Combating 2019-nCoV Amidst the Pandemic Scare

摘要

2019-nCoV is the third consecutive coronavirus spread during the last 2 decades, but this time, unlike the previous two occasions, has achieved a pandemic proportion threatening widespread loss of human lives and a massive setback to the global economy. The situation warrants drastic measures in terms of preventing the spread of the virus and treating the virus-infected patients. The development of a new vaccine is a time-intensive option. Although efforts are underway to find possible pharmacological options, e.g., chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, existing antiviral agents, etc., in the meanwhile we may work on the combinatorial interventional approach of combining drug therapy with passive immune therapy. It would be prudent to use a convalescent serum therapy approach with the serum from COVID-19 patients who have recovered from the infection.