ARE YOU READY FOR A DOUBLE PANDEMIC THIS WINTER?
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC -AND- FLU VIRUS PANDEMIC
By now, it has become crystal clear that the COVID- 19 pandemic is not seasonal as claimed. It is going to stay with us for a long time, until a safe and effective vaccine is found and the entire world population is vaccinated. Luckily, the COVID- 19 virus doesn’t mutate and change its genetic makeup as often as the flu virus. So, once effective vaccine is found, hopefully the COVID – 19 virus will be history, like other deadly viruses.
The flu virus visits us every winter causing its own pandemic. Important questions to ask is what will happen when we are hit with two pandemics simultaneously? Could this combination be more deadly?
While the Coronavirus pandemic rages on unabated, already infecting more than 32 million people, and killing about one million people globally, some good news come from Australia. Before we share this good news, I think that we should refresh our memory about viral infections, especially about respiratory viruses, so that we don’t become a fool and follow politicians instead of the instructions of experts.
Viruses are microscopic organisms that are smaller than bacteria. Viruses are not complete cells, they are minute particles made up of a strip of genetic instruction covered with a protein coat. They are genetic parasites, they can only live and replicate by infecting a carrier host ( animal or human ) and uses their host cell’s DNA to replicate themselves and to invade the host. When humans get in touch or consume animal hosts, virus switches hosts and infect humans.
Respiratory viruses like COVID -19 spread easily from person to person, not only by close contact but also by breathing air. When infected people cough or sneeze or just talk, they expel viral particles into the air, in form of respiratory droplets or aerosols which linger in the air for hours. When the other person breaths, the virus enter the lungs through the nose and the mouth. That is why wearing a facemask is the most effective tool to protect ourselves and others. Respiratory virus infections could cause fever, cough, sneezing and pneumonias. Some patients could remain asymptomatic but still infectious. Respiratory droplets could travel 6 feet ( 2 meters ) away and that is why social -distancing is another important protective measure. Frequent hand washing and/or using hand sanitizer is another important protective measure.
The good news out of Australia, a Southern hemisphere country that had a harsh winter with double coronavirus and flu virus pandemics. People became more vigilant and followed all protective measures carefully. Everybody over the age of six months got a flu shot. In addition, more testing, contact tracing and self-isolation were done. All these measures caused the infection and death rate to go down for both diseases, in spite of double pandemics.
No doubt that the COVID – 19 pandemic is the greatest medical and financial tragedy for humanity. It is also very unfortunate that the failure of human foresight, ignorance and denial of scientific facts and advice, the absence of communal will and lack of leadership have contributed and made the pandemic worse.
Experts tell us that the discovery of a vaccine and new drugs for coronavirus are not as close as our political leaders claim. Even when an effective and safe vaccine is found, first batches will go the rich countries health care workers, front line workers and the more vulnerable elderly population. It will take years before an average person in an average country is able to get a shot.
So for the time being, our best bet is protective measures. Let’s not become complacent.
