Leading German magazine Der Spiegel identified one of the experts in the field of Virology, the German media quoted most often from the beginning of the quarantine. The unconditional leader was the Director of the Institute of Virology of the Berlin clinic “charité” Christian Drosten, in recent months became a real star and one of the most popular scientists in the world. “B” was studied as humble virologist turned into a pop star, what advice he is giving and what are the predictions stands for.”Man trusted by the Germans”the Situation in Germany coronavirus “relatively good”, convinced the German experts. The virus was diagnosed in 176 thousand people died 8 thousand people. Compared to leading Western countries — the U.S., Britain, France, Italy and Canada, the mortality of patients with coronavirus is relatively low — on 100 thousand population accounted for less than ten victims (this is three times less than in the United States and nine times less than in Italy). Thus strict quarantine measures in the country was imposed, and intensive care wards were not crowded. May 10, the number of new cases daily not more than 1 thousand people across the country.These days the main characters in Germany, as in many countries, medical workers and scientists-virologists. “The new virus — and you just have so much information… Who coronavirus knew what herd immunity is or how is calculated the basic reproductive number Ro (the number of people that can, on average, infect one patient.— “B”)? During the crown-the crisis of knowledge and opinion of virologists has been extremely popular. In Newspapers, online and on talk shows without them now not to do,” writes Der Spiegel, the popular print edition of Germany. The journalists analyzed the materials of all Federal print media of Germany and a number of regional and online publications since January 1 of this year to find out who of German virologists or epidemiologists were the most popular. Search excluded only Lothar vilera, head of the Robert Koch Institute, which regularly reported on the spread of the virus in the country on a press-conferences that for clarity it would be possible to compare with the review of Rospotrebnadzor in Russia — but he, if he list, would take him only second place.First place with a serious margin took the man and to the publication of this rating of the eye called “Mr Crown” or “Dr. Corona” — the Director of Institute of Virology of the Berlin clinic you “rummage” Professor Christian Drosten.Professor Drosten 48 years. He was born and raised in the village of gross-Hesepe in North-West Germany, where today live a little more than 2 thousand people. He studied chemical engineering, biology and medicine in münster, Dortmund and Frankfurt am main, where he graduated in 2003 from��iciam his doctoral thesis on Virology. At the same time headed the working group on molecular diagnosis and training programme for the diagnosis of tropical diseases at Institute of tropical medicine of a name of Bernhard nohta in Hamburg, Europe’s largest institution for research in tropical diseases, which are engaged in the study of new viruses.By 2007 he headed the Institute of Virology at the University hospital of Bonn, one of the largest multidisciplinary hospitals in Germany. In 2017 headed the Department and the Institute of Virology of the Berlin clinic “charité”.But worldwide fame Christian Drosten brought passion coronavirus. In 2003 he together with his colleague Stefan günther offers the world’s first test to diagnose SARS-CoV, for which was later awarded the order “For merits before Federal Republic Germany”. Then in 2002-2003, an outbreak of SARS, was also first registered in China, and spread from there to other countries, affecting, however, primarily Asia. In early 2010-ies of the working group under his leadership have researched and MERS-CoV — the so-called middle East respiratory syndrome, respiratory illness, which, like the coronavirus in severe cases goes into viral pneumonia. All this helped his team in January 2020 to develop the first approved by the world health organization (who) Protocol testing. The test for the coronavirus made available to scholars worldwide: Christian Drosten has consistently advocated openness in scientific work.Then the media began to appear the first regular publication with his name. And in February, the Professor himself has launched a podcast Coronavirus-Update together with the broadcasting company NDR. For the 40th release of his quiet voice, many Germans learn without help: podcast listen regularly to about a million people. The Berlin NGO “European exchange” even translates it releases in Russian language. “The man trusted by the Germans,” writes one of the German editions, not for the first time noting the humility of the scientist. For example, in one of the latest editions of the podcast, he explained: “I’m a virologist and I would never comment on the topic bacteria.” And why only surprised the scientist by several colleagues so boldly explain to the public