BioNTech Annual General Meeting Vaccine effective against mutants

Status: 06/22/2021 6:13 p.m.

BioNTech boss Sahin uses the vaccine manufacturer’s general meeting to spread good news: Production will be increased and the vaccine also protects against virus variants. In view of the growing spread of the delta variant of the coronavirus, which is considered to be more dangerous, many people are wondering how the effectiveness of the various vaccines is doing in this regard. At today’s Annual General Meeting, CEO Ugur Sahin gave the all-clear for BioNTech’s product: “There is currently no evidence that our vaccine needs to be adapted to the variants in circulation,” he said. That does not mean that the company is stopping development: According to Sahin, BioNTech is working on flexible processes in the areas of technology, production and approval.

Constant analysis

In order to be prepared and to be able to react quickly if a third dose should be required to boost existing vaccinations or to adapt to a new virus strain, BioNTech constantly analyzes the effectiveness of the vaccine against newly emerging variants, the CEO explained.

Sahin also commented on the subject of booster vaccinations: It is not yet known when and how often a booster will be necessary. But he assumes “that a third vaccination is of great value for boosting immunity,” said Sahin. Knowledge about the corona virus is steadily increasing. “We observe that immunity will decrease over time and new variants will emerge.”

Sahin against patent release

The one raised by US President Joe Biden and other politicians Request for the release of patents to enable license-free vaccine production in developing countries, the BioNTech boss rejected. It is important to be able to make the vaccine available worldwide “as quickly and as comprehensively as possible”. However, raw materials are currently the “limiting factor”, not patents.

BioNTech is working with partners to deliver the vaccine cheaply to developing countries. However, a patent release would not bring additional amounts of vaccine. The production of the vaccine is very complex and consists of around 50,000 work steps.

Production is increased

During the Annual General Meeting, Sahin also commented on production: The BioNTech boss confirmed that the company, together with its US partner Pfizer, is aiming for a production capacity of up to three billion vaccine doses this year.

In the coming year 2022 it should be more than three billion. BioNTech will manufacture at least half of this. To date, BioNTech and Pfizer have shipped more than 700 million doses of their Covid-19 vaccine to over 100 countries worldwide.

Dividend is possible

The shareholders should also benefit from the billions in sales generated with the corona vaccine. Chief Financial Officer Sierk Poetting said that in the next financial year it should be checked whether and in what amount a dividend is possible.

However, the strategic priority for 2021 is the reinvestment of the capital in order to further advance innovations in various therapeutic areas and technologies as well as our corporate development, said Poetting. The Mainz biotechnology company achieved a net profit of 1.1 billion euros on sales of 2.05 billion euros in the first quarter of this year .

New production facilities

There was also news from BioNTech outside of the Annual General Meeting. The European Medicines Agency’s Committee on Medicinal Products for Human Use gives the go-ahead for two more production facilities to manufacture the joint corona vaccine from Biontech and Pfizer.

One becomes accordingly in Reinbek, Schleswig-Holstein, operated by Allergopharma, the parent company of Dermapharm , the other in the Swiss stone from Novartis Pharma. The work can be started immediately, since no approval from the EU Commission is required

People wear masks to prevent the COVID-19 epidemic in Osaka, Japan. Photo: Kyodo/VNA Accordingly, commercial centers are allowed to fully operate on weekdays, but the opening hours are shorter and still have to maintain restrictive measures on weekends, only opening restaurants or shops. areas selling daily necessities. In Tokyo and Osaka, all shopping centers of Isetan Mitsukoshi Company and H2O Retail Group fully reopened on June 1. The Universal Studios Japan theme park in Osaka has also reopened for the first time since it was closed on April 25. 2 hours before the park opened, a long line of people waited in front of the gate. As planned, the park is only open on weekdays and continues to be closed on weekends. Park officials estimate the number of visitors to the park can be up to 5,000 each day and have installed partitions between dining tables at the park’s restaurant. In addition, park staff will also suggest that visitors leave the park at different times to avoid crowding. On the same day, Japan also decided to cancel a football friendly match against Jamaica after 10 players of the Jamaican team could not board the plane due to problems related to testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. According to the Japan Football Association (JFA), only half of the players in the Jamaican football team were allowed to board the plane, while 10 players were unable to board the plane due to problems with testing measures for the SARS virus. -CoV-2. The JFA did not give details, but according to Jamaica’s Gleaner newspaper, the country’s players currently playing in England did not have PCR test results – which is one of the requirements for entry to Japan. Copy. Meanwhile, according to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Tel Aviv, on June 1, Israel lifted all social restriction measures after more than a year of application, because the COVID-19 epidemic situation had decreased to near the average level. often. Accordingly, Israelis no longer have to present a “green card” certifying that they have been vaccinated or have immunity when setting foot in crowded places in enclosed spaces such as restaurants and bars; agencies and offices are no longer limited to the number of employees present at the same time; Crowded events, both indoor and outdoor, are no longer limited to the number of participants. Currently, only a few regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control remain in effect, including the mandatory wearing of masks in enclosed spaces and mandatory isolation for those entering the country. However, Israeli authorities are considering lifting the mask wearing rule in the next few days. The regulation of wearing masks when outdoors has been lifted since mid-April. After the intensive vaccination campaign, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Israel has decreased rapidly, currently only 4-5 cases / day, compared to the peak of over 10,000 cases / day. The number of cases being treated also decreased to 350 cases. Israel has completed vaccination against COVID-19 for over 70% of eligible subjects and is planning to vaccinate children 12-15 years old.

From April to now, Alpha has become the dominant strain in the US. Alpha’s superiority made scientists wonder why this virus strain spread so quickly. Recently, a study published online on June 7 was New York Times The quote has found the “secret of success” of this mutation: Alpha disables the first immune “stronghold” gland in the human body, giving the virus more time to multiply when it enters the body. up quickly. The Alpha mutation once made the UK crippled. Photo: Reuters. “Turn off the bell” alert Alpha has a total of 23 mutations – what sets it apart from other coronavirus strains. When this strain began to spread widely in the UK, researchers began examining the genetic sequence to look for an explanation of why it spread faster than other strains. Many researchers focused on nine mutations that change the proteins that coat the coronavirus and allow them to enter cells. One of those mutations helps the virus bind more closely to these cells, increasing the likelihood of successful infection. But other scientists focus on how Alpha affects the human immune response. Virologist Gregory Towers and colleagues at University College London cultured the coronavirus in human lung cells. They compared cells infected with Alpha with those infected with previous variants of the coronavirus. The team found that alpha-containing lung cells produced less interferon. Interferon is a protein produced naturally by cells in the immune system. They also found that in cells with Alpha, defense genes activated by interferon were less effective than in cells infected with other strains. Somehow, the most important “alarm bell” of the immune system barely “sounds” in the presence of the Alpha variant. “It becomes almost invisible (when it enters the human body),” Dr. Towers said. The UK has to impose strict restrictions because the strain B.1.1.7 spreads quickly. Photo: LBC. To find out how Alpha achieves this “invisibility,” the researchers looked at how the coronavirus replicates inside infected cells. They found that Alpha-infected cells made a lot of extra copies – about 80 times more than other variants – of a gene called Orf9b. According to previous research by molecular biologist Nevan Krogan and colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco, Orf9b makes a viral protein that attacks Tom70 — a protein needed to release interferon when the virus enters the body. body. From all of these studies, Dr. Krogan concluded that the Alpha variant contained a mutation that produced more Orf9b protein than normal. The Orf9b protein surrounds the Tom70 protein, reducing interferon production. The infected virus is no longer hindered by the immune system, so it rapidly multiplies in the human body. About 12 hours after infection, the immune system starts working again. Therefore, Dr. Towers speculates, people infected with Alpha have a stronger response than those infected with other strains. The virus-laden mucus lingers in both their oral and nasal cavities, making Alpha more contagious than ever. However, Dr. Laurent-Rolle insists more evidence is needed to support this conclusion. For example, scientists have not yet run a standard test to test the amount of the Orf9b protein. Dr. Krogan said he and his colleagues are looking to practice that experiment now. Totally different Dr. Krogan’s group also started similar tests on other strains, including the strain first identified in South Africa, called Beta (B.1.351) and the first identified strain. first in India, called Delta (B.1.617.2). The preliminary results surprised them. Both Beta and Delta reduce interferon in infected cells. But there is no indication that these two strains did so in the same way that Alpha did. Each strain evolved in a different way to control the immune system. Virus mutant particles B.1.1.7 from patient samples in the laboratory. Photo: NIAID. Cecile King, an immunologist at the Garvan Institute for Medical Research in Sydney, Australia, stressed that understanding how the virus evades the immune system will help in the development of a Covid-19 vaccine. Vaccines now help the immune system recognize mutated proteins. But research on patients recovering from Covid-19 shows that their immune systems learn to recognize viral proteins, including Orf9b. Some researchers are looking to include the coronavirus protein in a new vaccine. But this process needs care because some proteins reduce immunity. “It’s a pretty complicated process. But if we take a closer look, it might be possible,” Dr. King said.

People in Tokyo, Japan, May 7, 2021. Photo: THX/VNA Faced with the fact that many businesses operating in the above fields have complained about the serious effects of having to close partially or completely when the current state of emergency was imposed at the end of April, last week, The government of Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has issued new guidelines aimed at balancing controlling the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and reviving the already ravaged economy. Accordingly, commercial centers are allowed to fully operate on weekdays, but the opening hours are shorter and still have to maintain restrictive measures on weekends, only opening restaurants or shops. areas selling daily necessities. In Tokyo and Osaka, all shopping centers of Isetan Mitsukoshi Company and H2O Retail Group fully reopened on June 1. The Universal Studios Japan theme park in Osaka has also reopened for the first time since it was closed on April 25. 2 hours before the park opened, a long line of people waited in front of the gate. As planned, the park is only open on weekdays and continues to be closed on weekends. Park officials estimate the number of visitors to the park can be up to 5,000 each day and have installed partitions between dining tables at the park’s restaurant. In addition, park staff will also suggest that visitors leave the park at different times to avoid crowding. On the same day, Japan also decided to cancel a football friendly match against Jamaica after 10 players of the Jamaican team could not board the plane due to problems related to testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. According to the Japan Football Association (JFA), only half of the players in the Jamaican football team were allowed to board the plane, while 10 players were unable to board the plane due to problems with testing measures for the SARS virus. -CoV-2. The JFA did not give details, but according to Jamaica’s Gleaner newspaper, the country’s players currently playing in England did not have PCR test results – which is one of the requirements for entry to Japan. Copy./.

Corona vaccine study Novavax is 90 percent effective

Status: 14.06.2021 2:21 p.m. According to preliminary study data, the corona vaccine from the US pharmaceutical manufacturer Novavax is safe and highly effective – even with virus variants. The product raises great hopes, especially in developing countries. According to the US pharmaceutical company, the Novavax corona vaccine protects well against the virus and its variants. The company said that the vaccine was around 90 percent effective and, according to preliminary data from a study, safe. The vaccine effectiveness study involved nearly 30,000 people in the United States and Mexico. Two-thirds of them received two doses of the vaccine three weeks apart, all others received placebos. A total of 77 people were infected with the coronavirus, 14 of them in the group of those who were vaccinated. Of the participants who received the drug, none developed severe or moderate symptoms, while there were 14 in the comparison group without vaccination.

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No cases of blood clots or heart problems

The vaccine was similarly effective against several variants of the coronavirus, including the alpha variant first discovered in the UK, as well as in high-risk groups such as the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions. The side effects were similar to those of other vaccines and mainly concerned pain at the injection site. There have been no reports of blood clots or heart problems, said Novavax boss Stanley Erck. Novavax plans to publish the results in a medical journal where they will be reviewed by independent experts.

Vaccine important for developing countries

The company said that applications for approval would be submitted in the USA and Europe, among others, by the end of September. Until then, a production of 100 million cans per month is possible. Novavax’s vaccine is easy to transport and store, which is why it is expected to play an important role in vaccination campaigns in developing countries. “Many of our first doses will go to low- and middle-income countries, and that was the goal from the start,” said Erck. Novavax’s vaccine works in a similar way to flu vaccines. It is made with laboratory-grown copies of the spike protein that envelops the coronavirus. The immune system reacts to the proteins in the vaccine and is thus prepared when it is actually confronted with the virus. Other vaccines that are widely used today contain the genetic instructions for the body to make its own spike protein.

02.03.2021

In this phase 3, Nano Covax vaccine will be tested in multi-centers at domestic facilities with the deployment of vaccination for 13,000 volunteers. Specifically, in the North, experimental injections were carried out at the Military Medical Academy (Hanoi) and in Hung Yen province; The southern area is carried out by the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, and is planned to be injected in 2 provinces: Long An and Tien Giang. In the immediate future, in phase 3, 1,000 registered volunteers will be tested, and then continue to recruit more. In this phase 3, there is also research and evaluation of the effect of the vaccine against the variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus found for the first time in India. By the end of September 2021, after the phase 3 trial is completed, depending on the test results and epidemic developments, the vaccine will be considered for approval for emergency use on a large scale in our country. Step 1: Visit https://www.bluezone.gov.vn or download directly at App Store or CH Play. Step 2: Once downloaded, the application will ask for permission to use Bluetooth to record contact with other Bluezone installed users. If Bluetooth is not open, drag the status bar and turn on Bluetooth; or go to Settings, select Bluetooth and turn it on. Step 3: Once the installation is done, click Scan Around. If someone near you less than 2m has used Bluezone, the application will automatically identify these users and put them in the contact list.

Distinguishing between Trump and Biden In an article published in March 2020, CNN posted an image of former President Trump crossing out the word “Corona” and changing it to “Chinese” before the word virus in a note at a meeting with the task force against COVID-19. The American newspaper at the time asserted that this was an attempt by the President and some in the administration to distract the public from his failure to control the spread of the COVID-19 disease in the US. At the same time, many other American newspapers quoted a series of statements from the White House public health advisers asserting that it is inappropriate and inaccurate to associate SARS-CoV-2 with the name Wuhan virus. “Ethnicity is not the cause of the virus that causes COVID-19” , Forbes quoted Alex Azar – US Secretary of Health and Human Services at that time said. A photo shows the word “Corona” removed and replaced with “China” in Trump’s COVID-19 announcement. Sheet Vox Trump’s association with COVID-19 by geographical location is dangerous because it arouses xenophobia. CBS News stressed that the US leader’s statements related to the “Chinese virus” only fueled a wave of discrimination against Asian Americans. According to statistics from the database website Factbase, Trump used the phrase “Chinese virus” more than 20 times between March 16 and March 30. Before a series of criticisms from the media and public opinion, he did not mention this phrase but never “reduced” when he asserted that there was evidence that nCoV escaped from the Wuhan laboratory many months later. Unlike his predecessor, not long after taking office, President Biden signed an executive order banning COVID-19 contacts by geographical location. A few weeks ago, the hypothesis that COVID-19 leaked from the Wuhan laboratory became hot again when the Wall Street Journal It was reported that 3 researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology were hospitalized for treatment in early November 2019. The American newspaper confirmed that these people had “symptoms similar to COVID-19 disease”. A few days after the information Wall Street Journal Posted, President Biden directed the US intelligence community to intensify efforts to investigate the origin of COVID-19 and report to him within 90 days. This move of the American leader was welcomed by the US media. A series of American newspapers began to seriously analyze the possibility of the virus escaping the laboratory, citing experts who emphasized the need for a scientific investigation into this matter. CBS News Quoting former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, it was a mistake to prematurely dismiss the theory that COVID-19 leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan. While New York Times said many scientists welcomed President Biden’s call for a more extensive investigation of the Wuhan lab. Many other newspapers are racing to publish information about the report of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, California, USA on the origin of COVID-19 which emphasizes the hypothesis that the SARS-CoV-2 virus leaked from a laboratory. China’s experiment in Wuhan is correct and needs further investigation. The same problem, but at two times, the way the American media reported under two presidents seemed different. Although compared to 1 year ago, the hypothesis that COVID-19 escaped from the Wuhan laboratory is only one more episode like Wall Street Journa l posted. Intelligence agencies around the world, including in the US, have yet to make any official conclusions about the origin of nCoV. Trump supporters criticize American media. Many opinions say that anti-Trump sentiment makes many newspapers lose their objective view when they only focus on going against what the US leader claims. The US has never given up investigating the origin of COVID-19 Even under Trump or Biden, the US has never given up on the investigation into the origin of COVID-19. Washington criticized China for denying international investigators access to the Wuhan lab and for failing to explain some of the inconsistencies in the hypothesis that the virus jumped from animals to humans. The Wuhan Institute of Virology became the focus of the investigation into the origin of COVID-19. (Image: Shutterstock) According to the sheet DW of Germany, the United States is taking every opportunity to remind the world that China is responsible for the entire current world mayhem. Whether it’s Trump or Biden, they want the American people to believe that the disease that has claimed more than 600,000 American lives originated in China and they have done everything to find the truth that Beijing hides. Blaming China also alleviated people’s dissatisfaction with the government’s shortcomings in putting in place anti-epidemic measures. It is undeniable that China has fought COVID-19 well and soon brought the epidemic under control. Beijing is also busy promoting its success story and drowning out international criticism for its “leaving” nCoV to the world. But China’s lack of transparency has also fueled speculation that Beijing is hiding something. This provides fertile ground for conspiracy theories. “Unfortunately, we are experiencing a situation in which the question of the origin of COVID-19 and different strategies in fighting the pandemic becomes the subject of a propaganda war between the US government and the US government. and China” , said German scientist Felix Wemheuer. Experts say that while trying to refer to China as an irresponsible country that spreads the disease but consistently denies it, the US has built itself as a leader in finding the truth, ready to stand up for justice. The US claims to blame China for COVID-19 are also against Beijing’s propaganda efforts that the virus did not originate in the country. After successfully controlling the epidemic, China began to shift public opinion from criticism aimed at the country to Beijing’s contributions in the pandemic. Beijing once hypothesized that the virus may not have originated in China after a study published in 2020 showed that antibodies against COVID-19 or a variant were detected in Italy in 2019. China also called called WHO to investigate the hypothesis that the virus leaked from laboratories around the world, referring to the possibility that the pathogen may have been brought by US military personnel to Wuhan, China in October 2019. If it is proven that COVID-19 came from a laboratory in Wuhan, the US will destroy the image that China has built and pressure Beijing to shoulder the burden of vaccination for the world. The US accusations against China may also give other countries a stronger voice in demanding an investigation into the origins of COVID-19 under the umbrella of US protection. In fact, British intelligence recently suddenly changed its opinion, from thinking that the virus theory leaked from the laboratory “unlikely” to saying this hypothesis is “absolutely possible”. For the US, an investigation into the origin of the epidemic could become a lever to increase pressure on China and be part of a competition for influence between China and the West. If it can obtain evidence of Beijing’s cover-up of the pandemic, Washington can use that as leverage in negotiations. Is the investigation being politicized? Under pressure from the US, China and WHO officials repeatedly called on Washington to stop politicizing and “poisoning” the investigation into the origin of COVID-19. Experts fear the US-China blame game for the origin of the epidemic threatens scientific investigations. (Photo: SCMP) “US efforts to politicize research on the origins of COVID-19 seriously undermine international cooperation and create difficulties and obstacles for efforts to combat the virus and save lives.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman stressed. According to the DW The fact that the US is using COVID-19 as a “scapegoat” as well as the way China is not really transparent about providing information at the beginning of the outbreak are turning science into a political victim of the pandemic. . The world’s two largest economies are stuck in a blame game, fueled by theories about the origins of COVID-19. Experts fear this could distort the investigation into the origin of the epidemic, which is expected to be based on science. “Analysts are under political pressure to stick to the theory that the virus leaked from the lab,” he said. analyst Jeffery Wright said. Dr Mike Ryan, head of WHO’s health emergencies programme, once affirmed that “science needs to be central and science will find the answer”. Unfortunately, the WHO’s statements seem to be losing some weight due to earlier accusations by the Trump administration that the WHO is a “puppet of China” and that the organization is China-centric. Doubts with the WHO also increased when the organization’s investigation into the origin of COVID-19 in March did not come to a clear conclusion. The investigative report mentions the theory that the virus leaked from the laboratory but claims this scenario is “extremely unlikely”.

