According to health organizations, emerging viral infections are a major threat to global public health.

COVID-19, which appeared in December in Wuhan, China and spread quickly around the world, is actually a type of coronavirus (CoV) – one that is similar to SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, all which attack the respiratory system and derive from animal origin. (A Look Into the Epigenetice of a Coronavirus Infection – March 10, 2020).

Since these new viruses are able to mutate quickly in humans and are constantly changing, it’s up to the host’s immune system to ‘clear’ the infection.  Epigenetics may offer some clues into this viral puzzle.

Epigenetics is the scientific study of both genetic and non-genetic factors that determine a cell’s specialization.

Methylation is a chemical tag interwoven on the DNA that influences the expression or silencing of the cells’ basic DNA without rearranging the structure.

Viruses from the family of coronaviruses are not able to change genetic sequences.  However, they can alter the expression, allowing them to defeat a host’s immune response and successfully spread infection.  This process is not yet fully understood but it’s clear that viruses antagonize the immune system.

Coronaviruses are common in humans and animals and can cause forms of upper-respiratory infections such as a cold, or bronchitis and pneumonia according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention).  Yet, it is rare for an animal coronavirus to infect people and then spread from person to person.  However, this has happened with SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, Avian Influenza (H5N1), Swine/Variant Influenza (H1N1) and now COVID-19.

In a study published in 2018 in the  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists identified that the epigenetics process of methylation was the primary suspect in suppressing the production of antigen presentation molecules in diseases.  As well, methylation was involved in lessening the immune response.

In other scientific studies, it’s obvious that viruses can delay or offset pathogen recognition as well as interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) expression levels by encoding proteins that prevent immune signaling response.  The immune systems can be inhibited into believing that no threat exists because the virus produces a protein that blocks the antiviral gene function.

Right now, we’re in the midst of fighting one of the most prolific viral outbreaks of the 21st century, it’s an emerging epidemic-prone disease and it’s efficient at spreading.

Any information gained from scientific studies should be made public across political and international boundaries.  Having information in a rigorous, peer-reviewed manner will increase the utility and leverage of already existing data systems, which may be vital in developing both vaccines and therapeutic treatments. (Natalie Crowley, A Look Into the Epigenetics of a Coronavirus Infection March 10, 2020)

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as most other medical experts, have determined that the Novel Coronavirus (nCOVID-19) poses a high risk for older adults and people who have severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney diseases, etc… It’s vital to maintain some basic infection-control measures.

PRECAUTIONS

Avoid close contact with people who are sick

Clean your hands frequently

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being out in public, blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

If soap and water aren’t available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 % alcohol.

To the extent possible, avoid touching ‘high-touch’ surfaces in public places, like elevator buttons, door handles, handrails and handshaking with people.  Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand or finger if you must touch something.

Avoid touching your face, nose, and eyes.

Clean and disinfect your home to remove germs: Practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces – tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks, and cell phones.

EXTRA CAUTION

Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces.  Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded, closed-in settings with little air circulation if there are people in the crowd who are sick.

The CDC recommends that you defer ALL cruise ship travel worldwide, particularly if you also have underlying health issues.

You should avoid non-essential travel such as LONG PLANE TRIPS, and especially avoiding embarking on cruise ships.

Be sure that you have plenty of over-the-counter medicines and medical supplies (tissues) to treat fever and other symptoms.  Most people will be able to recover from COVID-19 at home.

Have enough groceries and household items on hand so that you’ll be prepared to stay at home for an extended period of time.

Medicare:

•  Covers lab tests for COVID-19
• Covers medically COVID-19-necessary hospitalizations
• Covers COVID-19 vaccine when one becomes available (covered – Medicare Part D)
• Advantage Plan may waive cost-sharing for COVID-19 telehealth benefits
• Covers “virtual” check-ins – ‘brief’, if it isn’t related to a medical visit within 7 days
• Patient needs to consent ‘verbally’ for ‘Virtual’ visit – doctor must document consent
• The COVID-19 patient may have the usual coinsurance/deductible waived
• Covers ‘telehealth’ cost if the patient initiates communication
• In a ‘rural area’ – you can have a ‘full visit’ in telehealth designated area
• Medicare is developing ‘New Billing Codes’ for COVID-19 services
• Instructs ‘State Survey Agencies’ on COVID-19 infection prevention
• Instructs nursing homes/hospitals to review COVID-19 infection control procedures
• Issues nursing home guidelines for treating patients with COVID-19

General Signs and Symptoms of a COVID-19 infection may include.

Cough

Difficulty breathing

Fever

Chest in your chest

Bluish color in your face or lips

These are general symptoms of a potential infection.  If you suspect that you or someone you know is infected call your local medical provider.

COVID-19 is an emerging, global-health emergency that needs to have our highest priority.