- Transmission: When someone infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus coughs, sneezes, talks, or even breathes, they release tiny droplets containing the virus into the air.
- Inhalation or Contact: These droplets can be inhaled by people nearby, allowing the virus to enter their respiratory system through the nose, mouth, or even the eyes. Alternatively, the virus can spread by touching surfaces contaminated with the virus and then touching the face, allowing it to enter the body.
- Infection: Once the virus enters the body, it attaches to cells in the respiratory tract, particularly the cells lining the airways and lungs.
- Replication: The virus then hijacks the host cells’ machinery to replicate itself, creating more copies of the virus.
- Immune Response: The body’s immune system detects the presence of the virus and mounts a response to fight it off. This can lead to symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, and body aches as the body tries to eliminate the virus.
- Spread and Severity: In some cases, the immune response can cause inflammation and damage to the lungs and other organs, leading to more severe symptoms and complications, especially in older adults and those with underlying health conditions.
By understanding how the virus spreads and causes illness, we can take precautions such as wearing masks, practicing good hand hygiene, and getting vaccinated to reduce its transmission and impact.