The hypothesis that the COVID-19 pandemic can originate from the Wuhan Institute of Virology is of great interest to the world. (Photo: CNN) Where is the “birthplace of COVID-19”? The laboratories at the Wuhan Institute of Virology are classified as the safest, or biosafety level 4 (BSL4). They are formulated to control dangerous bacteria and viruses that can cause serious diseases for which there is no cure or vaccine. The researchers here are all well-trained professionals and equipped with protective gear. “ The laboratory is equipped with an HVAC feeder system so viruses cannot escape through the exhaust, all wastes are treated with chemicals or high temperatures to ensure that no (pathogens) are still active. dynamic “, said Dr. Gregory Koblentz at George Mason University. In addition to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, there are still 59 similar scientific research institutions in the world. Meanwhile, there are no international standards specifying the level of safety, security and responsibility in the preservation of disease-carrying specimens at these facilities. The possibility of problems in these labs is entirely possible. This rate is even higher for the thousands of lower-level laboratories than the Wuhan research facilities scattered around the world. The laboratories at the Wuhan Institute of Virology are classified as the safest. (Photo: CNN) Man-made disaster A prime example of a disaster stemming from a laboratory accident is the human H1N1 virus. After the terrible pandemic of 1918, in 1977, the H1N1 epidemic once again leaked from the laboratories of the Soviet Union and China, then spread all over the world. In 2001, a mentally disturbed employee of a scientific laboratory in the US spread anthrax spores across the country, killing five people. In 2004, two Chinese researchers exposed to the SARS virus became the source of infection, one of the infected people died. In 2014, the US Food and Drug Administration discovered that some samples carried smallpox at risk of being released. Lynn Klotz, a senior fellow at the Center for Arms Control and Nuclear Nonproliferation, warned that scientific labs have posed many public health threats in history. history, and a similar situation is likely to repeat itself in the future. “ Human error accounts for more than 70% of laboratory incidents “, said Mr. Klotz. A prime example of a disaster stemming from a laboratory accident is the human H1N1 virus. Is Wuhan bat research dangerous? GOF research involves editing pathogens to make them more contagious, more dangerous, or easier to evade vaccines and treatments, all with the aim of improving measures against these pathogens. this disease. GOF has long been an area of ​​intense controversy. The US government, the largest funder of research on the link between COVID-19 and bats in Wuhan, disagrees with several independent scientists. They could not agree on whether this work should be classified as a GOF study. Epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch expressed concern about studying the SARS-CoV-2 virus in bats: I am afraid that it will create a new strain of virus that, although not deadly if infected by the laboratory staff, will cause a new pandemic.” . “ This research is unnecessary and does not contribute to drug or vaccine development ‘, said Professor Richard Ebright at Rutgers University, a longtime GOF expert. The US government also banned GOF research in 2014. The ban was relaxed in 2017, under which some cases will be considered to be allowed to operate based on the application of the research. However, the review process has been criticized as lacking transparency and unreliable. Leading US health experts Francis Collins and Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health have denied the research on COVID-19 and Wuhan bats is of the GOF category, but independent scientists disagree with this. their statement. The US government is the largest funder of research on the link between COVID-19 and bats in Wuhan. (Photo: AP) There is currently no clear scientific evidence on whether the virus that causes the COVID-19 pandemic leaked from a laboratory. However, there is some indirect evidence in favor of this hypothesis: Wuhan is only about 1,600 km north of the bat cave containing the SARS-CoV-2 virus, scientists from Wuhan are also known to often frequent visits to bat caves to take samples. Alina Chan, an expert in molecular biology at the Broad Institute, said the SARS-CoV-2 virus does not grow quickly after infecting people. This is one of the signs that the virus came from the lab. Ms. Chan added that the research on the SARS-CoV-2 virus will not be abandoned even after the pandemic ends. On the contrary, this study can be further extended in the future.

On May 26, the Biden administration directed US intelligence officials to take a closer look origin of SARS-CoV-2 , including theories such as animal-to-human transmission and lab leaks. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has so far infected more than 172 million people globally and caused more than 3 million deaths. (Photo courtesy: AFP) To date, the most comprehensive look at the origins of Covid-19 is a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) published on March 30 by an international team of researchers who traveled to China to Investigate the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, weeks later, many countries around the world have expressed concern that investigators have not had access to adequate data, while scientists say the report clearly shows how the virus develope. “The quick and obvious answer is not possible, as it normally takes years to trace the source of the virus. But in this case, I think we have enough evidence to make some hypotheses about SARS-CoV-2,” said Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Center for Global Health Science and Security at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Georgetown University Health, said. In the WHO report, the team found that it is possible that SARS-CoV-2 was transmitted from one animal to another before it was transmitted to humans. They also looked at evidence supporting the hypothesis that the virus was transmitted directly to humans from the original host animal, or that the virus spread through the frozen food supply chain. In addition, the research team said that the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan (China) is “very unlikely”. Below are the evidences for each of the four hypotheses about the origin of SARS-CoV-2 that the WHO report makes. 1. Direct animal-to-human transmission WHO assesses direct transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from animals to humans as a “probable” possibility. The SARS-CoV-2 virus originated in an animal, possibly a bat, and then spread to humans. The WHO report provides evidence that the majority of coronaviruses that infect humans come from animals, including the virus that caused the 2003 SARS outbreak. Bats are thought to be the most likely animal to cause it. epidemics of Covid-19 because they are hosts of a virus that is genetically related to SARS- CoV-2. The WHO report acknowledges the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 spread to humans from pangolins or ferrets. However, David Robertson, a virologist at the University of Glasgow, said that the WHO team of scientists had sampled many animals other than bats for study, and the analysis showed that bats are a natural reservoir for the virus. SARS-CoV-2. 2. Transmission from animals to humans through an intermediate host According to WHO, the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from animals to humans through an intermediate host is very high. In the event that SARS-CoV-2 was not transmitted directly from bats to humans, the scientists believe the most likely hypothesis is that the virus first spread through another animal species, such as a ferret or ferret. pangolin. Unlike bats, these animals are in constant contact with humans, especially if they are raised on farms or during the illegal wildlife trade. If SARS-CoV-2 was initially transmitted to another animal, that could also explain how the virus adapted to harm humans, although Robertson said the virus probably won’t change much. Genome analyzes show that SARS-CoV-2 is a virus specifically adapted to humans, which explains why it can be easily transmitted between pangolins, ferrets, cats and other species. other animals. The WHO report indicates that this is the route that previous corona viruses have taken to infect humans. For example, the SARS virus is believed to have passed from bats to civets before causing an epidemic in humans in 2002. Meanwhile, the virus that causes MERS has been found in camels throughout the Middle East. Daniel Lucey, an infectious diseases specialist at Georgetown University Medical Center, said that the similarities between SARS-CoV-2 and coronavirus families like SARS and MERS are a compelling argument that the strain type This virus can be transmitted in the same way. However, if this hypothesis is correct, it remains unclear what the intermediate host for the transmission of the virus from animals to humans is. The WHO team analyzed samples from thousands of domestic animals across China, all of which tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Mr. Lucey said that the WHO team did not adequately examine mink raised in China, one of the suspected intermediate hosts. 3. Transmission through frozen food WHO assesses the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 transmission through frozen food is probable. Another theory is that the virus can be transmitted to humans through the cold supply chain, the supply chain that distributes frozen food. In this case, the virus may have originated outside of China but spread into the country through the surface of the food packaging or in the food itself. This hypothesis gained interest in the summer of 2020 after several outbreaks in China. Since then, there has been some evidence that pathogens can survive longer at cold temperatures. However, while cold supply chains may play a role in new outbreaks, scientists say there is little reason to think that is the source of the pandemic. There is no direct evidence that SARS-CoV-2 causes food-borne outbreaks, while Rasmussen noted that SARS-CoV-2 is rarely spread through surfaces. . “It is not an impossibility. This possibility cannot be ruled out. But I think the current evidence is not enough to show that,” Ms. Rasmussen said. 4. Leaks from the lab According to WHO, the possibility of the SARS-CoV-2 virus leaking from the laboratory is extremely unlikely. The most controversial theory about the origin of SARS-CoV-2 is that the virus leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan, where scientists studied coronaviruses in bats. WHO scientists point out that there is little evidence that the virus leaked from the laboratory. An employee works at the laboratory of the Wuhan Institute of Virology (China). Photo: AFP There are 2 possibilities of the SARS-CoV-2 lab leak hypothesis, that is, a researcher was accidentally infected in the laboratory or the researchers intentionally invented a corona virus strain to create SARS. -CoV-2. However, the researchers completely rejected the second possibility that SARS-CoV-2 was created by genetic evidence that the virus arose spontaneously. WHO focuses on the possibility that the virus accidentally escaped from a laboratory where wildlife samples are being studied. Although there have been laboratory leaks in the past, the WHO report indicates that these are very rare. According to the WHO report, there is no record of any laboratory in Wuhan working on a virus closely related to SARS-CoV-2 before the first cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed. diagnosed in December 2019, nor have any laboratory staff reported symptoms of Covid-19. An article by the Wall Street Journal on May 23 stated that three researchers from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology became ill in November 2019 and were hospitalized with “symptoms consistent with both Covid-19. -19 and seasonal flu. However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on May 25 denied this information. When the WHO report was released in April, Mr. Lucey believed the hypothesis was plausible, although less likely than animal-to-human transmission due to the lack of evidence. Lucey pointed out that there was no forensic investigation of the Wuhan labs. “There really isn’t any way to prove or disprove the lab leak theory based on what is presented in this report,” Ms. Rasmussen said, noting that, to address the issue, A forensic examination of the laboratory is required to find the origin of SARS-COV-2. According to expert Robertson, supporters of the virus lab leak hypothesis argue that SARS-CoV-2 has spread too quickly and effectively in humans to become a virus of natural origin. But if SARS-CoV-2 is a “smart” virus, according to genomic studies, Robertson said, it is not surprising that it infects humans so quickly and so strongly.

Vehicles move on the street in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo: THX/VNA) It is no coincidence that New Zealand consistently tops the rankings of both Bloomberg and Australia’s Lowy Institute for COVID-19 response. At the end of 2020, Bloomberg ranked New Zealand as the country with the best overall response in the world to the pandemic. In May 2021, the country in Oceania continued to hold the top spot in Bloomberg’s ranking, despite the rate vaccination against COVID-19 in New Zealand is still quite low, 4.8% of the population, while this index of Singapore, the second ranked country, is up to 29.9%. It is worth mentioning that from October 2020 to May 2021, only in April, New Zealand “gives” this top position to Singapore. Over the past three months, New Zealand has not recorded any more cases of infection in the community. Since the discovery of the first COVID-19 patient on February 28, 2020, this Pacific island nation has had a total of 2,681 cases, of which 17 are being treated, 26 have died and 2,638 who recovered. Life has almost returned to normal for the Kiwi Country’s 5 million people. Authorities lifted restrictions on people and economic activity in the country, but mostly closed borders to prevent the virus from entering the country. When assessing New Zealand as the world’s leader in COVID-19 response, experts agreed that the country had taken the most decisive, quick and effective measures to handle the pandemic, with the least impact. to economic and social activity. To achieve this, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s government, with the support of the people and business community, has adopted a strategy of “going ahead and going strong.” New Zealand’s anti-epidemic model is basically prevent the virus from entering foreign countries, purchase equipment to protect essential workers, strengthen testing, contact tracing, isolating cases and above all implementing blockade and social distancing society to cut off the chain of infection.The “secret” of this country can be summed up in six words: drastic-timely-synchronous. Immediately after the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the SARS-CoV-2 virus as a global health emergency, New Zealand on February 2, 2020 decided to ban the entry via air of foreign nationals. All passengers arriving from China, while New Zealand citizens and arrivals from other countries must self-isolate for 14 days. On March 25, when the number of cases in the country was about 200, New Zealand quickly declared a national emergency and Close the border Although the country’s economy is heavily dependent on tourism. Foreigners entering by air and sea must be tested and isolated at a designated facility. With this step, New Zealand has “locked” the door to the virus entering from abroad. The New Zealand government also urgently establishes a national system to directly register personal protective equipment to identify all equipment manufacturers capable of supporting the fight against the epidemic. Many domestic enterprises have responded and increased domestic production or cooperated with foreign companies to find sources to buy masks, hand sanitizer, face shields and medical gowns. The government is also promoting the establishment of a public-private joint venture to purchase test kits and reagents (chemicals for testing the SARS-CoV-2 virus) from various suppliers. While many countries are also looking to buy these medical items when supplies are scarce, New Zealand has achieved a higher test rate than developed countries like the US or South Korea at the same time, with about 2,200 tested per 100,000 population by mid-May 2020. For contact tracing, New Zealand using both “low technology” and high technology to identify and test all close contacts of COVID-19 patients for 14 days. The primary method of tracing is that officials ask each COVID-19 patient to identify their close contact. In addition, the “NZ COVID Tracer” smartphone application for tracing virus infections was deployed simultaneously. People wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Auckland, New Zealand, February 14, 2021. (Photo: THX/VNA) New Zealand has stopped, not just mitigated, the spread of the disease in the community thanks to the rapid adoption of very strong measures. On March 25, 2020, just three days after confirming a domestic infection, authorities implemented a nationwide blockade measure. This is one of the countries applying the strictest blockade order in the world. Although New Zealanders have a high sense of self-discipline, the police still encourage citizens to report violators of epidemic prevention regulations. In just a few weeks, police received more than 336 reports of violations. New Zealand’s disease chart in the first wave of infections last year has demonstrated the effectiveness of anti-epidemic measures. The number of new cases per day began to decrease significantly from 89 cases / day on April 5 to only 9 cases / day two weeks later. On April 27, the government began easing the blockade order, although it still imposed some distancing measures. On May 13, New Zealand did not record any new cases, so on June 8, the government completely lifted the blockade order. During the outbreaks of re-emergence in Auckland city in August 2020 and February 2021, authorities immediately took drastic measures. For example, on February 14, New Zealand locked down Auckland, the largest city in the country to prevent the COVID-19 epidemic after recording three new infections in the community on the same day. Meanwhile, the remaining localities apply level 2 restrictive measures. When the outbreak in the community is extinguished, restrictive measures are also eased step by step with extreme caution. One highlight of New Zealand’s anti-epidemic work is the application of technology. New Zealand was one of the first developed countries to use a smartphone app to track infections. In April, the country also launched a trial of a surveillance “elarm” application to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus, with an accuracy of up to 90% within three days before the patient showed symptoms. such as cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Integrated with wearable devices such as smart watches or health monitoring devices, the application uses artificial intelligence to detect sudden changes in the user’s heart rate, temperature body temperature, thereby providing an early warning to detect signs of COVID-19. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (centre). (Photo: AFP/VNA) Experts say that New Zealand has proactive, strong, focused, science-based epidemic response measures, and at the same time implements these measures well. In research published in the journal The Lancet Public Health, expert Sarah Jefferies and colleagues point to the factors contributing to New Zealand’s success in the fight against the pandemic are rapid improvements in testing capacity and management. handling cases, the blockade order was for a short time (almost 4 weeks) but very strict. In addition, rapid interventions when the number of cases is low, for example, the warning level increases from 1-4 in five days when the number of cases has not exceeded 1,000 cases. A team of experts from the University of Otago (New Zealand) highlighted the key element of the government’s rapid, science-based risk assessment combined with early and decisive action. The implementation of interventions at various levels (border control, control of community spread, and control of cases) are also effective against the epidemic. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is highly appreciated for her ability to effectively convey the main message to the community – consider fighting the epidemic as the task of a unified collective of 5 million people, thereby being trusted and obeyed by the people. under very strict restrictions. The above-mentioned drastic measures against the epidemic helped reduce human losses with a very low mortality rate, only 0.53 cases per 100,000 people, but also cost the economy due to the closure policy as well as the impact of the pandemic. Translate. New Zealand’s economy recorded a record 2.9% contraction in 2020. However, in terms of the long-term outlook, the economy is forecasted to grow again this year thanks to the government’s economic stimulus package and New Zealand’s ability to restore normal life as before. pandemic. Moreover, it is the good control of the epidemic that has brought New Zealand’s great economic recovery opportunities. The results of a Bloomberg survey conducted in October 2020 with the participation of about 700 people, most of them senior executives in many industries, of which 53% are from large corporations and 47% are from large corporations. SMEs, showing that New Zealand is the country most trusted by business leaders to invest in the future. In fact, the economy of the “kiwi land” has rebounded as business confidence recently improved and the unemployment rate plummeted to 4.7% in the first quarter of 2021. The Ministry of Finance projects gross domestic product (GDP) growth to reach 2.9% in 2021 and gradually accelerate to 4.4% in 2023. Kiwibank’s chief economist, Jarrod Kerr, said the view For the future, a program to roll out vaccines, travel bubbles with Australia and many other countries in 2021 will support solid growth in 2022. New Zealand’s drastic, timely and synchronous approach to the COVID-19 epidemic, from blockade, distance, to tracing and treatment, has become a model of anti-epidemic recognized by the international community. and provide useful lessons to help governments plan how to respond to the current pandemic as well as future pandemic outbreaks.

Professor Marc Lipsitch, professor of epidemiology at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, said the scientists signed a letter published in the journal Science to call for the attention of the scientific community. “What we’re saying is that the available evidence doesn’t rule out a laboratory origin of COVID-19, nor does it rule out a natural origin. And there’s really no solid evidence either. It’s just that. There’s quite a bit of evidence lacking right now, and we’re calling for it to be addressed because it’s such an important question,” said Prof. Meanwhile, the Business Standard on May 29 said that since last year, Professor Angus Dalgleish (British) and Norwegian scientist Birger Sorensen have come to a conclusion about the possibility that “the SARS-CoV-2 virus originated from To confirm their position, the two scientists published a 22-page paper in the journal Biophysical Discovery, explaining that, in the course of their research Researching the vaccine, they discovered “special traces” that the virus was not of natural origin.The clue was a row of four amino acids, which generate a positive charge and bind to negative human cells. . “The law of nature is that you can’t have four positive amino acids in a row. The only way to have this is to make it yourself,” commented Professor Angus Dalgleish. The article by these two scientists also affirms: “We now have no doubt that the SARS-CoV-2 virus was purposefully manipulated, forcing us to reconsider the We think there are retro-engineered viruses. They changed the virus, then tried to figure it out in sequence years ago. We’ve seen leaks. We know it’s happening in the lab, and we know it’s happening. We also know from the reports we’ve found that the coronavirus is studied in Biosafety Level 2 or 3 laboratories.” Both scientists are respected experts: Prof Angus Dalgleish is a professor of oncology in London known for his groundbreaking work on HIV vaccines while Birger Sorensen is a virologist and president of Immunor Pharmaceuticals, which is developing a COVID-19 vaccine called Biovacc-19. On May 26, US President Joe Biden ordered the country’s intelligence community to unravel the conspiracy theory that the virus leaked from a Chinese laboratory and must provide an answer within 90 days. Doubts Apparently, the hypothesis that the SARS-CoV-2 virus could be the result of a scientific experiment has heated up the debate among scientists about the operation of the safest biological laboratories in the world today. . The Wuhan Institute of Virology, which is suspected of leaking the virus, is a virology research institute managed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Located in Jiangxia District, Wuhan, Hubei, Wuhan Institute of Virology has China’s first biosafety level 4 (BSL – 4) laboratory and has close relations with the National Laboratory. Galveston in the US, the Center International de Recherche en Infectiologie in France, and the National Microbiology Laboratory in Canada. Gregory Koblentz, director of Biodefense Graduate, revealed that BSL-4 is built to work safely and securely against the most dangerous bacteria and viruses that can cause serious illnesses for which there is no treatment or vaccine. : “There’s an HVAC filtration system, so viruses can’t escape through the exhaust. Any wastewater that leaves the facility is treated with chemicals or high temperatures to ensure that nothing remains alive. The researchers themselves are highly trained and wear protective clothing.” Statistics show that there are 59 BSL-4s around the world but there are no binding international standards for safe, confidential and responsible work with pathogens. The report, Mapping Maximum Biological Containment Labs Globally, shows that accidents can happen, sometimes in top-tier facilities, and more often in lower-level labs. For example, the human H1N1 virus – the same flu that caused the 1918 pandemic, was leaked in 1977 in the Soviet Union (former) and China. In 2001, a mentally disturbed employee at a US laboratory sent anthrax spores across the country, killing five people. Two Chinese researchers exposed to SARS in 2004 spread the disease to others, resulting in one death. In 2014, a handful of vials of smallpox were discovered during an office move by the US Food and Drug Administration. Lynn Klotz, a senior scientist at the Centers for Non-Proliferation and Control, has been sounding the alarm for years about the public safety threats posed by such facilities. “Human error accounts for more than 70% of errors in laboratories, adding that US researchers must rely on data from freedom of information requests to learn about incidents.” hey,” Lynn Klotz said. These incidents do not mean that COVID-19 has leaked from a laboratory and the fact that there is no scientific evidence to support the scenario yet, said molecular biologist Richard Ebright of Rutgers University. laboratory accident for this pandemic.

