Abstract

Our world is in a chaotic state at the moment. This stem mostly from the current infectious, highly contagious viral disease, COVID-19, and not to mention global warming and its catastrophic effects. COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-COV-2, a possible mutant of SARS-COV-1. It was first identified in Wuhan, China in December,2019, though there is speculation that it may have originated elsewhere. It has resulted in a current ongoing pandemic. A person infected with the virus can be symptomatic or asymptomatic. Common symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of smell and taste, multi organ failure, septic shock. blood clots etc. The virus is spread primarily between people, during close contact via small droplets, produced by coughing, sneezing and talking, touching one own face after contact with a contaminated surface. It’s also postulated that its spread may also be airborne, requiring particulate matter in the atmosphere for further transmission. Whilst preventative measures for COVID-19, have been implemented by WHO and CDC, there is no known vaccine or specific antiviral treatment to date, even though the first is expected in the late, 2020. Considering that viruses are very much smaller than bacteria and they mutate, it would be best to use and explore drugs combination or herbal mixtures to control and eradicate this disease. A virus is not a bacterium, and so would require herbs that show strong and selective antiviral activity. Over one hundred Pharmaceutical research institutions are currently working to find a cure for this disease.It would require a concerted effort from synthetic organic chemists, natural product chemists, pharmaceutical chemists, medical doctors and other health professionals to find a cure for this planet threatening disease. The best way forward is to explore herbal medications,with a strong and selective anti-herbal activities and to use the current plethora of existing antiviral medications, singly or in combination as first choice, considering the urgent need and then later to resort to the synthesis of novel anti-viral drugs. Some of the antiviral medications at hand are.

Keywords:COVID-19; SARS-COV-2; Wuhan; Symptomatic; Asymptomatic; Pandemic; Mutate; Eradicate