Viral infections - Positive news
- Thread starter SmallTown
- Start date
I thought you were going to give us some positive news, not just stop mid-sentence and leave us hanging.
Anyway, here are the positive bits of news as I see it.
Drop of case numbers in China, showing the virus can be contained.
In the country that has done the most testing, South Korea, the case fatality rate is much lower, (presumably because they are detecting more of the mild cases than other countries).
Several anti-viral treatments are already showing promising signs of being able to mitigate the effects of the virus (especially remdesivir and the ritonavir/lopinavir combination).
Vaccine development efforts are moving faster than has ever been seen in the past (even though a usable vaccine is still at least a year away).
Children seem to be pretty much immune from the effects of the virus, giving a possible route for medical research into how to stop it.
Anyway, here are the positive bits of news as I see it.
Drop of case numbers in China, showing the virus can be contained.
In the country that has done the most testing, South Korea, the case fatality rate is much lower, (presumably because they are detecting more of the mild cases than other countries).
Several anti-viral treatments are already showing promising signs of being able to mitigate the effects of the virus (especially remdesivir and the ritonavir/lopinavir combination).
Vaccine development efforts are moving faster than has ever been seen in the past (even though a usable vaccine is still at least a year away).
Children seem to be pretty much immune from the effects of the virus, giving a possible route for medical research into how to stop it.
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"showing the virus can be contained"
As do the South Korean numbers.
Unfortunately British experts don't seem to think they could apply the levels of lock down required to control the virus as in China.
Otherwise your comments on anti-virals are encouraging.
Some over the counter options are available that cut down the viral load that penetrates the body (or so they claim - and evidently have the evidence to prove it). Coldzyme for example claims to reduce the duration and severity of respiratory viral infections by up to 50%. Which probably explains why it's impossible to get hold of.
The other thing I read is that having adequate zinc levels is important for counter intuitive reasons. Zinc works to moderate the immune response. This seems like a bad idea except that much of the damage of infections is apparently caused by inflammation caused by an overactive immune response. Most older adults don't have enough zinc and so suffer worse inflammation.
As do the South Korean numbers.
Unfortunately British experts don't seem to think they could apply the levels of lock down required to control the virus as in China.
Otherwise your comments on anti-virals are encouraging.
Some over the counter options are available that cut down the viral load that penetrates the body (or so they claim - and evidently have the evidence to prove it). Coldzyme for example claims to reduce the duration and severity of respiratory viral infections by up to 50%. Which probably explains why it's impossible to get hold of.
The other thing I read is that having adequate zinc levels is important for counter intuitive reasons. Zinc works to moderate the immune response. This seems like a bad idea except that much of the damage of infections is apparently caused by inflammation caused by an overactive immune response. Most older adults don't have enough zinc and so suffer worse inflammation.
The zinc thing is interesting but from what I can tell, research is inconclusive and there are some definite caveats. Some studies have shown that taking zinc at the very first signs of a cold, can reduce the length of the effects of the cold but other studies have come to no such conclusion.
The reason for it, assuming it works, according to at least one research paper (a 2010 study using cell cultures published in PLOS One) is that:
As I say though, other studies did not find that it had an actual beneficial effect "in vivo" - that is to say, in the real world, on people with colds. Although it should theoretically impair the the replication of this new coronavirus as well, there are no actual studies yet, proving it.
Also, even the studies that found a benefit required taking a dose of 80mg (or more) per day which is at least twice the FDA-recommended maximum daily dose. High doses of zinc over a period of time can cause an excess to build up, impairing the body's ability to absorb copper, which can cause serious health problems.
The reason for it, assuming it works, according to at least one research paper (a 2010 study using cell cultures published in PLOS One) is that:
As I say though, other studies did not find that it had an actual beneficial effect "in vivo" - that is to say, in the real world, on people with colds. Although it should theoretically impair the the replication of this new coronavirus as well, there are no actual studies yet, proving it.
Also, even the studies that found a benefit required taking a dose of 80mg (or more) per day which is at least twice the FDA-recommended maximum daily dose. High doses of zinc over a period of time can cause an excess to build up, impairing the body's ability to absorb copper, which can cause serious health problems.
SmallTown
Well-known member
that’s weird. I did write a full post. It wasn’t about Coronavirus. Someone was cured of HIV. Brilliant news
Erimus74
Well-known member
Cheers Liamo,
SmallTown
Well-known member
Apologies for me screwing up the original post. This is what I was trying to put https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51804454
Anyway more good virus news: China is beginning to get back to normal. 80% of cases now recovered, services restarting. shows that we can get through this. excellent.
Anyway more good virus news: China is beginning to get back to normal. 80% of cases now recovered, services restarting. shows that we can get through this. excellent.
bear66
Well-known member
I was worried you'd collapsed mid-sentence!
China has done well with its lockdown policy to delay. Taiwan is the best model for keeping within the containment phase. I'm not sure if our liberal democracy would be happy with our mobile phones being monitored to ensure we stay isolated.
China has done well with its lockdown policy to delay. Taiwan is the best model for keeping within the containment phase. I'm not sure if our liberal democracy would be happy with our mobile phones being monitored to ensure we stay isolated.
swordtrombonefish
Well-known member
Good News:
Amazon Offers to Help Gates Foundation Deliver COVID-19 Test Kits
https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/...p-gates-foundation-deliver-covid-19-test-kits
70000 Recoveries
https://thehill.com/changing-americ...87280-nearly-70000-people-have-recovered-from
Amazon Offers to Help Gates Foundation Deliver COVID-19 Test Kits
https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/...p-gates-foundation-deliver-covid-19-test-kits
70000 Recoveries
https://thehill.com/changing-americ...87280-nearly-70000-people-have-recovered-from
asredastheycome
Well-known member
This is interesting viewing
https://informationisbeautiful.net/...61nBeNoxq8zvzOUzTWKLiKH64loRizXLG4TVNhre-SaMw
https://informationisbeautiful.net/...61nBeNoxq8zvzOUzTWKLiKH64loRizXLG4TVNhre-SaMw
SmallTown
Well-known member
I really like that. Pure data to cut through the hysteria
BobUpnDown
Well-known member
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51865915
Sir Patrick said it is hoped the government's approach will create a "herd immunity in the UK".
"Our aim is to try and reduce the peak, broaden the peak, not suppress it completely," he said.
"Also, because the vast majority of people get a mild illness, to build up some kind of herd immunity so more people are immune to this disease and we reduce the transmission.
"At the same time we protect those who are most vulnerable to it."
coronavirus is likely to become "an annual seasonal infection"... hopefully they'll be able to create a vaccine for it, like the annual flu jab..
Sir Patrick said it is hoped the government's approach will create a "herd immunity in the UK".
"Our aim is to try and reduce the peak, broaden the peak, not suppress it completely," he said.
"Also, because the vast majority of people get a mild illness, to build up some kind of herd immunity so more people are immune to this disease and we reduce the transmission.
"At the same time we protect those who are most vulnerable to it."
coronavirus is likely to become "an annual seasonal infection"... hopefully they'll be able to create a vaccine for it, like the annual flu jab..
asredastheycome
Well-known member
Small Town. Read the one on the Facebook link that shows how fast the response was to Swine Flu in 2009. Very impressive. Lets hope this one goes at similar pace.
Sheriff_John_Bunnell_ret
Well-known member
Interesting that the scandi countries have no deaths but similar numbers of infected. Maybes they have higher testing. Maybes they have better healthcare. Maybes they eat loads of fermented deadthings.