Jacob Hopkins, the first volunteer directly infected with the virus These volunteers have lined up to participate in the “human trial,” which has long been successfully used to develop vaccines for diseases such as typhoid and cholera. The world’s first human trial for Covid-19 began in the UK in March of this year, as scientists tried to determine the minimum dose of virus needed to infect volunteers. from 18 to 30 years old. Alastair Fraser-Urquhart, human trial volunteer Alastair Fraser-Urquhart “registered immediately” to participate in the trial and also became the manager of 1Day Sooner, a British non-profit that advocates for volunteers to participate in research studies. save on humans. “We are really, really lucky that an mRNA vaccine is a viable platform to start with, but there is no guarantee it will,” he said, “And even if it turns out to be completely useless. , thanks to a test like this, you can detect that in a matter of weeks instead of months.” Mr Fraser-Urquhart was one of the few to take part in the first phase of the trial, in which volunteers were screened before going into isolation at the Royal Free hospital in London. A few days later, the virus was injected into Fraser-Urquhart’s nose by a scientist wearing full protective gear while he lay in bed wearing only a T-shirt and jeans. There were about six other researchers, all covered from head to toe, standing in that room. “One of them stood in the corner of the room and counted down the seconds… as if it were a rocket launch,” Fraser-Urquhart said. He said the experience was both terrifying and memorable. “In the same room with such a large amount of pure virus… it looks like normal water. I didn’t expect to see coronavirus like this.” According to Jacob Hopkins, the first volunteer directly infected with the virus, after being injected, they will lie down for 10 minutes before sitting up and holding the position for another 20 minutes. “When we finished, we were… high five. It was a really weird moment, it was like “that’s great, Covid!”? And then it all really started.” After contracting the virus, the participants were monitored 24 hours a day for at least 14 days, and blood samples and nasal swabs were collected every day. Both Fraser-Urquhart and Hopkins felt fine for the first few days, but had to go through a few “difficult” days before recovering. “Honestly, it wasn’t easy, but it was an extraordinary experience, and one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life,” Hopkins said. “When you contribute to a project that can bring a lot of good… it feels good to be a part of it.” After discharge, the participants were followed up for a year so the researchers could detect any long-term symptoms. Overall, each person will be supported around £4,500 (VND 146.8 million) for their contribution. Fraser-Urquhart donated his first donation to The Vaccine Alliance, and plans to donate the rest to other charities. “It’s good to be able to demonstrate that at least some of the volunteers participate purely out of compassion,” he said. “Actually, this support never influenced my decision to join.” Some scientists have hesitated to expose volunteers to Sars-CoV-2 – the virus behind COVID-19 – because it currently has no cure, although there are several methods. The treatment has been shown to be effective. Meanwhile, some advocates of the trial argue that the coronavirus poses a low risk to young and healthy people and offers high benefits to society. These benefits include the ability to accelerate the development of a second-generation vaccine, as developing countries grapple with inadequate demand. They can also be used to compare people who are suitable for vaccines, develop treatments, and advance the scientific understanding of the virus.

Anhe illustrated. How to cure foot odor at home Alum You just need to put alum in the pan until they melt and close the cake, then grind alum into a powder and apply it on the soles of your feet for 10 minutes. Do it continuously for 3-4 days, your feet will not sweat and cause unpleasant odors. Garlic Garlic is one of the ‘strongest’ foods, so using it to eliminate foot odor will surely make many people wonder. In fact, garlic is a good food and has the ability to cure many diseases. Garlic contains 3 important active ingredients: allicin, liallyl sulfide and ajoene. In particular, allicinn is considered a natural antibiotic, inhibits many types of bacteria and can dislodge odors. You just need to use 4-5 garlic bulbs, crush, mix with warm water and soak your feet regularly twice a week. Green tea leaves Crushed green tea leaves boiled with water, mixed with a little cold water, then soaked feet will have the effect of both eliminating toxins in the body and treating foot odor. How to prevent foot odor effectively Choose good, thick, soft, sweat-wicking socks made of natural fibers or sports socks. Wear open-toed sandals in warm weather and go barefoot indoors when appropriate to keep your feet dry. Use a cotton ball to rub a small amount of rubbing alcohol on your feet every night to help dry out your feet. Avoid rubbing on cracks in the skin. Apply an antifungal foot spray or foot bath powder once a day. Use deodorant insoles on shoes. If you need to reduce foot odor, you should apply an antiperspirant or spray deodorant on your feet. Use appropriate antifungal and antibacterial soaps. When the smell of sweat becomes severe and does not go away, you should see a doctor for a prescription.

The leader of the National University of Science and Technology handed over the SAR-CoV-2 test kit to the leader of the provincial Department of Health. This is a test kit to detect SARS-CoV-2 virus and report results by Realtime technique. The product has been recognized as meeting national standards and in 2020, and scientists from the University of Science under the National University of Science and Technology have produced and transferred over 1,000 test kits to medical facilities in the province. After the process of improving the production process, the test suite has achieved higher efficiency. It is known that to produce 1,000 of these test kits, scientists from the University of Science did it in 3 days (from May 30 to June 1). In order to continue to support COVID-19 disease control and prevention, TN is improving the production process to increase capacity by 4-5 times, and at the same time can serve controlled testing in the community. with a capacity of 10,000 people/day. Currently, the following units: Thai Nguyen Central Hospital, A Thai Nguyen Hospital and Provincial Center for Disease Control have been using this SAR-CoV-2 virus detection test kit in prevention work. epidemic control in the whole province.

The technological process of sequencing the SARS-CoV-2 virus genome by the new generation sequencing machine PacBio is the result of a scientific project assigned by the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology to the Institute of Biotechnology. (biotechnology) implementation, in order to meet the needs of supporting the handling of the COVID-19 epidemic in Vietnam. Phylogenetic tree of SARS-CoV-2 strains collected in Vietnam until April 1, 2021. The NCBI reference MN908947.3 was also included as a comparison (black), while the SARS-CoV-2 genomes analyzed and provided by the Institute of Biotechnology were included in the comparison (boxed in red). Sequences are colored according to the GISAID classification. The taxonomic tree shows the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 as well as when the strains entered Vietnam one by one. Prof. Dr. Truong Nam Hai – Project leader said that the Institute of Biotechnology has collaborated with the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City and the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) to develop a technical process to sequence the entire SARS virus genome. CoV-2 by PacBio’s long segment sequencing technology, including 6 steps: (1) Culture and extraction of viral RNA. (2) Synthesis of double-stranded cDNA from viral RNA. These two steps were carried out at the Pasteur Institute in HCMC and NIHE in clean room conditions of class III biosafety. (3) Prepare a DNA library for gene sequencing. (4) Sequencing the whole genome of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. (5) De novo assembly of the viral genome. (6) Annotation and analysis of viral genomes. The following four steps were performed at the Institute of Biotechnology in about 48 hours. Also according to Prof. Dr. Truong Nam Hai, in Vietnam, to sequence the SARS-CoV-2 virus genome, domestic units use short-sequencing technology. Then assemble and reference the previous genome. This technology takes a long time to read the complete genome (3-4 days) and there are still errors in reading. “Some other units can sequence with next-generation equipment based on the principle of sequencing short fragments. That is, they sequence short fragments, then assemble these fragments together into long segments. To sequence a genome, and to sequence that, the units must now use the reference sequence that has been solved previously (as before, China was the country that successfully sequenced the strain in Wuhan) After solving the short segments, use the reference sequence to assemble to form the genome of the strain that we are sequencing.This is often a long process, short sequencing is often difficult to do. read the entire genome fully, so sometimes it is necessary to use an additional sequence called sanger sequencing to fully read the genome that we are interested in.Besides, this method also has other advantages. reading errors, so editing it also takes more time “- Professor Truong Nam Hai said. Prof. Dr. Truong Nam Hai also said that the project has sequenced the entire genome of four strains of SARS-CoV-2 virus, with a length of over 29500 nucleotides/genome. The results of genome assembly showed that there were no reading errors or blanks, and the sequencing results achieved 99.99% accuracy. “Currently this is the only device in Vietnam, it doesn’t have to read short paragraphs, but read long ones. Reading short paragraphs only reads 100-200 nucleotides/fragment, then assembles into a full genome. But Long segments can read thousands, tens of thousands of nucleotides/segment, and reading long fragments, when assembled to produce a genome, it is simpler and more accurate, the accuracy is equivalent to 99.99%- ie reading errors are almost nonexistent, assembly is very fast.It takes about 2 days for sequencing, assembly and analysis to complete the genome of a virus “- GS Hai said. With the construction and mastering of PacBio’s long-range genome sequencing technique for SARS-CoV-2 virus, according to scientists’ assessment, it has opened up the possibility of fast and accurate viral genome sequencing. without relying on international reference gene sequences. This allows Vietnamese scientists to sequence new viral pathogens in the future without the need for a reference genome. Genome sequencing data contributes to determining the origin of the virus and the number of sources of infection (F0) in the outbreaks, is a scientific basis and important information in the development of strategies and plans for prevention and control. effective spread of the virus in the community. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ha Quy Quynh – Head of Technology Application and Deployment Department, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology emphasized: “The successful study of the technological process of decoding the SARS-CoV-2 virus gene is contributed to the treatment regimen that we were able to suppress the epidemic, in particular, gene sequencing along with tracing allowed us to determine the source of the virus’s spread – the F0s, from which We have a scientific basis for us to isolate and isolate the number of people involved, and we also have a scientific basis to deploy optimal treatment regimens.” With the mastery of the existing technological process, capacity and conditions, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology also said that it is ready to cooperate with medical institutions in sequencing the system. genes of SARS-CoV-2 virus on a large scale in urgent cases, in order to effectively serve the prevention of COVID-19 epidemic in Vietnam./.

Visitors who are granted a “Digital Certificate of Covid-19” can enter many European countries from July 1. After two weeks of consecutive declines in the number of new Covid-19 cases, Spain recently announced the relaxation of entry regulations for travelers from 10 countries, including the requirement to test negative for the virus. SARS-CoV-2. Meanwhile, North Macedonia also closed almost all Covid-19 treatment centers and makeshift hospitals after the number of cases dropped by 90%. Germany, Italy and Cyprus are also expected this week to allow food and beverage restaurants to open for service. In the recently approved border opening plan, the leaders of the European Union (EU) set out two main conditions. Firstly, the EU only reopens its borders to those countries that have controlled the Covid-19 epidemic well for a certain period of time, with indicators of the infection rate among the population equal to or lower than that of the EU. Second, only those who have been granted a “Covid-19 Digital Certificate” can travel freely. For Europeans, the “Digital Certification of Covid-19” is expected to take effect from July 1, and is expected to become the “key” to open the economy, especially. is the tourism industry. Because European countries have lost hundreds of billions of euros since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, closing their borders with the outside for nearly a year. According to statistics, the “smokeless industry” contributes about 14% of Spain’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), over 13% of Italy’s GDP, nearly 8% of France’s GDP and even up to 20% of GDP of Spain. Greek. Therefore, if this summer tourist season fails, the economies of countries such as Greece and Spain are at risk of not being able to recover. The emergence of medical certificates not only helps promote tourism within the EU countries, but also allows visitors from countries outside the union to enter, especially visitors from the US and UK, two countries. The country has the highest rate of vaccination against Covid-19 in the world today. Gloria Guevara of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) called the “Digital Certification of Covid-19” a big step towards the recovery of the tourism industry, helping EU countries in time. welcome a large number of visitors in the summer tourist season. Currently 46 per cent of the EU’s adult population has received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, while 300 million more will be delivered soon. The EU’s goal is to fully immunize 75% of adults by the end of July. If according to plan, EU countries can confidently reopen safely. Along with the tourism industry, many other business and manufacturing sectors will also recover. The European Commission (EC) predicts that the bloc’s economy will grow 4.2% this year. Although the “Digital certification of Covid-19” is considered the “key” for Europeans to regain their former rhythm, according to health experts, the opening of borders and the easing of controls epidemic still needs to be conducted with caution. European countries will have to closely monitor and make specific assessments in each phase. The World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends that the vaccine is considered a “light at the end of the tunnel”, but its effectiveness has not been fully evaluated while the strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus continued to appear. Therefore, countries around the world need to choose safe steps. Step 1: Visit https://www.bluezone.gov.vn or download directly at App Store or CH Play. Step 2: Once downloaded, the application will ask for permission to use Bluetooth to record contact with other users who have installed Bluezone. If Bluetooth is not already on, drag the status bar and turn on Bluetooth; or go to Settings, select Bluetooth and turn it on. Step 3: Once the installation is done, click Scan Around. If someone near you less than 2m has used Bluezone, the application will automatically identify these users and put them in the contact list.

The problem of pesticides and toxic chemicals in vegetables and fruits is also a concern of most families. To ensure food safety, prevent cancer, disease, pocket the following tips to remove pesticides in vegetables. Use vinegar Using vinegar to remove germs and pesticides from fruits and vegetables is one of the most effective ways. The method is quite simple, you just need to dilute 10% white vinegar with 90% water, then soak vegetables in it for about 10 minutes. During that time, stir the vegetables thoroughly in the water and vinegar mixture, then rinse once with boiled water to cool. Use baking soda Like vinegar, baking soda is also a great way to get rid of pesticides in vegetables. You just need to put about 1.5 liters of water in the vegetable wash basin, then add 4 teaspoons of baking soda to the bowl and stir the mixture. Then, soak vegetables and fruits in this solution for 15 minutes. Finally, using a towel to dry the fruit can be used. For vegetables, only soak the mixture for 5 minutes and then rinse with clean water. Soak in clean water This is the most common and easiest way used by many people. After washing vegetables and fruits, you can soak them in clean water with a little salt added for about 10 minutes, then rinse with clean water. By doing so you can help neutralize the toxins in the pesticides. Use turmeric powder Turmeric has strong antiseptic properties so they are very effective in getting rid of germs and pesticides on fruits and vegetables. All you need to do is take about 5 teaspoons of turmeric powder in a pot of boiling water, stir well and let the turmeric water cool down completely. Then, put fruits and vegetables in and soak for 20 minutes. Finally, just rinse again with clean water. Cook vegetables on high heat This causes the pesticide in the vegetables to break down. Some heat-resistant vegetables such as cauliflower, celery, etc., after washing, blanch with hot water for 2 minutes, which will reduce the amount of pesticides by 30%, then continue to cook at high temperature. This will reduce the amount of pesticides by 90%.

One theory is that the virus came from a bat-like animal. The virus then passes to another animal that has close contact with humans and infects them. The second theory suspects that the SARS-CoV-2 virus leaked from a chemical laboratory in Wuhan, China – where the first patient with Covid-19 was recorded. This hypothesis has been rejected many times, even by the WHO team of experts who came to Wuhan to investigate and rejected this hypothesis. However, in recent weeks, this question has been dug up again. Both of these hypotheses still have no reasonable answer, creating a controversy among scientists. The focus of public opinion The Wuhan Institute of Virology specializes in the study of pathogens in nature that are capable of infecting humans – causing novel diseases and high mortality. The Institute has collected many samples from wild animals for experiments to assess the vulnerability of humans to a variety of animal viruses. The institute has carried out numerous studies on bat viruses since the 2002 SARS outbreak, which claimed the lives of 774 people worldwide. Years after a strenuous search, scientists discovered a virus similar to the one that causes SARS exists in a bat cave in southwestern China. To reduce the risk of pathogens accidentally escaping, the facility had to enforce a series of stringent procedures, such as protective clothing or air filtration systems. However, even the most stringent measures cannot eliminate the risk of the virus leaking into the environment. Chinese virologist Shi Zhengli of the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Photo: South China Morning Post. For some scientists, the spread of pathogens by a careless laboratory worker is a plausible theory that explains how the pandemic began. The Wuhan Institute of Virology is located right near the Huanan seafood market – the outbreak is considered the most likely to transmit the virus from animals to humans. The location between the two immediately raised suspicions. Many people are even more suspicious in the context that the animal that carries the disease has not been identified and the Chinese government repeatedly refuses to allow the investigation of the scenario that Covid-19 is a leaked product from a laboratory. The scientists developed the hypothesis based on concerns about the risks associated with laboratory research, clues in the virus genome, and information from the institute’s studies. The Wuhan Institute of Virology insists that its laboratory does not have a virus closely related to SARS-CoV-2 – the origin of the Covid-19 outbreak. This hypothesis was repeatedly rejected, and was forgotten for some time. Until May 23, Wall Street Journal Citing a confidential US report, it was revealed that in November 2019, before China reported its first Covid-19 cases, some researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology were hospitalized. . Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian stated on May 24 that the article was “completely untrue”. The ability to transmit viruses from animals to humans A larger number of scientists believe that the virus that causes Covid-19 is of natural origin because there is no scientific evidence to support the scenario of a leak from a laboratory. Kristian G Andersen, a scientist at Scripps Research, who has done extensive research on coronaviruses, Ebola and other pathogens transmitted from animals to humans, says similar natural gene sequences are present in viruses as well. corona. Many new diseases in the past originated in bats. Photo: SCMP. In addition, from a historical perspective, a number of new diseases that have emerged in the past century have been traced back to human interactions with wild and domestic animals, including SARS (bats), MERS-CoV. (camels), Ebola (bats or primates) and Nipah viruses (bats). However, under any scenario, there is not enough evidence to prove that the other scenario cannot happen. 24 scientists recently sent a letter to the World Health Organization (WHO) demanding a rigorous, independent investigation, arguing that an international investigation into China in early February was insufficient. deep. US President Joe Biden on May 26 also ordered intelligence forces to “double efforts” to investigate the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic and report the results of the investigation within 90 days.

The warehouse was converted into an isolation area for infected people during the 1918 flu pandemic. Photo: According to Live Science “The research results, although not directly applicable to the Covid-19 pandemic, show that humans can eventually overcome their variants. This is being expected by the world in the context of the corona virus outbreak. evolved with many dangerous mutations today,” evolutionary biologist Sébastien Calvignac-Spencer, lead author of the study, told Live Science. According to Spencer, as now, when focusing on studying the virus that caused the 1918 flu pandemic, the research team questioned whether its new variants worked differently from the original? Since then, the team has studied six human lungs dating from the pandemic years of 1918, which are preserved in formalin at pathological archives in Germany and Austria. The researchers determined that three of the six sample lungs – two from young soldiers who died in Berlin, the other from a young woman who died in Munich – contained the 1918 flu virus. “The virus that caused the 1918 flu pandemic is still around today. But it’s more attenuated, mainly because we are descendants of people who survived the outbreak 103 years ago. Because So we’ve inherited some form of genetic immunity,” explains Calvignac-Spencer. Estimates suggest that the 1918 strain of influenza infected about 1 billion people, while the global population was only 2 billion. About 50-100 million people may have died in three consecutive outbreaks then. The first wave of the pandemic occurred in early 1918, it was less deadly than later waves: “The preserved lungs of two German soldiers were determined to be dead at this time”, the research team at the Institute of Robert Koch confirmed. The researchers extracted viral RNA from those lung samples. Both German soldiers died on the same day and when decoding the genome of the virus that killed them there was almost no difference. Spencer added: “But the form of the flu virus found in the soldiers’ lungs, is somewhat genetically different from the form of the virus that infected the young woman who died in Munich. Presumably, the woman. did not survive a subsequent outbreak.” The scientists also compared viral genomes from the US and Germany, and conducted laboratory studies with synthetic copies of virus samples. They wanted to learn to assess the infectivity and replication ability of different strains inside cells. The findings of German scientists also show that the 1918 flu virus has mutated to make the next outbreak stronger and more dangerous than the previous one, by evolving to overcome the human ability to “defence”. The genetic mutations that emerged between the first and second waves may have made the virus better adapted for human-to-human transmission, rather than between birds, its natural host. The other mutation may have changed the way the virus interacts with a human protein called MxA, which helps regulate the body’s immune response to new pathogens. Although the scientists are not sure how the variants changed the “strength” of the virus, “it can be predicted that these changes helped the virus avoid one of the mechanisms by which cells respond.” to kill the flu virus,” Calvignac-Spencer said. The evolution of the virus that caused the 1918 flu pandemic has similarities to the current Covid-19 pandemic, such as consecutive outbreaks with many different strains, and the following outbreaks are more dangerous than the previous one. . Thanks to the advancement of science, today when understanding the Covid-19 pandemic, researchers can better understand the 1918 influenza pandemic: “The more we understand about the current pandemic, that The more we can understand the pandemic in the past, rather than vice versa,” Calvignac-Spencer emphasized. One significant advance is that researchers have been able to accurately sequence the viral genome in human tissue preserved in formalin for more than 100 years – something that has hitherto been thought to be very difficult. “Thanks to new techniques, the study ended up being much easier than we expected,” added Calvignac-Spencer, adding: “We can now sequence the viral genome from infected humans. buried in permafrost for up to 1,000 years, because the cold can help preserve DNA even longer.” The team of German scientists also wanted to sequence viral genomes that could have been stored in the bodies of ancient Egyptian mummies – the earliest mummies are about 5,000 years old.”The mummies were prepared to prevent biological processes, and that’s exactly what we want. So we will also embark on research to better understand other diseases of the past,” the German scientist said. about the group’s future plans.

