Epidemiology of COVID-19: Implications for a Gastroenterologist

“The cleanest skies are seen only after the rain”

It is unclear whether the current novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic brought to our doorsteps has zoonotic origins from some bats or has origins in some laboratory. However, it is mandatory for us to be aware of the rapid scientific developments in this field to tackle this problem effectively. In this issue, Chowdhury and Oommen have highlighted the epidemiology, transmission dynamics, and the clinical spectrum of COVID-19 infection.[1] The present editorial will focus on the implications and lessons that gastroenterologists need to learn from the epidemiology and transmission dynamics of severe acute respiratory syndrome-cronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Gastroenterologists are faced with a unique situation that they must enter precisely the area in which the virus is thriving, namely, the throat of the infected patient with their endoscopes, without maintaining social distancing, and come out unscathed. The gastroenterologists must be prepared to handle the situation arising out of spread of this virus which has high infectivity, could transmit from asymptomatic individuals, and has a prolonged infectivity which is spreading in a population with virtually no herd immunity.[1] In India, there is a steady rise in number of cases, though we have managed to flatten the curve to some extent due to lock down rightly imposed by our government in contrast to other countries, where delay resulted in a steep curve.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
16. Mai 2020

• References

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