A panoramic view of COVID-19: Epidemiology and challenges

The rise of a novel disease agent is a complex situation that is fraught with fear and concern. The SARS-CoV-2 novel virus was identified in the Hubei province of China in December 2019, and since then, its rapid spread has become a matter of international concern. For this article, a literature search for the origin of the virus, mortality and morbidity data, pandemic influenzas in the past, modes of transmission, incubation period, vulnerable populations and clinical features, was conducted. Although evidence regarding the epidemiology of the disease is not thorough and is being studied further, this article aims to collate existing data and understand the epidemiology of COVID-19 while also trying to identify the global challenges that will have to be faced in the near future.