“The new naming does not replace the scientific names of the variants, but can aid in public discussion,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO technical team leader on Covid-19. Other SARS-CoV-2 variants of interest will be labeled with the words “Epsiloon”, “Zeta”, “Eta”, “Theta” and “Iota”. (Artwork: BBC) Under the new system, the British variant (B.1.1.7) is called “Alpha”, the South African variant (B.1.351) is “Beta”, the Brazilian variant (P1) is “Gamma”. The Indian variant B.1.617 is divided into sub-lineages, where the B.1.617.2 variant is called “Delta” and the B.1.617.1 variant is called “Kappa”. Names such as variant B.1.1.7.2 will continue to be used in scientific circles, because of the mutational information their names convey. “Despite their advantages, scientific names can be difficult to say and remember, and easily misinterpreted. As a result, people often refer to variants by the places where they were first discovered, causing stigma and discrimination,” according to the WHO statement. “To avoid this and simplify mass communication, WHO encourages authorities, national media and everyone else to use these new names,” the WHO said. The Greek alphabet has 24 letters and WHO has not yet planned what to do next if all 24 letters are used. According to AFP, “Epsilon”, “Zeta”, “Eta”, “Theta” and “Iota” are names for variants of interest.

WHO technical team leader on Covid-19 Maria Van Kerkhove. Photo: AFP According to the new announcement, WHO will use Greek letters to refer to variants that were first detected in countries such as the UK, South Africa and India. For example, the variant in the UK is called Alpha, in South Africa it is Beta, and in India it is Delta. The full list of names has been published on the WHO website. The Government of India earlier this month criticized the naming of variant B.1.617.2 – first detected in the country last October – as “Indian variant”, despite WHO never officially called it that. “No country should be discriminated against in detecting and reporting variants,” said WHO’s Covid-19 technical team leader Maria Van Kerkhove, “we don’t want to replace scientific names.” available, but only to assist in the transmission of certain information to the general public” If more than 24 variants are officially identified, meaning the system will run out of Greek letters, WHO will announce the new designation. Ms. Van Kerkhove on May 31 also called for close monitoring of variants and sharing of scientific data to help prevent the spread. Over the weekend, Vietnamese health officials warned of a new virus variant, which is believed to be a dangerous combination of two Alpha and Delta variants. While a scientific adviser to the British Government on May 31 said that the country is in the early stages of a third wave of Covid-19 infections, partly due to the Delta variant.

Man-made virus? Oncologist at St George’s Hospital in London, Professor Angus Dalgleish, and Norwegian virologist and president of Immunor Pharmaceuticals Birger Sørensen, revealed they had found evidence. originally about this last year, but was ignored by academia. Accordingly, during their research, the two experts concluded that “the possibility that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is the result of the development process in the natural environment is very low”. Both said this virus could be genetically modified at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (China) and a part of scientists tried to hide information about the origin of this virus. According to the two experts, they have found “special traces” that show that the virus is not of natural origin. This clue is a row of four amino acids, which generate a positive charge and bind to negative human cells. “According to the laws of nature, you cannot have four positive amino acids in a row. The only way to have this is to create it yourself,” Dalgleish said. He added that he and Sørensen had found evidence of human impact on the formation of the virus and made it look like a mutation in nature. Two British and Norwegian experts said the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes the COVID-19 pandemic, was created in a laboratory. Photo: THE NATION In addition, the two scientists also looked at studies on China, some in collaboration with US universities, to find out how tools for creating viruses were developed. Sputnik news. They conclude that most of the studies above use a “functional development” research approach, which involves manipulating natural viruses in the laboratory to make them more infectious, allowing scientists to study their potential effects on humans. “We believe the virus was designed and created in a functional development approach. They changed the virus, then tried to find its mutated form years ago,” Dalgleish said. “A natural viral pandemic would mutate gradually and become more infectious, but less pathogenic. Many people predicted the COVID-19 pandemic would be like this, but that doesn’t seem to happen,” – the two scientists said. Two experts: Discovery during vaccine research According to the two experts, “it seems that the documents about SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan are confidential and related information has been destroyed”, so both “face huge gaps”. in the data will probably never be filled”. Mr Dalgleish and Mr Sørensen first raised their concerns last summer, after discovering suspicious features of the deadly virus while working on a vaccine against COVID-19. Security guards stand outside the Institute of Virology in Wuhan City, China. Photo: REUTERS The information about the research paper of the two scientists comes in the context of the US repeatedly calling for another investigation into the origin of the pandemic before China has always denied the possibility that the virus leaked from another in their laboratories, according to the South China Morning Post . On May 25, the Senate Intelligence Committee and the US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee announced that they were conducting their own investigation into the origin of the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how the US government responded to the crisis. this panic. US officials are concerned that “the lack of cooperation and transparency in the information provided by the Chinese government will continue to adversely affect any efforts to determine the source of the virus that causes the COVID-19 pandemic. “. A day earlier, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian once again rejected the idea that the virus causing the COVID-19 epidemic originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, asserting that “there is no which leak” occurred. “The World Health Organization (WHO) team of experts went to investigate all the places they wanted to go, interviewed anyone they asked, and were satisfied with the results,” Zhao said.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Photo: Reuters As suggested by WHO, the COVID-19 mutation is called “British strain” or B.1.1.7 should be called “Alpha”, while the common mutant strain in South Africa is renamed “Beta” . The two Brazilian strains, called P.1 and P.2, became Gamma and Zeta, respectively, while the two subtypes of the “Indian variant”, B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.2, were called “Kappa” and “Delta”. Two other strains, first reported by the US in March of this year, were assigned the most difficult names to remember, “Epsilon” and “Iota”. Maria Van Kerkhove, head of WHO’s COVID-19 expert team, stressed that the new names will not replace the scientific name of the strain, because the scientific name is a complex combination of letters and numbers. Instead, the new name will make it easier for people to name variables in public discussions. At the same time, this will help remove the stigma against the country that first discovered the mutation. “No country should be discriminated against for detecting and reporting mutations,” and Van Kerkhove said. WHO List of VOCs of concern. List of Variants of Interest (VOI). In which, the first column is the new name proposed by WHO. The WHO’s new move comes in the context of India’s growing anger when the media calls the B.1.617 virus strain an “Indian variant”. India’s Health Ministry argued last month that the name freely used in the media was “misleading” because it was not a name designated by the WHO. Earlier, in February, Professor Salim Abdool Karim, then co-chair of South Africa’s Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19, told CNN in an interview to stop calling the virus spreading. in his country is the “South African variant.” Instead, call it by its scientific name: 501Y.V2. The politically correct idea of ​​WHO is supported by many countries. But it also confuses many people. Some observers argue that Greek letters are actually not that easy to remember. While others point out that the WHO is in danger of “running out of names” at some point, since the Greek alphabet has only 24 letters.

Wuhan Institute of Virology, China. Photo: AFP 59 leading biological laboratories in the world The Wuhan Institute of Virology is among the most secure, often referred to as biosafety level 4, or BSL4. Such laboratory facilities are built to operate safely and securely against some of the world’s deadliest viruses and bacteria, which can cause serious diseases for which there is no cure or vaccine. . “There are air-conditioning filtration systems that prevent viruses from escaping through exhaust gases and wastewater, which are treated with chemicals or high temperatures to make sure nothing remains. at,” Gregory Koblentz, director of the Biosafety Program at George Mason University, told AFP. In addition, the researchers themselves are professionally trained and wear protective gear when conducting experiments. There are about 59 such biological laboratories around the world, a report co-led by Mr. Koblentz published this week said. “There are no mandatory international standards for safety, security and accountability standards for diseases,” the report said. Accidents can happen at any time Accidents can sometimes happen in even the world’s top facilities and are even more likely to happen in thousands of lower-end labs. The H1N1 virus – the same type of virus that caused the 1918 pandemic was leaked in 1977 in the Soviet Union and China, and then spread around the world. In 2001, a mentally challenged employee at an American laboratory sent parcels of anthrax spores across the United States, killing five people. Two Chinese researchers were exposed to the SARS virus in 2004 and spread the disease to others, killing one person. Lynn Klotz, a senior scientist at the Centers for Arms Control and Disarmament, has raised the alarm about the threat to the public from such experimental facilities. “Human errors account for more than 70% of errors in laboratories,” the researcher said. Controversy entitled “Strengthening the research function” There are controversies within the US government, which also funds the Wuhan coronavirus research program, and some independent scientists over whether gains of function – GOF) should be conducted. GOF studies focus on tailoring pathogens to make them more infectious, more dangerous, or easier to escape from treatments and vaccines – all with the aim of learning how to cope with them more effectively. This field has been going on for a long time. The debate heated up when, in 2011, two research groups showed that they could make avian influenza viruses more infectious in animals. Harvard epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch told AFP he was concerned that “would create a strain of the virus that, if it infects laboratory workers, not only kills the person but causes a pandemic”. “This study was not requested and does not contribute to the development of drugs or vaccines,” said molecular biologist Richard Ebright of Rutgers University, one of the strongest opponents of the type of research. this said. In 2014, the US government announced it would stop funding such research, but the process was criticized for its lack of transparency and trust. Late last year, a non-profit organization received funding from the US for research “to predict the risk of virus escaping from the laboratory” from corona virus in bats to humans in Wuhan. This week, before a question from Congress, experts Francis Collins and Anthony Fauci of the US National Institutes of Health also denied conducting activities to strengthen research functions.

How to get rid of Miss Vi? To get out of pandemics like Co Vi, it is now clear that it is not possible to rely solely on social distancing measures and aggressively tracing the virus. Closures and tracing are very important measures, and the Vietnamese government has excelled in the early stages of fighting the epidemic with these measures alone. But in an open world, the border door can’t close no matter how hard it is, tracking the ghost of Co Vi successfully this time but still wondering when it will come back. But if you keep busy with “national resistance”, “defensive counterattack”, you will be hungry all the time. Relying on medical treatment is even worse, because firstly, there is no medicine to guarantee that 100% of people infected with Co Vi will survive; the second (and more important) is that when there is an outbreak, the health system simply collapses, you have very little chance of being hospitalized, and if you do get into the hospital, there will be no more oxygen to breathe. . Some of my friends whispered to each other (=Phew) measures to eradicate Co Vi such as drinking hot water, eating garlic, steaming with leaves, or simply… fiercely drinking! If you apply it to yourself, it won’t hurt anyone other than your spouse, children, or grandchildren, but I beg you not to incite Phai to do the same, because that is verbal karma. Miss Vi is “contagious or dead” and our way out Co Vi’s principle of existence (and many other infectious viruses) is “infect or die”. Viruses are not cells, so they cannot reproduce outside of the body, and when outside the body, Co Vi does not last long. When the majority of the population is immune, the probability of transmitting Co Vi decreases, even those who are not immune are protected, the epidemic will be basically extinguished. This is the phenomenon of “herd immunity”, which has long been observed and concluded by scientists with many previous pandemics. Herd immunity can occur during natural epidemics. After about 70% of the population has been infected with Co Vi, about 1-5% will die, the rest will become immune. Assuming Vietnam followed this model, it would have to sacrifice about a million people. Certainly most of us disagree with this measure. There is another way that does not require such sacrifices to achieve herd immunity, which is to vaccinate the majority of the population. Immune cells can be “trained” to recognize Co Vi by the S protein molecule on its surface. When real Co Vi invades, immune cells secrete antibodies that “lock hands” with these S proteins. Co Vi’s protein S mimics the body’s ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) molecular structure to adhere to cell surfaces. If protein S is surrounded by antibodies, then Co Vi also “botay.com”. Not everyone wants a vaccine But in the world there is a part of people who think they will not get vaccinated. Some even think that this is a conspiracy of certain forces to invest a lot of money to profit on the sacrifice of their fellow human beings. Others will not go for injections because they find it annoying, or afraid of spending money. Attitude to vaccination is a personal choice, but is greatly influenced by social relations, by the community to which the individual belongs. Here, I would like to introduce two social issues that have a great influence on the attitude to accept vaccination, which have been analyzed quite meticulously by sociologists. 1. Religion and vaccines (Main reference: Pelcic et al 2016. Religious exception for vaccination or religious excuses for avoiding vaccination Croat Med J 56(5):516-521) Religious beliefs have a huge influence on vaccination acceptance attitudes. All major religions have favorable attitudes towards vaccination. The first precept of Buddhism is abstaining from killing, so Buddhists accept vaccinations to keep themselves and others healthy. On the other hand, Buddhism considers all species to be non-killing beings, and believes that humans can also be reincarnated into other beings. Thus killing animals for vaccine research may be contrary to Buddha’s teachings. The Catholic Church does not prohibit vaccination. Historically, Catholic and Anglican missionaries (Catholics in England and some former British colonies) have inoculated with smallpox in North America. Today’s development of biomedical research leads to an issue that may contradict Catholic doctrine, which is that some vaccines are produced on cultured cell lines of fetal origin, specifically Meruvax. , Rudivax and MR-VAX (Rubella prophylaxis), A-VAQTA and HAVRIX (hepatitis A), Varivax (chickenpox), and Polivax (smallpox). But when there are no other vaccines to choose from, parishioners are still encouraged to vaccinate to protect young children and the community, especially pregnant women. In Islam, food is divided into two categories, halal is allowed, and haram is not. Pork is haram, so pharmaceuticals that use gelatin (a glue made from animal skin including pig skin) should not be used. However, the Koran also speaks of “law of necessity”, in case the believer does not have a halal to choose from, forcing the use of haram will not be considered a sin. Immunizations are meant to protect life, as “izalat aldharar” (prevention of harm), and “maslahat al ummah” (for the public good). So even if a certain vaccine is related to pigs, it is still possible to apply “forced law when necessary”. Some religions or religious sects may be anti-vaccination. Protestantism does not have a central system, so local churches have very different attitudes on vaccination. Some Protestant priests do not raise the issue of vaccinations in their sermons because they think this is a generally accepted attitude of the whole society. Others leave it to the laity to interpret and choose their attitude towards vaccines. Still others have publicly condemned vaccines, arguing that vaccination is an intervention against God’s will (interfering with Divine Providence). 2. Belief in science and attitudes towards vaccines Key references: Sturgis et al. Trust in science, social consensus and vaccine confidence. Nature Human Behaviour May 17, 2021. This is a study published last week by three authors Patrick Sturgis, Ian Brunton-Smith and Jonathan Jackson from the London School of Economics and Politics (LSE), the University of Surrey (UK) and the University of Sydney Law School (Australia). . https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-021-01115-7.pdf. The authors analyze data obtained from the Wellcome Global Monitor (Gallup Institute) survey, conducted since 2018 (before the Covid-19 pandemic), about people’s trust in science and the attitude to accept vaccines in Vietnam. 144 countries. The average number of participants in each country was 1000, with China, India and Russia alone being sampled 2000 people from each country. In this poll, the global average result is that more than four-fifths of the population believe in science, the highest in North America, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand, the lowest in South America, Eastern Europe and Africa. Chau. The percentage of men who believe in science is higher than that of women. Scientific trust is also higher among the educated and high-income population. In countries where the gap between rich and poor is low, there is often high scientific trust. Regarding the attitude of accepting vaccines, about 92% of the global population think that vaccination of children is necessary, 78% think that vaccines are safe, and 84% think that vaccines are effective. This attitude also varies markedly across countries. Again, this is the result of an investigation from 2018, that is, about vaccines in general, not just the vaccine against Co Vi. Next, the authors analyzed the correlation between trust in science and vaccine acceptance attitude. A major part of the results can be illustrated by Figure 1, where countries are divided into five groups according to the assessment of science trust and vaccine acceptance from high to low (left to right). In the highest group, the consensus between scientific belief and vaccine acceptance attitude is highest (blue graph has the steepest slope). This correlation decreases, in the lowest group, the graph is horizontal, which means that there is almost no consensus between scientific beliefs and vaccine acceptance attitudes. Illustration: The relationship between scientific beliefs and vaccine acceptance attitudes. Credit: Nature Human Behaviour 2021. Someone may counter that “I know Mr. A is very rich and Mr. B is highly educated, but neither of them accept vaccines”. Please answer that the above research results are based on the science of statistical probability. That is, the results are only true for the majority, not necessarily for individuals. And statistical probability also tells us that when we deduce from a few particular observations to apply to the majority, the probability of right/wrong can be only 50/50.

Researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Photo: Daily Mail According to the Daily Mail (UK), this incredible mistake was revealed in a screenshot sent to a Chinese medical journal. The photo shows information about a 61-year-old woman, known as “patient Su”, who lives about a mile from one of Wuhan’s main virus research facilities. The woman was also near a train station along the high-speed rail line that played a key role in spreading the virus around the city of 11 million people. This latest finding was revealed through an interview by a medical journal with the scientist tasked with compiling China’s official data on cases. In an interview with Health Times, Yu Chuanhua, Professor of Biostatistics at Wuhan University, said there were 47,000 confirmed and suspected cases on the national database of COVID-19 by the end of the year. February 2020. Among these, there was a death of a patient at the end of September 2019. “There is data on a patient who became ill on September 29. The data shows that the patient has not been given a nucleic test and a clinical diagnosis. It is possible that this is a suspected case of COVID-19. The patient died. This data has not been confirmed,” added Mr. Yu. The data also shows that two other suspected COVID-19 cases were reported to doctors in Wuhan on November 14 and November 21, 2019, along with several other cases prior to December 8, the period. China informed the World Health Organization (WHO) of the first cases. Inside the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Hubei Province, China. Photo: AP The Health Times article includes screenshots of information of two suspected COVID-19 cases in November 2019 on the database of Professor Yu. Although the patient’s personal details have been obscured, some information can still be seen, including the hospital name and home address. Information shows that patient Su has been treated at Rongjun hospital in Wuhan. Both the home address and the hospital where this patient is being treated are in Hongshan District, Wuhan City, where many studies on SARS-CoV-2 virus related to bats have been conducted in laboratories. experience. The area where patient Su lives and is treated is more than 20 kilometers from the Huanan seafood market, which Beijing initially believed to be the source of the COVID-19 infection. The second patient discovered in November 2019 is a 62-year-old man named Wang, who is being treated at Hanyang Hospital. However, Professor Yu has requested that the information published in the newspaper be retracted, claiming that the dates were entered incorrectly and that all other suspected cases before December 8, 2019 need further verification. . Wuhan Institute of Virology, Hubei Province, China. Photo: EPA This detail was discovered by Gilles Demaneuf, a member of the Drastic digital operations team, who discovered many facts that are said to contradict the theory that COVID-19 is an infectious disease from animals. Chinese objects. “We were able to accurately determine the name, age, and address of the suspected COVID-19 case very early, almost a month before the first case was officially announced. This address is right next to metro line 2 and not far from the hospital that treated some of the other first cases,” Demaneuf said. The railway system, which carries 1 million people a day, is linked to a seafood market, the Wuhan Institute of Virology and an international airport, he said. Demaneuf argues that these new findings show that more clues can be accessed if there are continued and determined efforts to evaluate the hypothesis that the virus leaked from the laboratory. The Wall Street Journal last week also cited a US intelligence report that said three researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology were hospitalized for medical care in November 2019, a few months before China announced it. announced the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in this country. However, China has denied the above information. Beijing insists the WHO-led investigation team concluded after a visit to the Wuhan Institute of Virology in February that the possibility of a virus leak from the laboratory was “extremely unlikely”.

