Five years ago, a mysterious virus emerged in Wuhan, China, causing widespread illness and death globally. The SARS-CoV-2 virus, as it came to be known, exposed deep flaws in the global health system and reshaped public opinion on how to control emerging viruses.
Despite humanity’s success in building up immunity through vaccinations and infections, the virus remains a threat. Scientists continue to track its evolution, with ongoing efforts to develop new vaccines and treatments.
The origins of SARS-CoV-2 remain unclear. Theories suggest it may have originated from bats, potentially infecting another species before jumping to humans at a market in Wuhan. However, debate surrounding the virus’s true origin continues due to concerns over China withholding evidence.
COVID-19 has claimed millions of lives worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the death toll is estimated to be around 20 million, with the US experiencing an average of 900 deaths per week in the past year alone.
Vaccines have been instrumental in saving tens of millions of lives and getting life back to normal. Multiple vaccine candidates were developed rapidly, with some proving more effective than others. Efforts are ongoing to improve vaccination strategies, including developing next-generation vaccines that could provide longer-lasting protection.
A new variant, omicron (XEC), has become the dominant strain in the US, despite causing less severe disease than previous variants. Researchers believe immunity from vaccination and infections has contributed to this trend.
Long COVID, a lingering condition affecting millions worldwide, remains poorly understood. While vaccination can reduce the risk of developing long COVID, its causes are still unclear. Researchers continue to investigate potential links between the virus’s persistence in some patients’ bodies and the development of long-term symptoms.
Despite significant progress, much work remains to be done in understanding and addressing the ongoing pandemic.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/5-years-after-it-appeared-things-we-know-and-still-dont-know-about-covid