COVID-19 Patient Zero discovered

The patient zero of COVID-19 has been identified from reports published in Chinese media and Wall Street Journal. 

        ✨What is patient zero? It is the first discovered case of any epidemic. In medical terminology, it is called index case. It is the first documented patient in an epidemic within a population, i.e. it necessarily needn't be the first infected person but the 1st documented person. This term is generally used for epidemic but sometimes is also used for syndromes which doesn't spread from one person to another.✨

       Earlier, epidemiological studies were the methods to trace patient zero. Nowadays, genetic analysis can be used which can trace the path of the virus. But most of the time, epidemiological studies are used. It involves contact tracing and conducting interviews. Most of the work is done on ground. The term patient zero came into existence from AIDS. 

Why identifying patient zero is necessary

      It answers the basic questions like how, when and why it started. These can then help prevent more people from getting infected or for future outbreaks. 

The Index Case of COVID-19

Wei Guixian, a 57 year old female shrimp seller in China's Wuhan city has been identified as one of the first victims of COVID-19.

                          Huanan Seafood Market

       She was selling shrimps at the Huanan seafood market on Dec 10 when she developed a cold. Believing she had common flu, Wei went to a local clinic for treatment where she was given an injection. However Wei continued to feel weak and visited eleventh hospital in Wuhan a day later. The feeling of lethargy persisted and Wei visited Wuhan Union Hospital on Dec 16. At the Union hospital, Wei was told that her sickness was from a different kind of virus and that many from Huanan Market had visited the hospital with matching symptoms. 

       Several vendors trading close to her also contracted the disease. At the end of December, Wei was quarantined when doctors related the emergence of the Coronavirus with the seafood market. She had made full recovery in January after a month-long treatment. 

       Wuhan municipal health commission confirmed Wei was among the first 27 patients to test positive for COVID-19 and 24 cases directly related to the market. 

Other infamous Index cases

Swine Flu pandemic-2009

Originated in Mexico- A 4 year boy named Edgar Hernandez whose home was close to a pig farm was the first case of Swine flu.

                               Edgar Hernandez

Cholera-1854

Originated in London- A small boy named John Snow was the first case of Cholera.