Security guards stand guard outside the Wuhan Institute of Virology (China)Source: South China Morning Post Recently, Mr. Chris Said, a data scientist, a member of the House of Representatives of Malta, posted on Twitter a list of viruses that have accidentally escaped from laboratories so far. According to him, SARS-CoV-1, the virus that caused the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 29 countries around the world in 2003, had leaked from several Asian laboratories. The first time SARS-1 “escaped” was in August 2003 at the National University of Singapore. The second time happened in December 2003 in Taiwan (China). The results of the investigation showed that a SARS scientist in Taiwan handled the leaked biological waste without wearing gloves, masks or gowns. In April 2004, SARS-1 escaped from the National Institute of Virology of China. The H1N1 bird flu virus first appeared in the world in 1918, causing a global pandemic. In 1977, the virus “re-emerged” and many believe it was the result of a leak from a laboratory. That lab is said to be working on a way to produce a live attenuated vaccine in response to the threat of a global flu pandemic. Martin Furmanski, a researcher at the Scientific Working Group on Biological and Chemical Weapons (USA), wrote in a 2014 report that authorities do not want to disclose the laboratory origin of H1N1 because worried about affecting virus research cooperation between countries. “Virilologists and public health officials quickly realized that the most likely source (of H1N1) was a lab leak, but they agreed not to make this public,” Furmanski wrote. Foot-and-mouth disease emerged in the UK in 2007, about 4km from a biosafety level 4 laboratory in the Pirbright area. The results of the investigation showed that the construction vehicles were carrying sludge contaminated with the virus from a faulty sewage line in Pirbright, Italian newspaper The Print reported on May 31. Smallpox virus leaked from two prestigious smallpox laboratories in the UK. The first occurred in 1972 at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The second case was recorded in 1978 at the Birmingham Medical School. Continuing to investigate the origin of COVID-19 In recent days, world opinion has heated up again about the origin of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the global pandemic COVID-19. On May 13, a group of 18 scientists published in the journal Science (Science) of the United States, calling for a more thorough investigation of the origin of SARS-CoV-2. They believe that the hypotheses about the accidental release of the virus from the laboratory and natural transmission are both possible in reality. Earlier, in March, a team of experts sent by the World Health Organization (WHO) to China concluded that the hypothesis of a laboratory leak was “extremely unlikely” in reality. However, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the team’s assessment of whether SARS-CoV-2 could emerge in the community after a laboratory incident was “not broad enough” and request further investigation. Even America’s top medical expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who once denied the lab leak theory, now says he doesn’t believe the virus evolved naturally. US President Joe Biden has ordered the US intelligence community to investigate the origins of COVID-19, after new surveillance results showed there was a possibility of a pandemic after SARS-CoV-2 leaked from the laboratory. experience in China, American newspaper The Wall Street Journal reported on May 27. The White House came under pressure to investigate on its own after China told the WHO that its part of the investigation had been completed, and efforts to trace the source of the virus should turn to other countries. President Biden wants the US intelligence community to produce a report on the origin of COVID-19 within 90 days. He said that US intelligence focuses on two scenarios, SARS-CoV-2 comes from human contact with an infected animal or from a laboratory incident. Earlier, a US intelligence report wrote that three researchers at China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology became so sick in November 2019 that they had to be hospitalized. In December 2019, China reported its first cases of COVID-19. “This questions the credibility of the claim by veteran researcher Shi Zhengli of the Wuhan Institute of Virology that there is no transmission of SARS-CoV-2 or SARS-related viruses among staff and students. of the Wuhan Institute of Virology”, American newspaper USA Today May 24, citing documents from the US State Department. However, the intelligence report on 3 Chinese researchers seriously ill The Wall Street Journal The mention is not conclusive evidence that SARS-CoV-2 leaked from the lab, and the intelligence community still doesn’t know for sure what illness they have, CNN reported.

The study suggests that the “hot spots” will be places where horseshoe bats live and have factors that make the risk of corona virus spread to humans and outbreaks into epidemics. This study does not provide additional information about the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but rather points to locations where similar corona viruses may appear in humans in the future. The study results show that southern China is a very high-risk place, and urges us to reduce risk factors, such as reducing deforestation, not just deal with the virus when it has become an epidemic. . Perfect combination” Research by the Intergovernmental Policy-Science Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), a German NGO, shows the number of outbreaks caused by zoonotic diseases object is on the rise. Accordingly, it is humans who are the cause of this increase, through deforestation and destruction of natural ecosystems. At least a third of disease outbreaks since 1960, including Ebola, have been linked to changes in human land use, the report said. Deforestation is one of the many causes of the increasing number of zoonotic diseases being transmitted to humans. Photo: Greenpeace. As humans encroach on natural forest land, the risk of humans coming into contact with wild animals, as well as the pathogens they carry, increases. Newly published research reinforces this hypothesis, as it shows that the risk of humans coming into contact with wildlife increases if the area of ​​primary forest is reduced by 25%. In addition, the destruction of natural habitats also causes disease-carrying species, such as bats and rodents, to become more numerous. Scientists also warn that the occupation of forest land is just one of many causes of zoonotic diseases spreading to humans. High population density, as well as large-scale livestock production, are two other factors that increase the risk. That’s because pets can catch diseases from wild animals or become vectors of disease to humans. The risks to industrial farms are even greater, where large numbers of livestock live in small spaces, and these animals are often less resistant. Outbreak “hot spots” Paolo D’Odorico, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley and co-author of the study, said that most research on corona viruses currently focuses on human-to-human transmission, not on the possibility of elimination. This virus is transferred from animals to humans. Therefore, he and his colleagues collected data on forest land occupation, livestock density, population density and a number of other factors and compared it with the habitat of horseshoe bats in Asia and Africa. Europe. Horseshoe bats are considered to be carriers of a large number of corona viruses, including a species closely related to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The “hot spots” of potential coronavirus outbreaks are shown in dark red. Photo: Natural Food. The results of the study are represented by a map, in which dark red dots represent areas with a high risk of corona virus spreading to people. In contrast, the blue dots indicate places where there are relatively few conditions for disease outbreaks. Professor David Hayma, another co-author of the study, said that the main concern is that large areas of southern China are still at high risk for a new disease from the corona virus to emerge. In addition, the scientists also pointed out that some areas, including Shanghai, Japan and the Philippines, are at risk of becoming “hot spots” if deforestation continues. “We need surveillance in these areas to prevent the emergence of new diseases,” Hayman said. How to prevent a new outbreak? Scientists estimate that as many as 1.7 million virus species have not been detected in mammals and birds, and half of them have the potential to spread to humans. Professor Andrew Dobson of Princeton University, thinks that the Covid-19 epidemic is a wake-up call for us. “The most important thing is to figure out what we can do to reduce the likelihood of similar events happening,” said Dobson, arguing that we should start from stopping deforestation. Horseshoe bats are considered to carry many pathogens and are capable of spreading to humans. Photo: Wall Street Journal. Professor Dobson said that people living in “hot spots”, such as in southern China, should “put pressure on politicians” to introduce appropriate policies and mechanisms to protect forests. The cost of protecting forests will be much lower than the price we pay each time a pandemic breaks out, IPBES research shows. Besides, experts also warn that the livestock industry should take appropriate measures to prevent livestock from being infected. At the same time, they also call for a greater focus on the earth’s ecosystems. “We knew how to launch rockets into space decades ago. But understanding how diseases spread from animals to humans is a much more difficult problem,” Professor Dobson commented.

Researchers wear protective gear at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Photo: Xinhua US President Joe Biden announced last week that the US intelligence community had questioned two possible origins of the COVID-19 pandemic: “Human contact with infected animals or a laboratory incident. “. He ordered a new investigation “to bring us closer to a final conclusion”. According to Bloomberg, no matter where the investigation leads, the history of laboratory safety shows that leakage of pathogens has happened, sometimes with deadly consequences. Smallpox virus leak By the late 1970s, smallpox had been eradicated from the wild, but research on the disease continues in several laboratories around the world, including one in Birmingham (UK). where a virulent strain of smallpox virus is handled. In the summer of 1978, a medical photographer working there named Janet Parker became ill. When pustules spread on her body, the local doctor diagnosed it as a severe case of smallpox. Victim Janet Parker in the smallpox virus leak from the laboratory. It was the third leak of the smallpox virus in that decade from a UK laboratory. The British government has drastically stopped the outbreak by urgently isolating hundreds of people and vaccinating many others. Thanks to those efforts, only one other person became infected, and that was Parker’s mother. However, the female photographer experienced a painful, lonely death in quarantine, and is believed to be the last known fatal victim of smallpox. But there are other victims of the incident. At that time the press mentioned the director of the laboratory in Birmingham, a smallpox virus expert named Henry Bedson. Although there was no evidence, the media still blamed him for the incident. Quarantined at home and in despair, Bedson slit his own throat and died shortly thereafter. The British government has organized a thorough investigation into the outbreak. An investigation found Mr Bedson may not have followed adequate safety procedures and speculated that Parker contracted smallpox from a virus that leaked into the gas pipeline. Technicians at a laboratory in Rockville, Maryland (USA), where smallpox vaccine is produced. A lawsuit later dismissed this explanation, and raised the disturbing possibility that Parker herself had entered one of the workspaces without proper protection. To this day, the debate over the Parker incident remains unresolved. Anthrax spores from the lab When laboratories let pathogens leak in a secret environment, it is much harder to confirm the source of the outbreak. A case in point is the anthrax outbreak in Sverdlovsk, a rather isolated city in the former Soviet Union. In 1979, rumors of anthrax killing dozens, even thousands, began to spread to the West. Later that year, Soviet newspapers confirmed some reports, noting that more than 100 people had contracted anthrax after eating contaminated meat, and over 60 had died. It was a tragedy, but perhaps unavoidable because anthrax is readily apparent in local animal populations. However, US intelligence officials are not convinced by that. Satellite images show disinfecting truck-like objects around the city, with a significant focus of activity on a mysterious military facility known as Complex 19. CIA analysts have reported hypothesized that the Soviet Union leaked a weaponized form of anthrax. The Soviets reacted indignantly to this allegation. In 1980, Russia’s official news agency Itar Tass published a rebuttal titled “A Seed of Deception,” accusing the US of making false statements to gain geopolitical advantage. Sverdlovsk was once one of the military secret cities of the Soviet era. Then, under the administration of President Ronald Reagan, the CIA sought to better handle what happened. They asked Matthew Meselson, a distinguished geneticist at Harvard who worked on the bioweapons ban program, to directly assess the evidence. Mr. Meselson was not convinced by the US intelligence findings. In the 1980s, he rejected another theory that the Soviet Union used some kind of fungal weapon in Laos – and he initially held the same view on the anthrax case, endorsing the main explanation. information from the Soviet Union, with one important caveat: Without a thorough investigation in Sverdlovsk, it would be impossible to know for certain what happened. Essentially, Mr. Meselson supported the explanation that the meat was tainted, judging it to be “completely reasonable and consistent” based on what was known about anthrax. He also arranged meetings with Soviet scientists to add credence to this interpretation, with slides of pathology samples taken from the victims. The US intelligence community, however, remains skeptical. And in this case, the intelligence agencies, not the scientists, turned out to be right. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Meselson and other researchers finally had access to pathological samples taken from the victims’ lungs, which showed they had died from inhaling anthrax spores. Subsequent revelations added to the picture of what happened. Turns out Complex 19 is a biological weapons facility. Here they produce anthrax spores. According to the Laboratory Director of Complex 19 at the time, a filter connected to the spore dryer was clogged. This still happens often. The military officer in charge left a message for his replacement on the next shift but did not enter the logbook as is customary. When it came to the next shift, the replacement team looked at the notebook, saw nothing, and restarted the purifier. A series of anthrax spores quickly spread throughout the vicinity. Mr. Meselson eventually pieced together all the data and published a paper in the journal Science, which combined wind data with interviews, pathological samples and other evidence to describe the outbreak. Coal killed more than 60 people. That was in 1994, 15 years after the incident. Mysterious flu virus leak In addition, there is another incident that took place in the Soviet Union that is still a mystery. In the same decade that witnessed the leaks of smallpox in Britain and anthrax in the Soviet Union, there was also an unusual strain of flu at the time, called H1N1. Laboratory virus leaks have had deadly consequences. Photo: Atlantis In 1977, an H1N1 outbreak broke out on the border between China and the Soviet Union. The epidemic eventually spread worldwide that year, causing an unusual proportion of young patients. The mortality rate from epidemics is relatively low compared to some strains of influenza. But that’s not the problem. The worrying aspect of the epidemic is that this particular strain of H1N1 has not been present since 1950, when it was superseded by other strains of influenza. The appearance of that kind of “back in time” was confusing. Some researchers speculate that the virus may have “escaped” from a laboratory in the Soviet Union or China, but both countries deny this theory. However, the matter remains a puzzle for virologists. Many theories have been born and come to explain the so-called “frozen evolution”, among which the most prominent is the hypothesis that the virus spread to humans from a laboratory, possibly testing a vaccine to neutralize the disease. swine flu. A scientist involved in the development of a vaccine. Photo: Reuters The exact origin of COVID-19 may not be known All of the above incidents occurred in the 1970s. Laboratory safety was expected to have improved since then, but that has not always been the case. After the SARS outbreak in 2003, laboratories around the world began studying the virus. Since that time, there have been no less than 6 laboratory leaks of SARS. The first occurred at the National University of Singapore, where a student contracted the virus from a sample of the virus. This was followed by an incident in Taiwan/China, where a researcher contracted the virus, possibly during the disinfection of waste products from the laboratory. After that, several leaks happened at the National Institute of Virology of China. In one incident, a researcher infected her mother with the virus, and she died of SARS. In all cases, human negligence, mainly exacerbated by inadequate safety protocols, was the cause of the pathogen leakage. History has supported the theories being put forward that the current COVID-19 pandemic may not have a natural origin, but we are not in a position to rush into judgment. When it comes to lab leaks, the investigation and review process often takes a long time, and sometimes the answers remain unsatisfactory and incomplete. In the case of the COVID pandemic, we must prepare for the possibility that the world may never know the exact origins of a pandemic that has claimed millions of lives.

Also according to Prof. Dr. Le Thi Quynh Mai, B.1.617.2 data on GISAID currently has not recorded the loss of Y144 mutation, so this mutation needs to be further monitored and studied. GISAID is an updated map of SARS-CoV-2 gene sequencing results, which is continuously updated by scientists around the globe. This map was consulted by scientists in different countries, closely following the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Earlier, at the National Online Conference on the situation and urgent solutions to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic taking place on the morning of May 29, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long informed: The strain is currently common in Vietnam. Nam is an Indian strain that has shown signs of increased infectivity and more severe disease compared to previous outbreaks. Step 1: Visit https://www.bluezone.gov.vn or download directly at App Store or CH Play. Step 2: Once downloaded, the application will ask for permission to use Bluetooth to record contact with other Bluezone installed users. If Bluetooth is not open, drag the status bar and turn on Bluetooth; or go to Settings, select Bluetooth and turn it on. Step 3: Once the installation is done, click Scan Around. If someone near you less than 2m has used Bluezone, the application will automatically identify these users and put them in the contact list.

Front of Wuhan Institute of Virology Photo: Reuters This information adds weight to calls for a more complete investigation into the possibility that the COVID-19 pandemic virus escaped from this laboratory. The above content is mentioned in a report from the Donald Trump administration, which said that some researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), a center dedicated to research on corona viruses and other pathogens, had fell ill in the fall of 2019 “with symptoms resembling COVID-19 and common seasonal flu.” U.S. officials and former officials with intelligence on researchers in Wuhan expressed differing views on the strength of the evidence outlined in the report. One said that information was provided by an international partner and could be important, but needed further investigation. Others claim that the information is very reliable. “The information that we have comes from a variety of sources and is of very good quality. It is very accurate. What the report doesn’t talk about is the exact reason why they got the disease,” the source told Journal City Wall . Many epidemiologists and virologists believe that November 2019 was the time when SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the COVID-19 pandemic, began to spread in Wuhan. Beijing says that the first confirmed case in the city fell ill on December 8. China has repeatedly denied that the virus escaped from laboratories. On May 23, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs cited a report published by an investigation team led by the World Health Organization (WHO) after a visit to the Wuhan Institute of Viruses (WIV), saying that the virus leaked from the laboratory. experience is extremely unlikely. “The US continues to hype the theory of lab leaks. Are they really interested in traceability or are they trying to distract? China’s Foreign Ministry said. However, WIV does not share with the WHO team raw data, diaries and lab records where a lot of coronaviruses from bats are studied, the animals that many scientists consider most likely to be the animals. origin of the virus. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the team had not yet fully tested the lab leak hypothesis, so further investigation was still needed. There is an opinion that the article of Journal City Wall appearing before the upcoming WHO meeting was to heat the matter up again. But the Biden administration declined to comment on the intelligence report, saying only that all credible theories about the origins of the pandemic should be investigated by WHO and international experts. Abnormal point Shi Zhengli, the leading expert on bat coronaviruses at the WIV, said that the virus did not come out of the place where she was working. She told the WHO investigation team that all staff here were negative for COVID-19 antibodies and there were no staff changes in the corona virus research team. In February, Dutch virologist Marion Koopmans, a member of the investigation team who traveled to Wuhan, told NBC News that some WIV staff members fell ill in the fall of 2019, but she attributed it to common seasonal illnesses. “It’s normal to get sick from time to time. Nothing outstanding. Maybe 1 or 2 people. It’s not a big deal,” Koopmans said. Beijing even suggested that the virus could have originated outside of China, including a laboratory at the Fort Detrick military facility in the US state of Maryland, and then called on WHO to investigate the first COVID-19 outbreaks. in other countries. But most scientists see no evidence to support the idea the virus originated in a US military lab, and the White House says there is no credible reason to investigate the facility. . It is normal for Chinese people to go to the hospital for medical examination and treatment when they are sick, because family doctor services are not yet common. COVID-19 and seasonal flu, although two different illnesses, share many of the same symptoms, such as fever, cough, and aches and pains. However, it is worth noting that members of the same corona virus research team were sick and had to be hospitalized with similar symptoms, before the disease was detected. David Asher, a former US official who led the State Department task force to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic under Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, told a Hudson Institute panel in March that he suspects suspected that the WIV researchers were sick at the same time from the common seasonal flu. “I highly doubt that three people with good protective clothing working in a third-degree lab caught the flu and were hospitalized with severe symptoms in the same week that had nothing to do with the coronavirus,” he said. Asher said, these three people could be the “first known COVID-19 outbreak”.

Tourists arrive at Phuket International Airport, Thailand. Documentary photo: AFP/VNA Phuket Tourism Association President Phumkit Raktaengam said on May 24 that 94,000 people working in the province’s tourism industry will be vaccinated against COVID-19. In addition, all people with household registration in the province are also subject to vaccination. Phuket has about 400,000 registered local residents. The island employs about 500,000 Thai and foreign workers in tourism and other businesses. Phuket’s vaccination program is expected to cover 70% of the population by the end of June so that it can reopen to foreign visitors in July. The resort island of Phuket will be the first Thai locality to reopen, followed by 10 other destinations in October. However, the Thai government only expects to welcome 500,000 foreign visitors this year. – a fraction of the 6.7 million visitors to the Southeast Asian country in 2020 and nearly 40 million in 2019. According to a forecast by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), the tourism industry, which accounted for one-fifth of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, may have to It took 5 years, until 2026, to fully recover. Regarding the COVID-19 situation in Thailand, the number of deaths from COVID-19 in Thailand has surpassed 800, with 30 people recorded not dying on May 24. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Thailand has recorded a total of 806 deaths out of a total of 132,213 people with COVID-19. The third COVID-19 outbreak since early April has accounted for nearly 80 percent of COVID-19 cases in Thailand and nearly 90 percent of all deaths so far. In recent days, Thailand has detected many COVID-19 outbreaks among construction workers in the capital Bangkok. Authorities last week also found 36 cases of a more contagious strain of the B.1.617.2 virus in construction workers’ quarters in Bangkok. On May 24, Thai officials confirmed a new COVID-19 outbreak at the construction site of an elevated tram line in Nonthaburi province bordering Bangkok. Test samples of 900 workers were taken on May 22 and confirmed results on May 24 showed that 519 workers were positive for COVID-19. Thai authorities say that most of the workers at the site are immigrants and will be quarantined at the site, while the Thai workers will be taken to a makeshift hospital. This construction site has been ordered to close since the evening of May 24.

