WHO has also warned of the escalation of diseases [as a result of climate change](https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cambio-clim%C3%A1tico-y-salud).

In other words, to protect ourselves from pathogens it is essential to strengthen our defences, both our immune system, research and the health system. People with weak immune systems are more susceptible to infections; a health system without resources cannot defend the most vulnerable population, and without research we will not have the knowledge to know how to defend ourselves.

---

[[1]](#_ftnref1) Here, the word *family* does not correspond to the taxonomy of the virus. I have chosen this word for informational **purposes.**

**Ana Sánchez, researcher in the area of Human Anatomy and Embryology at the Universitat Jaume I (UJI).**

Information provided by:
[Communication and Publications Service](/serveis/scp/)

About us

[Home](/com/investigacio/cienciauji/)
[UCC+I](/serveis/scp/ucc/)

Research dissemination

[Ciència TV blog](/com/investigacio/arxiu/ciencia-uji-tv/)
[Ciència UJI newsletter](/com/investigacio/arxiu/ciencia-uji/)
[Horizon Europe newsletter](/com/investigacio/docs/butlleti-horizon-europe/)
[Comboi, a trip through science](/com/investigacio/docs/podcast-comboi-viatge-per-la-ciencia/)
[Scientific news](/com/investigacio/sumari/noticies/ )
[Easy reading news](/com/investigacio/docs/noticies-de-lectura-facil)
[News magazine. Research](/com/revista/tematica/investiga/)
[Radio](http://www.radio.uji.es/programa.php?id=46 )

Scientific divulgation

[Experimenta UJI](/com/investigacio/docs/experimenta-uji/)
[Innobar, con b de bar (Espaitec)](https://espaitec.uji.es/podcast-innobar-con-b-de-bar/)
[Magazine «Humanes i Socials»](https://humanesisocials.uji.es)
[H2020 Projects](/com/investigacio/docs/butlleti-h2020/)
[Projects and papers COVID-19](/com/investigacio/docs/estudis-articles-covid-19/)
[Research pitches](/com/investigacio/research-pitches/)
[The Conversation](/com/investigacio/docs/the-conversation/)
[UJI Divulga (Onda Cero)](/com/investigacio/docs/uji-divulga-onda-cero/)
[Scientific vocabulary](/com/investigacio/docs/vocabulari-cientific/)

Projects and studies

[Projects and studies](/serveis/scp/ucc/projectes/)

Resources of interest

[Divulgateca](http://www.divulgateca.es)

External networks

[CRUE](https://www.crue.org/)
[FECYT](https://www.fecyt.es/es/info/que-son)
[RUVID](https://ruvid.org/)



Useful links

[University card](http://www.carnet.uji.es/)

[Multimedia catalogue](http://jecom.uji.es/)

[University press](/serveis/scp/publ/)

[Web map](//www.uji.es/mapa/)

[Educational model](//www.uji.es/institucional/estrategia/modeleducatiu/)

[Language Observatory](/serveis/ol/)

[Open Knowledge Portal](/serveis/cd/bib/pco/)

[UJI shop](http://www.tenda.uji.es/)

[Security and privacy center](https://www.uji.es/organs/ouag/sg/docs/politiques/gen/)
|
[Website legal notice](https://www.uji.es/comu/avislegal/avislegalicondicions/)
|
[Accessibility policy](https://www.uji.es/serveis/ura/base/accessibilitat/)

Information and queries:
[UJI suggestion box](/comu/forms/bustia)

Universitat Jaume I CIF: Q-6250003-H Av. Vicent Sos Baynat, s/n 12071
Castellón de la Plana,
España

Tel.: +34 964 72 80 00