what they have not studied?Thank Professor Dorsten have long crossed the border. Foreign media are full of headlines about the “cult figure” and simply “the virologist-pop star, whispering advice to Angela Merkel”. And Twitter, writes Sueddeutsche Zeitung, already joking: can he himself to go to the Chancellor?Said Professor Drosten?About the rumors about the laboratory origin of the virus “Pathogen coronavirus, similar to the causative agent of a new virus, discovered only podkovonos bats, and de��to press them in the laboratory is not easy. And get in the lab due to negligence is also difficult. I do think it is extremely implausible.”Of clinical course in severe cases”Here today, we’ve got it and next week is already sick. The average incubation period is six days. Then, before I start the test and come the results, on average, it will take another week. Thus, from the time of infection until the discovery of the disease takes place an average of 14 days. With the onset of the disease before admission to the ICU in severe cases also takes place 10?14 days. Thus, from the moment of infection before admission to the intensive therapy on average it takes three weeks.”On the easing of restrictions “When they say that we must take care of business, it plays into the hands of certain political forces. But (if we remove the restrictions ahead of time.— “B”) is, perhaps, on the contrary, a blow to the business, because there is a risk that then limit contacts will have to re-enter and and more stringent.
I worry when I hear statements by the representatives of business and industry who say that a millimeter will not retreat from the current exemptions. As if it could be negotiable. If they can, then with nature, not virologists”.About the opening of restaurants”When people sit closely to each other in the same room is dangerous. The room should open the window, then, apparently, you can not leave. And adhere to the distancing of the room. When warmer, you have to go outside and even to work there, taking with him the blanket.And do not say that all restaurants should be remain closed. Summer on the street relatively safe. So, restaurants with terraces and tables on the streets should be encouraged to use these areas. I would even say that outside of the premises to comply with a two-meter distance is not so necessarily, as a virus that is spread by airborne droplets, blown away, when you’re on the street.”About the situation in Germany and the opening of borders in Europe”as a whole in Germany low incidence. We managed (with the spread of the epidemic.— “B”) due to the early restriction of contact, which allowed to prevent a sharp increase in the number of new cases. There are countries, which it failed to do so.In General, it is important and useful, especially for the economy if the borders re-open. You need to be aware that the damage to the economy, which many say is associated not so much with the measures taken within the country, but rather with what is not working the export and exchange of goods. This is what really causes damage. I say this not as an expert — I deal with viruses, not Economics — but I think the opening of borders will bring in a whole lot of good.”About prevention, “Prevention of glory is not pinosit. And praise for the prevention of diseases too, no one will, and they don’t come. I do not know is that prevented. So it remains to remind you about what is happening abroad.We are at a very early stage threw a hand at the diagnostics extension. And so we were able to identify patients very early. The entire health care system was ready. All laboratories were prepared to diagnose. Despite all the complaints of slow diagnosis and the fact that it is not available everywhere, we have availability much higher than in other countries. Perhaps, in our country, even the best diagnosis. And this leads to various consequences — for example, so the average age (ill.— “B”) is relatively young — in Germany, the average age of the test only 48 years.”About masks “Mask you can make yourself or buy a homemade cloth masks, they are now sold on the Internet. Now is the time. Many sit at home and can do is a good idea. This (wearing of masks.— “B”) a sign of courtesy. I protect another from my still undeveloped possible infection, which I myself can never know. But I signalizer others: that would be with me, whatever you with me, and when I say do not fly around drooling when I cough, the fabric retains large drops. This simple courtesy”.About the second wave of the epidemic “Can be so that the seasonal effect will help us get through the summer in terms of lax measures or under the so-called motto of mitigation measures… Possible, so we safely get through the summer, but the population still will have little immunity, and we will enter with immunologically “naive” population in the winter wave. This ought to prepare. It can be dangerous, and would then have to tune into that winter, you may have to go back to the constraints. This scenario is possible”.Galina Dudina
