The Virus

The shape of the corona virus causing COVID-19  bears similarity with the flower of the Buttonbush pictured above

 

The Bat ? A Common Carrier
ONE OF THE SOURCES   Infected bat
Image of the bat ? courtesy Oren Peles
Wet  Market ? Source of Infected Animals
Wet market selling live and dead bats, fish, badgers, turtles, anteaters?

 

Contact and Contamination
CONTACT and CONTAMINATION
Man buys meat at the wet market and corona virus spreads to his hands during the purchase or during food preparation.
Inhalation
INHALATION
His hands go to his mouth and he inhales the virus. The virus does not proliferate if it is ingested, only if inhaled.

Inhalation and Travel through the Airways
INHALATION
The virus enters the lungs and travels to the smallest parts of the lungs, tiny lung sacs called the alveoli where oxygen exchange takes place
Destination is the Alveolus and Alveoli

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CELLULAR INVASION
Corona virus invades the cells of the alveoli by using its spike glycoproteins. These spike proteins attach to the cell membrane and the virus can then enter the cell.
Invasion, Replication, and the Inflammatory Response
INFLAMMATION
The virus replicates and invades more cells of the alveoli
As COVID-19 causes inflammation of the the lungs, infected fluid fills the lungs thus disrupting gas exchange.
Early Changes in the Small Segments of the Lung
PROGRESSION AS THE DISEASE SPREADS IN THE LUNGS
The infection starts in small basal segments
INITIAL PATCHY INVOLVEMENT
It spreads to both lungs
Progressive Disease Involving Larger Segments
PROGRESSION
and progresses to involve more and more lung
MULTIFOCAL PNEUMONIA
Advancing infection involves more lung and prevents efficient and effective gas exchange (inhalation of oxygen and expiration of carbon dioxide). When this exchange is not possible, a ventilator is necessary