Open AccessBasic Reproduction Number (R naught) and Case Fatality Rate of COVID-19: A Conceptual Approach
Author(s) -
Bhavna Sahni,
Arvind Kumar Yadav,
Kiran Bala,
Pabitra Kumar Jena,
Dinesh Kumar
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of clinical and diagnostic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2249-782X
pISSN - 0973-709X
DOI - 10.7860/jcdr/2020/45502.14054
Subject(s) - pandemic , case fatality rate , preparedness , middle east respiratory syndrome , outbreak , public health , middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus , infectious disease (medical specialty) , medicine , covid-19 , virology , disease , geography , political science , environmental health , population , nursing , pathology , law
Pandemics are an exceptional form of disaster which wreak havoc on physical, psychological, social and fiscal well-being of the entire populace. In the past decade alone, outbreaks of infectious diseases like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), swine flu, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Ebola and the Zika virus resulted in significant upheaval, globally. Listing the key events in a time frame is of utmost importance in understanding the progression of the pandemic so as to map the natural history and plan targeted interventions. Research into dynamics of disease transmission and severity are important to public health preparedness. In the present communication, evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and public health concepts such as R naught (R0) and Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of SARS-CoV-2 in comparison with other recent epidemics of coronaviruses have been summarised, along with presumable scenarios relevant to the pandemic in an attempt to disseminate succinct, consolidated, uncomplicated, specific and scientifically accurate information.