Sharad R Patil, Pallavi S Patil, Pushparaj L Rajput and Samadhan Girase
The novel corona virus SARS-CoV-2 is the seventh coronavirus known to infect humans. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (SARS-CoV), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS-CoV), novel emerging corona virus and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are highly transmissible and pathogenic viruses that emerged in humans in the 21st century. Corona viruses pose a serious threat to global health as evidenced by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease outbreaks caused by the causative agents SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and the novel SARS-CoV-2 respectively. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the novel corona virus outbreak a pandemic to spread a new disease worldwide. The current novel COVID-19 pneumonia pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is spreading inter-continental at an accelerated rate, with a basic reproduction number (R0) of 2-2.5, indicating that 2 persons-3 persons will be infected from an index patient. As of September 15, 2020, there are more than 28918900 confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide, with over 922252 related deaths and more than 4846427 corona virus confirmed cases in India, with over 79722 deaths. In this review, we offer a perspective on the notable features of the current knowledge on highly transmissible emerging pathogenic corona viruses in 21st century and historical pandemic outbreak in 20th century. As this information, can help counter measures against future spillover and pathogenic infections in humans with novel corona viruses.