When it comes to the pandemic here I trust Dr. Anthony Fauci, in Germany I trust Dr. Christian Drosten, He is German answer to our Dr. Fauci, much younger, though. He is 48 years of age, Dr. Fauci just turned 80. Both Dr. Fauci and Dr. Drosten received death threats (even Dr. Fauci’s 3 daughters were not spared) by corona-deniers.
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| Dr. Anthony Fauci and President Trump |
Dr. Drosten is a virologist from Charity, Berlin, which is touted as the best research hospital in Europe. More than half of all German Nobel Prize laureates in Medicine have worked at Charite.
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| Dr. Christian Drosten |
The CDC said that the new strain is more rapidly transmissible (the reported 70% more transmissible is just an estimate), but there is no evidence that it is more serious or deadly (i,e. more virulent). Scientists are working hard to better understand how easily the new variant might be transmitted and whether the currently approved vaccines will provide the same protection against the new strain.
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| Dr. Moncef Slaoui |
According to Dr. Moncef Slaoui, head of the Operation Warp Speed, that antibodies produced in response to COVID-19 vaccines would continue to be effective as they bind to several “epitopes” (or regions) of the spike protein, which is a three-dimensional surface molecule that virus uses to invade human cell. The chance that a single mutation would alter all the regions at once are “extremely low” or highly unlikely.
Dr. Drosten holds the same view, by saying the change of the virus is not extensive enough/sufficient and the vaccines are too broad in effect. In fact, the vaccine was designed in anticipating that the virus may mutate somehow and somewhere along the way.
Der Tagesspiegel (a German newspaper) had an article 12/21/2020, after interviewing Dr. Christian Drosten on this topic. The following is the English translation.
Drosten on Corona-mutation: “I think it is already in Germany”
Virologist Christian Drosten is not too worried about the Corona-mutation. Charite virologist Drosten warns the panic mongering (inciting panic) in connection to the new virus variant from Great Britain. As yet there is hardly any definite findings.
In an interview with the Deutschlandfunk Monday morning (Dec. 21) the Charite virologist warns the panic mongering (panic inciting) in connection to the emerging new virus variant.
Much of what is said and written about the new virus variant is still not scientifically confirmed, he said. British researchers have announced that the relevant information for the coming days.
Current statements such as the number that the mutation is 70% more contagious, were not based on solid findings, but are estimates. They find their way into media via politics. It will now simply take a few days until “clear messages” from the researchers received.
“At present I am not so very worried,” Drosten further added, “there can be scientific surprise, but I am anything but worry.” At the same time the current action of restricting travel traffic from Great Britain is “cautious” and appropriate. If there is more information then politics can react accordingly.
Looking at the Southern England where the new virus variant is currently mainly spreading, Drosten asked, “Does the virus wash up a new wave or is the virus responsible for the wave?” [I think he said the new wave could be the result of human behavior?] This is an important question that cannot be answered easily.
He referred to other countries where the new virus variant has been proven, and yet no direct and strong increase of cases in the same time, Drosten emphasized. He doesn't want to play down the new virus variant, especially the fact that the binding to human cell would become stronger, he called interesting. However, Drosten said, this circumstance could even weaken the virus. “That is not necessary good for the virus.”
According to Drosten the new virus has long since overcome many limits. “I think it is already in Germany” he said. The new virus has already been in England for several months and has found their way to various European countries.
“We know it is in Europe, even in Australia, why shouldn't it be in Germany?” Drosten doesn't believe the mutation has an effect on the effectiveness of the vaccine. The change of the virus is not extensive enough/sufficient and the vaccines are too broad in effect.