The study said the new virus is more distantly related to the previously found strains of the coronavirus that cause Covid-19. However, this new virus has a high degree of similarity in gene sequence with the virus that causes Covid-19. This is the first time that the Wuhan Institute of Virology has released detailed information about the virus it has collected several years ago. “These results suggest that the coronavirus we detected from bats may be just the tip of the iceberg,” the team wrote in the paper. Wuhan Institute of Virology, China. Photo: AFP. Many research results have never been published Through the paper, the institute also provides more insight into the viruses they host. The latest study examines eight viruses collected during a 2015 survey trip to a town in southwestern China’s Yunnan province. During this trip, researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology collected more than 1,000 specimens from bats living in and around the cave over a three-year period. The Wuhan Institute of Virology has studied the corona virus found in bats. Photo: South China Morning Post. This trip started after a few workers came to the cave and became ill. After testing, the doctors said they had an unprecedented virus, so they started looking for a virus from bats. The team also added that the group of workers at that time did not have Covid-19. Previously, in the journal Nature published in November 2020, Wuhan researchers said that during their exploration of the cave, they found 9 viruses that cause severe acute respiratory syndrome and Covid- 19. One of them is RaTG13 – published by researchers in February – still considered the closest “relative” to Sars-CoV-2, the cause of Covid-19. The remaining eight viruses were newly classified in the May 21 paper. The origin of Covid-19 is still unclear and controversial. Doubt In February, after a trip to China, international experts investigating the origin of Covid-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO) suggested that the virus probably came from a bat-like animal. . The virus then passes to another animal that has close contact with humans and infects them. Chinese virologist Shi Zhengli of the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Photo: SCMP. However, critics, including the head of WHO, say the investigation is not deep enough. May 23, Wall Street Journal Citing a confidential US report, it was revealed that in November 2019, before China reported its first Covid-19 cases, some researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology were hospitalized. . Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian stated on May 24 that the article was “completely untrue”. Article by Wall Street Journal was released ahead of the WHO meeting, which is expected to discuss in detail the next phase of the investigation into the origins of Covid-19. The amazing variety of corona virus virus Evolutionary biologist Edward Holmes at the University of Sydney said that the paper by researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology provides further evidence that the Wuhan laboratory does not have a virus closely related to Sars -CoV-2 – the origin of the Covid-19 outbreak. A database of hundreds of thousands of bats is needed to see a complete picture of the coronavirus. Photo: AP. “This paper shows us the incredible diversity of coronaviruses found in animals in the wild,” added Mr Holmes. He and another team of experiments also found four viruses in bats closely related to Sars-CoV-2 among more than 400 samples collected in Yunnan province. The area is considered by WHO to be an important place for further research into the origins of Covid-19, although it remains unclear whether research is ongoing. The May 21 article also highlights recent work that highlights the possibility that Covid-19 is related to another species, besides bats. A pangolin coronavirus has the ability to effectively bind to human cells, distinct from the bat viruses associated with Sars-CoV-2 that have been identified so far. However, according to Maciej Boni, an associate professor at the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics at Pennsylvania State University (USA), there are not enough viruses yet to see an overall picture. “We need to have databases of hundreds of thousands of viruses in bats. Until then, we won’t have many new discoveries about the origin of Sars-CoV-2,” he said. Satellite photos show that Covid-19 can spread in Wuhan from August 2019 According to a study from Harvard Medical School (USA), satellite photos of hospital parking lots in Wuhan show that the corona virus may have been spreading since August 2019.

The COVID-19 pandemic first broke out in Wuhan city, Hubei province, China. Photo: Getty Images The United States and several countries are closer than ever to defeating COVID-19 thanks to progress in vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. But the world still does not know how this deadly virus appeared, and there is a growing opinion from the scientific community that it does not happen naturally. The US is stepping up calls for more research and warning about the risks of future pandemics. Washington is also more open to weighing the theory that a mistake or failure in a Chinese laboratory caused the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, the Chinese Government completely rejected this hypothesis and said that the dossier to trace the origin of the COVID-19 epidemic was closed. What’s new? According to CNN, a recent US intelligence report found that several researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology fell ill in November 2019 and were hospitalized – a new detail on the severity of the symptoms. disease in these scientists. It is not clear whether the researchers at that time had COVID-19 but the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) vehemently rejected the report, considering it a lie to promote the hypothesis that the virus leaked from the laboratory. . Scientists who worked for the WIV previously said the institute had nothing to do with COVID-19 disease until December 30, 2021. On May 24, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also denied the information that three Wuhan researchers were hospitalized before the outbreak of COVID-19 and affirmed that this information was “completely untrue”. Spokesperson Zhao Lijian confirmed that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was not exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus before December 30, 2019, and its staff so far have not been infected. Scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Photo: AFP Meanwhile, on May 25, speaking at the US Congress, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that the failure to fund previous research on Corona virus in bats in China. Quoc is a “negligence of duty”. According to Fauci, the US should have pursued to the place where the contact between animals and humans could lead to the spread of the virus between species. Dr. Fauci himself, the leading infectious disease expert in the US, said this week he did not believe the COVID-19 outbreak occurred spontaneously and prompted further investigation. A World Health Organization (WHO) adviser, Jamie Metzl, also said the leak hypothesis is possible, while scientists are “groping, creating and studying” the virus with the aim of vaccine development. “So I believe what could have happened was a leak, followed by a cover-up,” said Metzl, who served at the US State Department and the Atlantic Council during the US presidency. President Bill Clinton said. The conclusion is that further investigation is needed An in-depth study conducted by WHO in collaboration with the Government of China, published in March, explored the different possible origins of the COVID-19 epidemic and came to the conclusion that: although still It is not yet known how the disease originated, but it is likely that it spread to humans, either directly from bats, or more likely from an intermediate species that caught the virus from bats and then spread to humans. for human. Bats can be an intermediary that spreads the SARS-CoV-2 virus to humans. Photo: NPR The WHO report called the laboratory leak theory “extremely unlikely”, citing the fact that no laboratory staff in Wuhan were infected before December 2020 as an argument against this hypothesis. After the WHO report was published, its officials still called for an additional and public investigation from the Chinese side. Meanwhile, a newly released US intelligence report shows that laboratory workers of the Wuhan Institute of Virology have been sick since before December. According to WHO adviser Jamie Metzl, in the early stages of the outbreak of the disease. when China did not warn the world appropriately, Chinese officials blamed the transmission on an initial hotspot, a seafood market in Wuhan, which at this point was essentially Is not right. This expert said that there is a lot of evidence that the Chinese government initially tried to cover up the existence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. “Whatever the origin of the pandemic, the first month, when China was spending all its energy trying to cover things up rather than fixing the problem, allowed the fire in the furnace to cause a fire in the kitchen.” into a house fire and a worldwide fire,” said Metzl. The Wuhan Institute of Virology became the center of doubts about the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Photo: Getty Images A group of well-known and experienced scientists also criticized the WHO report for not taking seriously the hypothesis that the virus leaked from the laboratory. According to them, this hypothesis was refuted within just a few pages of a hundred-page report published by WHO. The scientists wrote in the journal Science: “We must seriously consider the contagion hypotheses in the wild and in the laboratory until we have enough data.” Fear of a recurrence of a pandemic These “closed doors” have also helped conspiracy theories expand. Arkansas Republican Senator Tom Cotton has promoted the idea that the SARS-CoV-2 virus was purposefully created as a biological weapon. But there’s no concrete evidence to back up that claim, and experts still say it’s unlikely. Dr. Paul Offit, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, told CNN it’s unlikely the Wuhan lab manipulated the virus to make it more contagious. but “we have to find out” the truth. Dr. Offit said that the world needs to do something to prevent another pandemic. “What I know is that they [Trung Quốc] must allow this [điều tra mở về nguồn gốc dịch]“This is now the third pandemic to emerge in the past 20 years,” said Mr. Offit. First there was SARS 1, then there was MERS. I think we can assume we’re not done with this yet.”

The Ambasssador Cruisse docked at the old Bai Chay Ferry Terminal and was arranged by the Quang Ninh Port Authority in a separate anchorage area. Photo: baoquangninh.com.vn As VNA reports: 182 tourists and staff of Ambassador Cruise are temporarily isolated on board in Ha Long Bay because the ship’s kitchen staff is F1 of a COVID-19 case related to the outbreak in Ha Nam province. . Ambassador Cruise of Ha Long Pacific Company Limited left the wharf to bring the number of tourists to spend the night on Ha Long Bay at noon on May 2 and is expected to dock at Tuan Chau port to disembark at noon on May 3. The kitchen staff of the Ambassador Cruise ship returned to Ha Nam and played games here. However, the owner of the game shop in Ha Nam was determined to have COVID-19 so this chef became F1. With the first negative result, Ha Long city will implement a plan to monitor, manage and isolate visitors and employees of Ambassador Cruise according to regulations, ensuring reasonable, strict and appropriate. actual conditions. Ha Long City directs the Urban Management Department to coordinate with the City Police to urgently compile a list of tourists and staff on the Ambassador Cruise ship, provide it to the medical room, the health center, the People’s Committee. Bai Chay ward to coordinate management and take measures to monitor, manage and isolate according to regulations. The People’s Committee of Bai Chay Ward in collaboration with Ha Long Pacific Company Limited, Tuan Chau International Passenger Port is responsible for managing the Ambassador Cruise-QN8879 ship and the tourists and staff on board as an area. isolated until final results are available. City police, Ha Long city health center and health department cooperate with People’s Committees of relevant communes and wards to urgently trace and clarify the locations where the F1 case has been and stayed. , service use … widely information to promptly implement measures to prevent and control the epidemic when there are complicated developments.

An estimate of the number of daily excess deaths from Covid-19 around the world. Photo: The Economist In the year to 8 May, South Africa recorded 158,499 excess deaths (deaths that were higher than estimated under previous trends due to demographic changes). Health officials are confident that 85-95% of these deaths are caused by the new strain of corona virus, which is almost three times the official statistics. The disparity stems from the fact that, for a death to be recognized as caused by SARS-CoV-2, the deceased needs to undergo testing and be confirmed. Although South Africa does more testing than its neighbors, rates are still low. And the cause of death is not fully documented for those who die at home. Common phenomenon Mortality rates that exceed official statistics, at least at some point during the pandemic, occur in most if not all of the world. According to the most recent data, the number of excess deaths in the US was 7.1% higher than official statistics between early March 2020 and mid-April 2021. Studies have discovered such a mismatch in several countries. For example, the UK saw an excess death rate that was higher than published in the first wave of infections, but lower in the second, reflecting how measures to contain the spread of the virus helped. save many lives. A similar situation occurs in France. The inadequacy is simply because most countries, especially poor ones, do not provide such data in a timely manner. The best official data only reflect more than half of the real numbers, while the worst data show only about a quarter of reality. Photo: The Economist The Economist has attempted to model the extent of excess deaths during the pandemic in countries that do not report. With 95% probability, the model estimates the number of deaths globally to date between 7.1 and 12.7 million, with an average of 10.2 million. Not surprisingly, most of the missed deaths are in low- and middle-income countries. The actual death toll in most rich OECD countries is 1.17 times the official data, but 14 times higher in sub-Saharan Africa. Notable points The structure of the first and second waves in Europe and the US is less visible in the data of the statistical model for the whole world. Overall, the pandemic is increasingly concentrated in developing economies and continues to increase. In some places, seroprevalence surveys have shown that many people have Covid-19 antibodies, a sign of previous illness. Other factors that may also play a role are the measures governments have taken to limit the spread of the virus. Demographics also have an effect, with more young people often synonymous with lower mortality rates. By collecting 121 indicators for more than 200 countries and regions and machine learning models, The Economist experts estimate that, by May 10, there is a 95% probability that the pandemic has led to 2.4 – 7.1 million excess deaths in Asia (official death toll at 0.6 million), 1.5 – 1.8 million in Latin America and the Caribbean (officially 0.6 million), approx. 0 -2.1 million in Africa (officially 0.1 million), 1.5 – 1.6 million in Europe (officially 1 million) and 0.6 – 0.7 million in the US and Canada ( official 0.6 million). In Oceania, where only 1,218 deaths are officially reported, the model predicts that the actual number of deaths is between 12,000 and 13,000. The estimated range for Africa and Asia is very broad due to lack of data. If the probability is 50%, the estimated range narrows significantly, to only 3.3 – 5.2 million excess deaths in Asia, 0.8 -1.6 million in Africa and 8 ,2 – 10.5 million cases worldwide. In 2020, the number of daily deaths increased during 33/52 weeks. After a brief lull in early 2021, they bounced to new highs, largely due to the tragedy in India. According to estimates, the South Asian country is seeing between 6,000 and 31,000 deaths a day, far exceeding the official figure of about 4,000, in line with independent epidemiological estimates. Remarkably, the death rate from the epidemic is actually worse in richer countries. For Asia and Africa, the estimated death toll per million population is about half that of Europe. India is just the equivalent of Britain, at least for the time being. If two communities have the same level of health care, the community with more elderly people will have a higher number of deaths. If demographics are the only differentiating factor, estimates suggest that epidemic deaths in Japan (mean age 48) are 13 times higher than in Uganda (mean age 17). However, in absolute terms, the mortality rate among the young and poor population is much higher than that of the rich population of the same age group. And for the elderly in poor countries, the situation is clearly dire. The number of excess deaths (red) and the number of officially announced deaths by week in the US. Photo: The Economist Meaning of model The fact that mortality rates are relatively low in the developing world seems to be due to age several different meanings, as the virus is spreading more easily among younger people, a finding that has been reinforced by investigations. serum value. This implies many cases of non-fatal illness. It also means that the virus has a lot of opportunities to mutate. There is a documented exception where in some Southeast Asian countries, mortality rates appear to be very low. It is possible that residents here are benefiting from “cross-immunity”, the level of protection against SARS-CoV-2 caused by infection in other virus outbreaks in the area in the past. But, unfortunately, there are now signs that the numbers are on the rise. The Economist’s estimation model is the first of its kind, though not the only way to deduce the total number of deaths from Covid-19. However, Ariel Karlinsky, a statistician at Israel’s Kohelet Economic Forum think tank, notes that either way, the estimates are no substitute for official data. Tuan Anh

Clinical trials of the Pfizer vaccine showed up to 95-96% effectiveness against invading coronaviruses. According to the New York Times , each batch of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine with 7.5 million doses is produced in 60 days. The most advanced mRNA technology The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine uses mRNA technology. This vaccine is recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for use in people 12 years of age and older. The SARS-CoV-2 virus carries proteins that allow it to enter human body cells. These proteins – known as spike proteins – are the subject of research in the production of vaccines and drugs to treat Covid-19. Coronavirus. Photo: New York Times. Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine is based on the genetic makeup of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to create artificial protein spikes. Vaccines use messenger RNA (mRNA), a type of genetic material that human cells process to make proteins. The messenger RNA molecules are very fragile, so they will be broken down by natural enzymes in the human body if injected directly into the human body. To protect the mRNA in the vaccine, Pfizer-BioNTech wraps the mRNA molecules in an oil bubble made of microscopic fat particles. mRNA molecule. Photo: New York Times. Due to their unstable nature, the mRNA molecules in the vaccine will be degraded at normal temperatures. Therefore, vaccines of Pfizer-BioNTech need to be stored at deep cold temperatures, at least -70 degrees Celsius or less. To keep the vaccine of Pfizer-BioNTech stable, special containers are required, including dry ice, heat sensors and GPS trackers. Inject vaccines into the body After vaccination, the molecular particles in the vaccine will collide and fuse with human body cells, releasing mRNA. Human body cells will read the genetic content contained in the mRNA and from there produce protein spikes. The mRNA molecule from the vaccine is eventually destroyed by human cells forever. Vaccine molecules interact with cells. Photo: New York Times. Some protein spikes will form spikes, which rise to the surface of the cell and protrude outward. Cells that have been affected by the vaccine also break down the protein into small pieces on the surface. The protein spikes protruding from the cell, and the protein molecule on the cell surface, will eventually wake up the human immune system. When cells that have interacted with the vaccine die, their fragments contain many protein spikes and protein fragments. These fragments will be picked up by a type of immune cell called molecular antigen-presenting cells (APCs). APC cells activate helper-T cells. Photo: New York Times. Fragments of protein spikes will stick to the surface of APC cells, until helper-T cells detect these fragments. The helper-T cells then trigger the immune system to produce antibodies against the coronavirus. Antibody production Other immune cells, called B cells, can collide with the coronavirus spike protein on the surface of the cell that has interacted with the vaccine, or the floating protein spike debris. Some B cells can adhere to protein spikes. Helper-T cells activate B cells that help produce antibodies. Photo: New York Times. When B cells are activated by helper-T cells, they begin to produce antibodies that attack the spike protein. Antibodies neutralize corona virus. Photo: New York Times. The antibody produced will attach to the spike protein of the invading corona virus. Antibodies mark the virus for later destruction by the body’s immune system. More importantly, the antibody prevents the viral spike protein from attaching to the healthy cells of the human body. To destroy the virus, APC cells activate another type of immune cell called cytotoxic-T cells. This cell is responsible for finding and destroying cells that have been infected by the virus through the signal of protein spike fragments on the surface. Cytotoxic-T cells destroy infected cells. Photo: New York Times. Remember information about corona virus Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine is given in two doses, 21 days apart, to help the immune system work most effectively against the corona virus. But because of the lack of time to study, scientists cannot be sure how long the immunity created by the vaccine will last. Preliminary research shows that within 10 days of receiving the first dose, the vaccine begins to build a strong immune system against the virus. It is likely that, after several months of vaccination, the number of antibodies and cytotoxic-T cells will gradually decrease. But the immune system also contains special cells that store information about the corona virus for years, even decades. Each vial of vaccine contains 5 injection doses of 0.3 ml. Vaccines need to be thawed and diluted with saline. After dilution, the vaccine must be used within 6 hours.

