Mildly Infected and Presumed Asymptomatic Carriers of SARS-CoV-2; Implications in Spread and Control of COVID-19

Abstract

The death toll and the total number of infected individuals due to the ongoing pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 infection have exceeded that of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) as the disease has raged around the world. So far the global efforts to tackle COVID-19 include the launch of Sputnik V vaccine by Russia, 42 vaccines presently undergoing clinical trials on humans and around 92 vaccines under preclinical active investigation in animals. Majority of the SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals have been reported to show mild symptoms whereas a considerable number show no symptoms at all. SARS-CoV-2 is believed to spread from infected individuals who are asymptomatic in addition to the symptomatic individuals. In this review we discussed how the mildly infected and asymptomatic individuals raise serious concerns and complicate the processes of screening, detection, quarantine, tracking and treatmentthatareinpracticetopreventthetransmissionofthe COVID-19.