Authors: Elaine Meade, Micheal Savage, Mary Garvey
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the aetiological agent of COVID-19 continues to be a threat to public health globally. Viral transmission is horizontal from person-to-person via cough, sneeze and droplets with surface spreading also possible. Disease can progress to severe or life-threatening requiring hospitalisation and oxygen therapy with acute respiratory distress syndrome and multiple organ failure often evident. While non-therapeutic controls measure such as restricting the movement of people and recurrent lockdowns have proven vital to preventing disease transmission, such action has had substantial impact on economies across the globe with a global recession to be expected. Disease prevention measures implemented to curtail the pandemic is heavily reliant on effective biocide control measures with the EPA listing suitable viricidal disinfectants for use. The unprecedented demand for PPE has led to supply shortages with efforts to establish suitable sterilisation methods for re-purposing PPE materials. As variants of concern emerge globally, concern has arisen relating to the efficacy of current vaccination programmes to protect against each new strain displaying increased transmissibility. This review discusses the epidemiology of COVID-19 highlighting viral virulence factors promoting pathogenicity and current control measures therapeutic and non-therapeutic in use as best practice preventative measures.
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