Pandemic is a war that all people must unite against. If people are obliged to stay at home to reduce the spread of infection; nurses and doctors volunteered to the front lines; writers find themselves responsible. Linking books with human problems is both a real emotion and a topic of high responsibility. Book En primera luinea (rough translation: First alarm) by Dr. Gabriel Heras. Photo: Codem. En primera linea (rough translation: First alarm ) This is the first book of Dr. Gabriel Heras. The work is a premise document about a bloody battle with the epidemic from the perspective of a doctor who has been on the front lines of fighting the epidemic since the first case was recorded. The book was written when the author was in the process of taking care of the sick at UCI – Spain’s intensive care unit, telling about the experience of the days of fighting directly with the virus. According to the author, the difficulty lies not only in the danger of Covid-19, but also in the fear of a lack of resources and in-depth knowledge about this virus. Coronavirus, la última pandam? (rough translation: Corona virus, the last pandemic? ) The book by Eduardo López-Collazo and José Alcamí Pertejo is a clear explanation of the emergence and mechanism of Covid-19 based on science. According to the writer, in the 21st century, we have suffered three pandemics, but perhaps the epidemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has a wide spread, health effects, and economic consequences. , the largest society. The book raises a series of questions: Why did this virus appear in Wuhan city? How did it spread? What is its origin? Are we ready to face this epidemic? How to treat and control the epidemic? Impact of Covid-19 on life? More worryingly, all of humanity is still in the process of both fighting the epidemic and learning about the progression and severity of the disease this virus produces. The author believes that all studies on SARS-CoV-2 up to now have not been absolutely accurate. Book Coronavirus, la última pandam? (rough translation: Corona virus, the last pandemic?). Photo: FB Oberon Libros. Coronavirus: Prevencíon, pandemia y contencíon (rough translation: Corona virus: Prevention, pandemic and containment ) The time when Sonia de Miguel Fernández and Juan Carlos Ruiz de la Roja wrote the book was when the SARS-CoV-2 mutation was spreading at a rapid pace, making doctors and nurses unable to anticipate every move. its. This is not the deadliest pandemic in history, so far (the time of writing is May 2020), but it is the worst pandemic we’ve ever experienced: “It’s a ‘black’ plague, an enemy we don’t see, and that casts doubt on its attack forms and its weaknesses,” said Sonia de Miguel Fernández and Juan Carlos Ruiz de. la Roja wrote. La esperanza en tiempos de coronavirus (rough translation: Hope during the corona virus season ) Unlike the rest of the books, José Carlos Bermejo’s book is also about Covid-19 but does not use any academic or specialized terms to describe the pandemic. Book La Máscara del Coronavirus (rough translation: Mask of the corona virus). Photo: El independiente. The book provides readers with a humanistic perspective hidden behind the dark curtain of the epidemic. Such is the life of families taking care of each other during the pandemic; is the loss, the pain of the loss of loved ones… The pages of José Carlos Bermejo’s books take away the tears of readers, especially in many details describing the lonely life in the quarantine area and the scenes of doctors and nurses dedicated to saving patients during the epidemic season. But above all, the author still instills in the hearts of readers an optimistic hope that light will be found at the end of the “Covid-19 dark bath tunnel”. La Máscara del coronavirus (rough translation: Mask of corona virus ) The work of writer José María Sánchez Lázaro is a journalistic narrative style, assessing how the disease arose, and its devastation to human life in both Spain and the rest of the world. . Besides, in mask of corona virus, The author also outlines the effects of the pandemic on the economies of the countries with the largest number of infections in the world. Commenting on this book, journalist Roberto Resino wrote: “Dr. José María Sánchez Lázaro is the one who stands at the front of the mouth with information about the Covid-19 pandemic. His work sparks a heartfelt tribute to those who are in need. died in hospitals, nursing homes and private homes; it is also a recognition of the great merits of the army of medical workers who have fought against the pandemic.”

European Commission (EC) spokesman Christian Wigand said the EU wants all citizens of the 27 EU member states to be able to receive a “digital passport”. This powerful card, also known as a “green certificate” or “digital passport”, certifies that a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19, has tested negative for the SARS virus. -CoV-2 or have recovered from COVID-19. “To get ready for safe travel next summer, the use of the pass will be ready by the end of June,” Wigand said. With this card, Europeans can easily travel between member states. Another EU spokesman, Johannes Bahrke, said the 18 EU member states and Iceland will conduct a trial of the “digital passport” over the next two weeks to ensure there are no errors when it comes to travel. officially put into use. European tourism will revive thanks to the medical pass hành This digital pass is seen as a tool for countries that depend on tourists to kick-start the summer holidays for Europeans. This is also an “effective tool” that allows countries to revive their economies that have been exhausted by the epidemic. Mutual recognition of “Medical Passes” – the key to the border gate Currently, some countries around the world have also announced that they will apply the same form as the medical pass in the EU, for example Israel has a “green pass”, the UK will have an application from the National Health Service. (NHS) certificate of vaccination. The “Medical Pass” was initially used for intra-regional travel only. However, the European Commission (EC) is working with non-EU countries to jointly recognize each other’s vaccination certificates, especially with the US. So far, there has been no discussion between Brussels and London about the EU’s recognition of the UK’s NHS application. France, Malta and the Netherlands are among the countries that are piloting through EU certification. Countries are discussing to ensure that the digital passport used for authentication in this country is compatible with other countries’ applications or systems. In addition, the pass must be designed to be accessible via a smartphone app, but must also be able to obtain paper authentication. Technology experts said: “All member countries will connect to the system in June, the deadline is mid-June.” The European Commission believes that this Pass will soon come to life as negotiations on this scheme are underway. sea ​​oats ( according to AFP )

Australia ordered 25 million doses of Moderna’s vaccine. AAP photo. Moderna pharmaceutical company said Australia will receive two batches of vaccines, including a booster batch of vaccine capable of dealing with new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel also said that the company intends to set up a vaccine production facility in Australia this year and this intention is being discussed by the company with the Australian government. Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine has not been approved in Australia, but the company said it will quickly submit an application to the Therapeutic Goods Administration for approval. Moderna’s vaccine is manufactured on the same mRNA technology platform as Pfizer’s vaccine and is considered highly effective in preventing deaths and hospitalizations due to Covid-19. Moderna’s vaccine has not yet been approved for use by the Australian Drug Administration, but it is being used widely in vaccination programs in the US. Thus, with the agreement with Moderna, Australia has ordered a total of nearly 200 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine, enough to vaccinate nearly four times the population of this country.

Nigeria will become the next big Covid-19 “outbreak” after India. (Source: Anadolu Agency/Getty) And experts are cautiously observing a developing country, with a large area, disparities in health services and unequal access to vaccines, like India, that is Nigeria. With 200 million people, it is the most populous country in West Africa and the 7th most populous country in the world. Ngozi Erondui, a senior research fellow at the Chatham House Center for Global Health Security in the UK, said that “Nigeria is really vulnerable” and “has a lot in common with India”. When rich countries are not willing to share The world will not be able to do anything to prevent Covid-19 from ravaging Nigeria like the situation is happening in the past days in India. A more equitable distribution of vaccines could build a “firewall” against the rise in infections in Nigeria, as well as in other less developed countries. However, that will require the more economically developed countries of the world to share rescue resources with poorer countries. The tragic case of India proves that the vaccine-rich country in the world will not be in a hurry to help poor countries on distant continents. In fact, Africa is not necessarily synonymous with “poverty”. The continent is huge and diverse, comprising 54 countries with 1.2 billion people running economies from large to small, rich to poor, strong to weak. Likewise, African countries’ pandemic experiences vary widely. South Africa, one of the wealthiest countries on the continent, was hit hard last summer and then returned in January. Officials in the region recorded more than 54,000 deaths. The mortality rate is 93 deaths per 100,000 population, a number far below the US 175 deaths per 100,000 population, but much higher than the global average of 38 deaths. per 100,000 inhabitants. So far, many less industrialized African countries have avoided catastrophic spikes in infections, recording fewer deaths than rich countries. A total of 580,000 Americans have died from Covid-19 while only 1,600 Nigerians have died from the pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 virus – “opportunistic” virus However, that doesn’t mean Covid-19 won’t reach Nigeria and other African countries, it just means it hasn’t arrived yet. Lawrence Gostin, a global health expert at Georgetown University, told T he Daily Beast : “I am seeing the possibility that the Covid-19 fires will ravage around the world in the weeks and months to come. And I’m most worried about Africa.” According to Mr. Gostin, “the crisis in India is a leading indicator of what is to come in other low- and middle-income countries”. Despite its crowded cities, limited public health measures and a patchwork health care system, India has so far been considered relatively fortunate. The South Asian country has 1.37 billion people but only 160,000 deaths so far in March, with a rate of 11 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. Then, in April, a new and more contagious variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, known as B.1.617, emerged and spread across India, causing a record increase in cases and deaths. green. In just a few weeks, India had nearly 50,000 more deaths. The death rate rose to 15 per 100,000 population. When this article was published, the Covid-19 wave in India was underway, but the trend was already decreasing. The rate of new cases and deaths is decreasing. And while it is predicted that tens of thousands of more Indians will die before this spike is over, at least the pandemic has not gotten any worse in the country. But the SARS-CoV-2 virus is an opportunistic virus. It always finds places that are densely populated but have no protection. Spreading through the air from person to person, Covid-19 establishes a “laboratory” in each body that the virus infects. Each SARS-CoV-2 virus mutates after two weeks of infection for as long as it is active, and seeks to evolve so that it can create a new variant that is increasingly contagious. New variants help the virus spread even faster in a self-reinforcing cycle that ends only with drastic social distancing, vaccinations and antibodies among survivors, or more likely a combination of the virus. all three methods to cut off the transmission route of Covid-19. It is no coincidence that SARS-CoV-2 thrived in India this month. Popular religious festivals have attracted thousands of people who attended without wearing masks. Meanwhile, India’s vaccination effort is very bad. According to statistics, the South Asian country has fully vaccinated only 3% of the population, compared with more than 30% in the US. The global average for full immunization is also a little over 3%. From the epidemiologist’s point of view, Nigeria, with its many overcrowded cities, high poverty rates and shabby health system, is quite similar to India, but worse in some respects. India has at least some domestic vaccine manufacturers, while Nigeria has none. The African country must import all doses of the vaccine from outside. That explains why Nigeria only partially immunizes 1% of the population and almost no one is fully vaccinated. The Lagos government is expected to receive 84 million doses of the vaccine from AstraZeneca and Johnson&Johnson in the coming weeks. But that number is only enough to inject a fifth of the country’s population. Meanwhile, the proportion that experts say could lead to “herd immunity” is vaccination of three-quarters of the population, which blocks most routes of transmission and can last up to year 2022. Shortage side, surplus side To help Nigeria and the underserved countries, the rich countries of the world should stop hoarding vaccines excessively. Of course, more shots are not a panacea, and even a country with many vaccines can have trouble administering. However, the vaccine shortage, and the hesitation among people who doubt the vaccine’s effectiveness, could further slow the vaccination process. Shaun Truelove, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said that “the only way to know if Nigeria is managing vaccines well is to keep shipping the vaccine to the country”. Global supply is not the biggest problem. The United States, a country with many vaccine manufacturers, has a stockpile of more than 60 million doses of vaccine while continuing to have more vaccines supplied by factories, while vaccination rates are falling. especially for Republicans. It was only a few weeks after the sudden spike in Covid-19 in India that the administration of President Joe Biden promised to ship an additional number of vaccines to New Delhi. The AstraZeneca vaccine isn’t even authorized in the US. For Americans, those doses of vaccines are not only redundant but also useless. The problem of severe delays in the release of excess vaccines was anticipated a year ago. In the spring of 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) together with a number of international public-private partners, came together to establish the Global Access to Vaccines Covid-19 initiative, or COVAX. The COVAX initiative allows rich countries to pay for vaccines to poor countries. COVAX’s goal was to deliver 100 million doses by March, but it actually delivered less than 40 million doses. “This has failed Nigeria and many countries,” Mr. Erondu said [trong việc tiêm chủng]”. America is part of the problem. The Trump administration has refused to sign on to COVAX, a move that reflects its narrow “America First” philosophy. The Trump administration at the time either didn’t understand, or didn’t care, that vaccinating poor countries also helped protect rich countries. After all, the virus doesn’t care about borders. Mr. Biden reversed the decision in February. The administration has committed $4 billion in cash, making the US the largest donor of COVAX, albeit somewhat belatedly. In a parallel move, Mr. Biden also signaled support for a controversial proposal to give the WTO a copyright exemption for a Covid-19 vaccine. In theory, the decision would allow any manufacturer in any country to produce doses of the vaccine. However, experts are still divided on whether the patent waiver will lead to more doses of the vaccine being shipped to countries in need. Meanwhile, many richer countries have been slow to implement their COVAX commitments. Meanwhile, strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus continue to target unprotected populations from one area to another. Nigeria is about to become the “storm center” of Covid-19. However, this West African country may not suffer the same fate as India. Because vaccines are available. Existing mechanisms will get the vaccine to the countries that need it most. It is worth mentioning that many countries have a surplus of vaccines but do not appreciate the importance of sharing vaccines with other countries. (According to Daily Beast)

This is the second time this giant predator has been found to have COVID-19 after eight tigers and lions at Bronx Zoo, New York, USA, had similar results in April 2020. According to experts, it is likely that these lions were infected with COVID-19 from people working in the NZP, because more than 25 NZP staff has reportedly been infected with COVID-19 to date. NZP is a 54-hectare zoo, caring for more than 2,000 animals, the most visited place in India today. Because the incident on the NZP had to close and wait until further notice. Lions infected with COVID-19. Viruses can be transmitted from animals to humans and vice versa Many studies have found airborne transmission and animal-to-animal contact, from human to animal, and vice versa. Cats and weasels are the two animals most susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, while dogs are shorter; chickens, pigs and ducks are not infected. ZS-CoV-2 reverse transmission from animals to humans in dogs and cats has been confirmed by genetic analysis of virus strains isolated from domestic animals and domestic animals. Most studies show no clinical symptoms in infected dogs and cats. There is no evidence of animal-to-animal transmission of SARS-CoV-2, although this possibility is not excluded. COVID-19 in mink farms showed both human-to-mink transmission and vice versa. This raises concerns about weasels becoming an unexpected vector for SARS-CoV-2. According to three studies updated by the European Center for Infectious Diseases and Policy (CIDRAP), a high proportion of dogs and cats may have acquired COVID-19 from the owner, and the virus “jumps”. People and weasels go back and forth on farms in the Netherlands. Weasel is the most susceptible animal to SARS-CoV-2. First, a small study conducted by the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. As a result, most dogs and cats may have acquired COVID-19 from their owners, scientific evidence finds antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in their blood. “Testing an animal’s blood after the owner has recovered is the best way to assess human-to-animal transmission because the time it takes to determine the current infection in the pet is narrow. There is sufficient evidence from many studies to recommend that people infected with SARS-CoV-2 should be isolated from humans and animals. Dr. Dorothee Bienzle, University of Guelph, key author. The second study was published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases late September 2020. Scientists in Hong Kong examined respiratory and fecal samples from 50 cats from COVID-19-infected households or their close contacts for SARS-CoV-2 RNA from November 11. 2 to 11/8/2020. 6 out of 50 cats (12%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA on RT-PCR and the viral genome from a pair of hosts and cats were identical. All cats show no symptoms but have lung abnormalities similar to those found in infected people. The researchers call for broader serological monitoring of cats connected to COVID-19 patients to determine the incidence of human-to-cat transmission. The third study, presented at the ESCMID conference, monitored COVID-19 contamination in 16 mink farms with more than 720,000 animals in the Netherlands. As a result, SARS-CoV-2 was found to have “jumped” back and forth between people and weasels, in the case of animal-to-human transmission or vice versa. Researchers who examined and sequenced the entire genome showed that 66 out of 97 people (67%) who lived or worked on farms were diagnosed with COVID-19 on PCR or a resistance test. can. Currently, COVID-19 is still spreading in farms, despite human efforts, the authors reveal. In order to minimize the risk of transmission of the virus between humans and animals and vice versa, scientists argue that close cooperation between animal health agencies and people is essential for early identification and control of schools. infection with SARS-CoV-2. Cats need to be isolated to prevent infection with SARS-CoV-2. In addition, to avoid transmission of the virus from infected households and pets to livestock, the livestock must be in the same quarantine as applies to humans. Letting your pet roam in a community increases the likelihood of spreading the virus. The original origin of the virus has not been determined yet, so livestock should be strictly managed and all measures are taken according to the veterinary authorities, especially pets in areas where epidemics have occurred. and has been translated. Ngoc Anh ( People / Ejmed / CUE– 5/2021 )

Ministry of Health received 10,000 test tests for SARS-CoV-2. (Photo: PV / Vietnam +) On May 12, the Ministry of Health received 10,000 test tests for SARS-CoV-2 for work epidemic prevention . Facing complicated developments of COVID-19 from the end of April 2021 up to now, Vietnam has recorded many domestic cases in 26 provinces, cities and hospitals. Therefore, the Vietnam Young Physician Association has asked the Ministry of Health to receive 10,000 SARV-COV-2 test kits produced and awarded by Ampharco USA Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company to support strengthening laboratory capacity. , anti-epidemic COVID-19. Speaking at the Reception Ceremony, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan emphasized that the COVID-19 epidemic continues to affect all aspects of socio-economic life, with Ampharco USA accompanying the health sector to support 10,000 The test kit is a very meaningful job, demonstrating the company’s social responsibility in joining hands to repel pandemic. This is also a policy of the Government to encourage scientists to research and manufacture products and biologicals for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests, actively contributing to the prevention and control of COVID- 19. Test kit COVID-19 “AmphaBio HT- Hithroughput PCR COVID-19” is a product invested by Ampharco USA, research and development, according to technology transferred from Military Medical Academy, can detect most Variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to date. This kit has been licensed by the Ministry of Health to circulate in Decision No. 2263 / QD-BYT dated 7/5/2021. Professor Do Quyet – Director of Military Medical Academy said that the AmphaBio HT- Hithroughput PCR COVID-19 test kit is a cooperation product between Military Medical University and Ampharco USA, applying new US technologies. Military Medical Academy always creates the most optimal conditions for its scientists to research and develop highly timely applied products in the prevention and control work. COVID-19 translation ./.

Activities of management, administration, production, business and procurement of enterprises and people will be gradually changed, implemented through the digital environment. This also increases the risk of cyber attacks, especially attacks on digital data and the digital environment. To help users limit attacks and minimize damage in the future, Bkav has introduced anti-virus software version 2021, applying artificial intelligence to create a 5-layer protection system, helping businesses. and more secure users. Mr. Vu Ngoc Son, Bkav’s Vice President in charge of Anti Malware, said: “Bkav 2021’s 5-layer protection system provides comprehensive protection and does not leave any risk out. At the same time, the system is also equipped with centralized management features, periodic reports to help agencies, businesses and users always grasp general information, so they can be assured and actively participate. number converter ”. According to the manufacturer, Bkav 2021 is capable of detecting malware up to 99.9% as well as reducing the possibility of catching a clean file by approximately 0%, optimizing performance by 144% compared to the previous version. . Users who are installing Bkav antivirus software will be automatically upgraded to the new version.

