Novel Coronavirus 2019-nCoV
Prevalence and Comparison of Biological and Clinical Characteristics with SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV
Authors: S.A. Meo, A.M. Alhowikan, T. Al-khlaiwi, I.M. Meo, D.M. Halepoto, M. Iqbal, A.M. Usmani, W. Hajjar, N. Ahmed
Affiliation: Department of Physiology, Strategic Centre for Diabetes Research, Thoracic Surgery, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
sultanmeo@hotmail.com
Infectious Diseases
Objective: Human infections caused by zoonotic coronaviruses present emerging and re-emerging pathogenic features that raise major public health concerns. This study examined the global prevalence and the biological and clinical characteristics of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV), and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
Materials and Methods: Data on global outbreaks of 2019-nCoV, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV were collected from the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), relevant ministries and research institutes. Additional information was obtained from ISI Web of Science–indexed scientific publications regarding prevalence and biological/clinical features of the analyzed viruses.
Results: Globally, SARS-CoV affected 32 countries with 8,422 confirmed cases and 916 deaths (10.87%) between November 2002 and August 2003. MERS-CoV affected 27 countries with 2,496 cases and 868 deaths (34.77%) from 2012 to 2019. The novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV rapidly crossed borders, spreading to 27 countries, infecting 34,799 people and causing 724 deaths (2.08%) between December 29, 2019 and February 7, 2020. MERS-CoV showed the highest fatality rate, while 2019-nCoV exhibited the fastest transmission.
Conclusions: The novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV demonstrates epidemiological and biological characteristics making it more contagious than SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, affecting more individuals in a shorter time frame, despite a lower fatality rate. Common clinical features among the three viruses include fever, chills, cough, dyspnea, myalgia, malaise, drowsiness, diarrhea, confusion and pneumonia. Global health authorities must take immediate measures to prevent future outbreaks.