Covid-19 shows that the future of the world is biological, not digital. (Source: CNN) Millions of people around the world are viewing images of desperation in many parts of India as infection rates exceed 300,000 cases per day. Reports show severe hypoxia in the South Asian country with a double-strain variable, accompanied by images of corpses waiting on pavements, when crematoriums become overwhelmed, even. in the capital New Delhi. At the end of March, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a draft report on the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic with findings that many have come to expect: SARS-CoV-2 virus may have been Spread from animals to humans. It can be said that the uninteresting cause has caused the biggest global turmoil in a century, and just as it has caused many earlier pandemics in history: Human card in nature. At the same time, the world may be coming to the end of an era of digital hype. Sharp warning For years, it has been said that digital technology will lead the world to a future without scarcity. Yet the reality of the pandemic is a sharp warning about how the real world can reverse fantastical, unrealistic delusions. Every new technological advance promises a fundamental transformation of society, eliminating inefficiencies and inequality and empowering people through division of labor. Blockchain technology, artificial intelligence and 3D printing technology are hailed as the leading flags bringing about major changes in lifestyles and working, not only in developed countries but also in underdeveloped countries. lice in countries with no basic living conditions. The belief in technology may even be reflected in the Western response to the pandemic. Instead of considering the social commitment citizens engage in – placing the collective interest above individual rights by requiring masks and implementing other restrictions – and having a strong public health response, rapidly to control the Covid-19 outbreak, Western countries were again hoping to develop vaccines as a last resort, and at the cost of large-scale economic disruption and commodity disruption. hundred thousand people died. In the US alone, a study has shown that hundreds of thousands of lives could be saved during a pandemic if previous regulations on blockades, masking and social segregation were strictly enforced. . The SARS-CoV-2 virus has caused global chaos because of its ability to enter the human body through biological transmission and disrupt the functioning of organs in the body. Vaccines that prevent viruses are seen as a mechanism that promotes the human body’s natural response to infection. If humans want to avoid another global health disaster, humans need to restrain their growth, stop attacking natural and biological systems based on the argument that all other living entities must be subordinated. for human development. The need for economic development has destroyed the natural world so much that disasters such as the Covid-19 pandemic are more likely to occur as population and human greed lead to self-exploitation. course more. The time has come to stop these attacks. Maintain integrity and resonance Human survival depends on maintaining the integrity and resonance of natural systems and internal biological processes. That includes habitats, objects that enter the human body (pollutants and viruses), things people consume (water, air and food), and the biological effects of waste produced by children. maker. During the early months of the pandemic, reports showed that the Earth was benefiting from reduced greenhouse gas emissions, as the majority of the middle and upper classes could study remotely and work from home. However, the switch to working from home is not without consequences for the environment. The more secluded lifestyles have to depend on people who work in the real world, produce and process food, feed the groceries and deliver food to people at home. Goods ordered online still have to be transported by means of transport such as ships, vehicles and need to be delivered by the delivery person. Meanwhile, infrastructure in the real world has been deeply affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Essential workers around the world, whether in hospitals, meat packers in the US, construction sites in Singapore or glove manufacturers in Malaysia, have all been hit hard by the boom. Play by Covid-19. This suggests that we not only need to limit encroachment on the natural world, but also need to invest more in basic protective measures (also known as “guaranteed resilience”) such as supply. safety and assurance of food, water, sanitation, housing, a good public health system and access to energy. Forecasts suggest that the human population will peak 10 billion by 2064, and greater pandemic risks will accompany other man-made threats, from climate change and biodiversity loss to Vulnerable food systems and limited available land. Digital technologies can play a role in mitigating and countering such threats only when people are imbued with the fact that human existence is fragile and fully dependent on a suitable biosphere. The sooner people realize that truth, the sooner people can be sure that technology development efforts are put into ideas that really help people, and not in utopian plans. should come from the narrow definition of human evolution. (according to global-inst.com)

The Ministry of Health received 10,000 Covid-19 test kits to support epidemic prevention and control. Photo: Nguyen Nhien (Office of the Ministry of Health). Faced with complicated developments in the Covid-19 epidemic since the end of April 2021 up to now, Vietnam has recorded many domestic cases in 26 provinces, cities and hospitals. The Vietnam Young Physician Association has asked the Ministry of Health to receive 10,000 SARS-COV-2 test kits produced and awarded by Ampharco USA Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, to support strengthening capacity for prevention and control. Covid-19 translation. At the reception, Prof. Dr. Tran Van Thuan – Deputy Minister of Health welcomed Ampharco USA Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company used technology transferred from Military Medical Academy to research and produce the test kit. experience “made in Vietnam”. “In the face of the Covid-19 epidemic that continues to affect all aspects of socio-economic life, the fact that Ampharco USA accompanying the health sector to support 10,000 test kits is a very meaningful job, showing responsibility. Company society in joining hands to repel pandemic. This is also a policy of the Government to encourage scientists to research and produce products and biologicals for diagnostic testing for SARS-COV-2, actively contributing to the prevention and control of Covid- 19 ”- Deputy Minister of Health emphasized. Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ampharco USA Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company Le Ngoc Bo said that the Covid-19 test kit “AmphaBio HT- Hithroughput PCR Covid-19” is a product invested by Ampharco USA Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, Research and development, according to technology transferred from the Military Medical Academy, can detect most of the strains of the virus SARS-CoV-2 up to now. This kit has been licensed by the Ministry of Health to circulate in Decision No. 2263 / QD-BYT dated 7/5/2021. During the research and production process, the kit has been tested and clinically proven over 2,000 patient samples and is the result of more than a year of continuous efforts of the team of scientists and partners of the Company. Ampharco USA Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, in order to promptly respond to the Government’s policy of “anti-epidemic like anti-enemy”, contributes to Vietnam’s anti-epidemic Covid-19. Prof. Dr. Tran Van Thuan – Deputy Minister of Health welcomes Ampharco USA Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company to use technology transferred from Military Medical Academy to research and produce “made in Vietnam” test kit. . Photo: Nguyen Nhien (Office of the Ministry of Health). Prof. Dr. Do Quyet – Director of Military Medical Academy said, AmphaBio HT- Hithroughput PCR Covid-19 test kit is a product of cooperation between Military Medical Academy and Ampharco USA, applying new technologies of the United States. . Military Medical Academy always creates the best conditions for its scientists to research and develop timely and highly applied products in Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control. Following the direction of the Prime Minister, right from March 2020, the Ministry of Health established a Committee for the mobilization and coordination of sources of support for Covid-19 epidemic prevention. The Ministry of Health agreed to receive 10,000 test tests for SARS-COV-2 awarded by Ampharco USA Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company. However, in order to ensure the storage conditions of the 10,000 test tests mentioned above, the Ministry of Health requests that the company assist with the storage and preservation of the test numbers that have supported the prevention of the above epidemic at the public warehouse. ty. Based on the situation of epidemic developments and recommendations of units and localities, the Ministry of Health will decide to allocate the above test numbers to medical facilities to serve the Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control. . Based on the allocation decision of the Ministry of Health, the Company is requested to assist in transporting and handing over testing to units and localities promptly according to regulations.

The COVID-19 test kit is researched and developed, according to the technology transferred from the Military Medical Academy, which can detect most of the strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus up to now. This kit has been licensed by the Ministry of Health to circulate in Decision No. 2263 / QD-BYT dated 7/5/2021. During the research and production process, the kit has been tested and clinically proven on 2,000 patient samples. Prof.Dr. Tran Van Thuan – Deputy Minister of Health. Photo: Tuan Anh. Speaking at the Reception Ceremony, Prof.Dr. Tran Van Thuan – Deputy Minister of Health welcomed the product “made in Vietnam” and emphasized: “In the face of the COVID-19 epidemic continuing to affect all aspects of socio-economic life, Ampharco USA’s accompanying Health sector is a very meaningful job, demonstrating the social responsibility in joining hands to repel the epidemic. The Ministry of Health praised the impulsive spirit of the Vietnam Young Physicians Association and believed in the wisdom, gesture and heart of the team of Vietnamese medical doctors, scientists, and the consensus of enterprises, co. For the whole country, Vietnam will defeat COVID-19 ”. The Ministry of Health received 10,000 COVID-19 test kits to support epidemic prevention. Photo: Tuan Anh. Prof.Dr. Do Quyet – Director of Military Medical Academy said, AmphaBio HT-Hithroughput PCR COVID-19 test kit is a product of cooperation between Military Medical Academy and Ampharco USA, applying new technologies of the United States. Military Medical Academy always creates optimal conditions for the academy’s scientists to research and develop timely and highly applied products in COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control. Following the direction of the Prime Minister, right from March 2020, the Ministry of Health has established a Committee for Mobilization and Coordination of the COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control support (Decision No. 1219 / QD-BYT dated 19 / 3/2020 of the Minister of Health). The Ministry of Health agreed to receive 10,000 test tests for SARS-CoV-2 awarded this time. However, to ensure the storage conditions of 10,000 tests mentioned above; The Ministry of Health requested the Company to support the storage and preservation of the test numbers that supported the prevention of the above epidemic in the Company’s repository. Based on the epidemic developments and proposals of units and localities; The Ministry of Health will decide to allocate the above test numbers to medical facilities to serve the COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control. Based on the allocation decision of the Ministry of Health, the Company is requested to assist in transporting and handing over testing to units and localities promptly.

The deadly “tsunami” called COVID-19 is sweeping across the Indian subcontinent, leaving tragedies that scare the world. With each passing day, India has recorded more tragic records of the number of people infected with COVID-19 as well as the number of deaths from this deadly virus since the outbreak of the epidemic in China more than a year. before. For days in a row, the number of people infected with COVID-19 has reached a world record, exceeding 300,000, while the number of deaths steadily exceeds a terrible threshold of 3,000 people per day. This South Asian nation’s health system showed signs of not tolerating the aggressive attack of COVID-19. Hospitals refused to accept patients with COVID-19 because they were completely overloaded. Newspapers reported that patients who reached the hospital gate died there because they were not admitted. Many hospitals deplete their oxygen supply, causing the death of patients to be abnormally high. Photo: LG In particular, hospitals such as Gorakhpur have had to make the painful option of withdrawing the ventilators of elderly patients who have not improved after a long period of treatment. to give oxygen to young patients with a greater chance of life. The crematoriums were nearly melted down by not turning off the fire for 24 hours a day. And even when running at full capacity, the crematorium could not handle the number of corpses caused by COVID-19, causing people to organize cremation in open areas. The pictures of the crematoriums burning red fire day and night are like scenes from horror movies about hell. The world is horrified by the tragic scene, at the dire consequences caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in India. The frightening thing is that it seems that these deadly scenes are not yet the culmination of the pandemic. Many experts make gloomy predictions about the number of people infected and dying in India will continue to rise and peak in the days of May 2021. Meanwhile, the lack of oxygen continues to put enormous pressure on the oxygen plants. Once considered a drugstore in the world, a source of vaccines against COVID-19 for other countries, now India itself is in a shortage of vaccines, having to import … All signal a gloomy future before the epidemic in this South Asian country. Wrong chain Because a country that only a few weeks ago confidently thought that it had entered the final stage of the war against COVID-19 and successfully controlled a pandemic, is now suddenly engulfed in a “tsunami”. This death? In March 2020, India is one of the rare countries in the world implementing a national blockade to fight pandemics, a harsh measure not easy to take for a country with 1.3 billion people. This measure may have had serious consequences for the Indian economy as well as the well-being of the people. However, for the Indian authorities at that time, the threat of COVID-19 was the greatest one, existing and must be prevented at all costs, from spreading it. This strong measure has yielded positive results. The number of deaths is much lower than experts predicted. The number of daily infections also plummeted after reaching a peak of 100,000 per day in September 2020. It was at that time that began a series of mistakes that would cost India a hefty price point later. The first is the erroneous belief that India can achieve a state of public immunity to easily overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. This belief stems from studies that suggest that the majority of Indians, except for the rich and middle-class, from working outdoors a lot, absorb a large amount of vitamin D, thus increasing the body’s ability. resistant to viruses. These theorists claim that the low mortality in the late 2020 period supports this point. But, they have not learned a valuable lesson from countries like Sweden or the UK, which have had time to misplace their beliefs in community immunity and thus have suffered painful consequences. pain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. After a period of social “relax” with belief in community immunity and as a result, the number of infections and the death rate skyrocketed compared to other countries with the same social conditions, gender. These countries are forced to formally admit mistakes in terms of policies, leading to tragic consequences for society. The mistakes made by these countries in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrate that in critical moments, the right policy is needed and is more valuable than a single dose of vaccine. fabricated). If the policy is wrong, not only a few individuals but the whole society will have to pay the price. But, the second mistake is the main cause of the current humanitarian tragedy in India. Until early 2021, the Indian authorities acted as if the COVID-19 pandemic ceased to exist. Large rallies are allowed. In particular, despite the risks of transmitting COVID-19 in a crowded environment, Indian officials have allowed millions of believers to participate in religious festivals with the policy of “belief in God will win. fear of viruses ”. A typical example of this phenomenon is the Kumbh Mela festival, one of the holiest Hindu pilgrimage ceremonies that take place on the banks of the Ganges River with millions in attendance. Most of the millions of people gathered in this place without masks, without spacing, turning such festivals into “super infectious” events, the ideal environment for the virus to spread at breakneck speed. , sowing invisible death would turn tragedy for days afterward … For whom the Bell Tolls! The world has not underestimated the magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Until the tragedy struck, the prospect of a global catastrophe stemming from a pandemic raging in India emerged. Considered to be the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, India has participated in the vaccine supply chain for poor, developing countries around the world. Currently, preliminary statistics show that up to 92 developing countries depend on supplies of vaccines from India. The COVID-19 pandemic broke out in India on a large scale, creating a favorable environment for the mutant virus to form new strains. By the time India was caught in the midst of COVID-19, which led to a shortage of vaccines and a slow pace of vaccination, it was natural that Indian authorities tightened exports of COVID vaccines. -19 abroad. Before the outbreak of the pandemic, India joined the COVAX program to provide equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Until the COVID-19 “tsunami” hit, India froze vaccine exports, including for the COVAX program, to save vaccines for use to meet domestic demand. As a result, the worldwide supply chain of vaccines is under enormous pressure; At least 92 poor countries that received vaccines from the COVAX program were severely affected. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India’s withdrawal from the program to worry about domestic issues caused COVAX to lack 90 million doses of vaccine planned for 60 low-income countries in March and April. Another, more significant concern is that the widespread outbreak of COVID-19 in India, with many untreated people, has been a favorable environment for the virus to mutate, creating new strains, which are more virulent, and “smarter” to adapt to human-made vaccines. It is also worth mentioning that new variants of the COVID virus in India have been discovered and have entered dozens of countries around the world, posing a big challenge to the global health network. for example, countries with weak health systems themselves. Realizing those risks, the world has frantically rushed in to help India overcome the aftermath of the pandemic. The US, UK, and United Arab Emirates (UAE) are rushing to send breathing machines and vaccine materials, while a number of other countries have also pledged to assist India to overcome the crisis. France, New Zealand and Spain pledged to share some of their dosages with the COVAX program to help reduce vaccine shortage tensions for poor countries due to India’s withdrawal from the program. Even China, which is in a state of border dispute with India, has announced it will send the vaccine to its neighbor, but did not say how much and when to send it. It seems that, in the meantime, helping India is also helping me! Please do not ask who is the bell for your soul, the bell for your soul!
Yen Ba

A COVID-19 test site in Australia. (Photo: AFP / VNA) Goverment New Zealand has suspended the program stimulate tourism just opened to Australia, after appearing a drive COVID-19 translation new in this neighboring country. Announcing on the official website on April 23, the New Zealand Government stated: “As agreed in the Trans-Tasman tourism stimulus protocol (between the two countries), the travel between New Zealand and Western Australia. had to pause, wait for the next announcement. ” The decision was made after the state of Western Australia said the Perth and Peel regions began a 3-day blockade (from 0:00 on April 24) after a tourist tested positive for the SARS virus. -CoV-2 causes COVID-19 disease. Local media reported that a man in his 50s traveled from Perth to Melbourne on April 21 and tested positive on the morning of April 23. Previously, this person underwent regulatory quarantine at a hotel in Perth and when the quarantine ended, for five days in the city, he went to several restaurants, a university, a swimming pool. public, a private clinic and a friend’s home before leaving. The friend he visited also tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. New Zealand and Australia has opened a program to stimulate tourism in isolation since April 18, nearly 400 days after the two sides closed the border due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This program is the result of months of negotiations between two neighboring countries that have essentially curbed this translation, which is seen as a major effort to re-start the travel industry between the two countries that are already heavily impacted. plague. Under the program, passengers from Australia to New Zealand can fly over the Tasman Sea without having to undergo mandatory isolation on entry.

A new graveyard filled with a new grave of Covid-19 victim in Manaus, Brazil. Photo: Sky News. More than 1.5 years since the attack of Covid-19, the world is now witnessing two opposing scenes. In some countries, such as the UK and the US, many people, after being vaccinated, happily hug their loved ones after a long separation. In India, Brazil, and most of South America, thousands of people desperately count down their time, suffering families watching their loved ones leave. Subjectivity is the biggest reason According to Dr. William Schaffner, an advisor to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), although the pandemic has been around for nearly 1.5 years and the world has made every effort to repel the epidemic, Covid- 19 is still a big challenge. Mr. Schaffner told Zing There are 4 main causes for this condition. The first is the increasing emergence of new strains, which are able to spread more easily and quickly. Next, the health systems in many countries are weak or insufficient to care for and cure patients. The next reason is inadequate vaccine supplies. The ultimate cause lies in how each government responds to the epidemic, and the consciousness of its people. However, he said that the main reason why the epidemic in many places not only did not settle down, but also progressed more complicatedly, was the carelessness of people. “Subjectivity is the biggest reason for the current viral spread in most countries around the world,” Dr. Schaffner said. Zing . Professor Andrew Easton, University of Warwick, UK also agrees. “We are usually quite vigilant for a period of time, then we are distracted, subjective and relaxed, especially when there is nothing serious,” he said. Dr. William Schaffner, longtime advisor to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Photo: Vanderbilt University. Italy is the first country to suffer from a pandemic in Europe, with the first Covid-19 wave coming in March 2020. Despite heavy economic and human losses, the country quickly managed to control the epidemic and was hailed as a model for international learning. The ban was quickly lifted or eased in many places. The beaches, cafes, nightclubs, and dance floors get crowded. A lot of people do not wear masks regardless of whether they are on the street or at these venues. By November 2020, the number of infections in this country began to increase sharply. At one point Italy overtook England to become the country with the highest number of deaths because of Covid-19 in Europe. By the end of 5/5, Italy had recorded a total of over 4.06 million cases of Covid-19, of which over 122,000 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University (JHU), USA. In Brazil, during the pandemic, President Jair Bolsonaro always underestimated the severity of the virus. He regularly calls for the lifting of restrictions and blockade orders, despite the country’s steadily increasing number of new infections and deaths. Peru, Mexico, and many other Latin American countries have a similar scenario: outbreaks – control – ban bans are lifted and people gather – more serious outbreaks. India is emerging as the most serious epidemic in the world today. Just three months ago, Indian leaders were happy to announce they had weathered the worst of the pandemic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi even declared the defeat of Covid-19, asserting that it is difficult for any country to match India’s success. At the end of March, the government allowed millions of Hindus to participate in this great religious festival. Social distancing measures are rarely implemented and very few people wear masks. In early April, millions of people also went to the Ganges to perform Hindu prayer rituals. Dr Vineeta Bal, an immune system researcher at the Indian Institute for Scientific Research and Education in Pune, commented that India’s current situation is due to “management failure, failure in planning. guesswork, failure in planning, with that is the thought that has conquered the virus “. India’s biggest religious festival in late March and early April is believed to be one of the causes of the current Covid-19 crisis in the country. Photo: Reuters. The race does not stop Reply to your interview Zing Dr. Schaffner agrees that the race between vaccines and viruses is unlikely to be over. “Viruses will not disappear. We will probably have to deal with it for many years to come. Like the flu, Covid-19 will live with us and we will have to deal with them, ”he said. With a good start, vaccines have given the world a lot of hope in quickly fighting a pandemic. However, in parallel with the vaccine development, new strains of the dangerous and “wiser” SARS-CoV-2 virus began to appear everywhere. Most notably, strain B.1.1.7 was first discovered in the UK and strain P.1 in Brazil. They are both believed to spread faster, and are already present in dozens of other countries around the world. Even the P.1 strain in Brazil is thought to be able to “elude” antibodies from the vaccine and potentially cause reinfection. The number of people dying from Covid-19 is constantly increasing, Brazil has to dig up the old grave to make room for the victim of Covid-19. Photo: AP. Variant B.1.617 in India has appeared in at least 17 countries and regions. This strain has the double mutation; of which, one mutation makes the virus more contagious, and the other makes it partially resistant to the vaccine. “Variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus present serious challenges against Covid-19. More and more new strains emerge, capable of spreading more quickly and easily, causing rapid and widespread outbreaks, “said Dr. Schaffner. Zing . So far, as observed by Dr. Schaffner, current vaccines appear to be fully or partially effective against new strains. “However, if more new strains arise, they (mutants) are very likely to resist the current vaccine. Then we will need a new vaccine again,” said Dr. Schaffner. India’s temporary crematoriums burn around the clock because the death toll is so great. Photo: New York Times. Scientists are now working on production of second-generation vaccines that target current strains, he said. They are ready to use when needed. However, he warns that researching the new vaccine will be a long-term and ongoing job. “We will have to keep strain detection systems up and running. We will probably have to constantly make new vaccines, and people will have to get re-vaccinated each year to deal with new strains of the virus, ”Dr. Schaffner told Zing . A nation’s perils are the perils of the world According to Dr. Schaffner, people live in a connected world. Thus, a new strain threatens every country everywhere. “That is why the global need to join hands to overcome this pandemic,” said Dr. Schaffner. By the end of January 2021, the strain was first discovered in the UK, present in more than 70 countries and territories. These numbers with the strain in South Africa and the strain in Brazil are 31 and 37, respectively, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This suggests that new strains of the virus, wherever they first appear, could quickly invade the rest of the world, threatening global health security. “Every country should anticipate major out-of-control outbreaks,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean of the Department of Public Health at Brown University. Countries like the UK and the US are doing a very good job of vaccination. However, that also only deal with the current strains “. However, Dr. Schaffner said that the greatest hope now in dealing with the immediate pandemic is to distribute the vaccine in a balanced and efficient way around the world. “All countries need to work together to try if they want to succeed”, Mr. Schaffner stressed. The chaplain’s account of the funeral for 150 Covid-19 patients before cremation Every day, Hindu cleric RamKaran Mishra performs a funeral for about 150 people who have died of Covid-19 at the Ghazipur crematory facility east of New Delhi, India.