According to the latest news, the Tokyo Olympics this summer may be cancelled due to the epidemic. WHO officials recently revealed that there is currently only one truly effective drug for the treatment of new coronary pneumonia: redecive. The National Institutes of Health has announced that it has initiated the first clinical trial of Radixivir in the treatment of new coronary pneumonia. The top issues of Nature and Science warn that the epidemic is entering a new phase, and WHO calls on the world to move quickly.
On February 24, the World Health Organization-China Coronavirus Experts Expedition Group held a press conference in Beijing to report the results of the expedition and make recommendations on next steps for China and the global response to the epidemic.
The conference revealed a lot of information. Dr. Bruce Aylward, the leader of the joint inspection team and the Assistant Director-General of the World Health Organization, affirmed China's response: China has taken what is arguably the most magnificent, flexible and active prevention and control measure ever. He also thanked the people of Wuhan for their contribution: the world owes you!
In addition, Dr. Bruce Aylward also mentioned: Only one drug with real efficacy, remdesivir (there is currently only one possible drug that is effective, redecive).
Successful treatment of two patients in the United States
Radixivir is a broad-spectrum antiviral drug that is being developed by Gilead in the United States. The drug is mainly used to treat diseases such as Ebola and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in the early stage, and it is still in the clinical stage.
Earlier this month, the top medical journal "New England Journal of Medicine" disclosed that the first case of New Crown Pneumonia patients in the United States had significantly improved symptoms after being treated with Radixivir, and Radixivir became famous. A few days ago, Cheng Liang, the fourth newly diagnosed patient with new coronary pneumonia in the United States, also improved after using the drug, becoming the second patient in the world to treat new coronary pneumonia by injecting redecide.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced on the 25th that it has launched the first clinical trial of the antiviral drug redecive in the treatment of new coronary pneumonia at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in the United States. It was conducted in a randomized, placebo-controlled manner. The trial will be conducted in up to 50 locations worldwide.
The first patients to participate in the trial were Americans who had repatriated from Japan's Diamond Princess cruise ship. The NIH stated that subjects must be positive for nucleic acid testing and have an infection in the lungs, and those who are positive for nucleic acid testing but have mild or asymptomatic conditions are not eligible.
China is also actively conducting clinical trials of Redecive. Gilead said earlier this month that it has reached an agreement with the Chinese health department to launch two clinical trials of Radixivir in the treatment of new coronary pneumonia in Wuhan.
On the morning of February 25, the State Council held a press conference on the joint prevention and control mechanism of the new coronavirus infection and pneumonia epidemic. He Zhimin, deputy director of the State Intellectual Property Office, said: We have officially started the clinical use of Redecive in many hospitals in Wuhan. The clinical trial is currently underway, and the results of the clinical trial will not be announced until April 27.
CDC warns that virus spread in the United States is inevitable, but it is only a matter of time
In the United States, COVID-19 has been diagnosed in 57 people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned on Tuesday that Americans should start preparing for the spread of the new coronavirus in the United States.
"Data on transmissions in other countries over the past week have raised our concerns and expectations that the virus will spread here in the community," said Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunity and Respiratory Diseases at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Messonnier added: "We expect to see the virus spread in the community in this country. This is not a question of whether it will happen, but when it will happen." She believes that the epidemic can be devastating to daily life. Yes, businesses, schools, and homes should start discussing the possible impact of virus transmission.
In addition, Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar told the Senate a subcommittee that more cases could occur in the United States and asked lawmakers to approve $ 2.5 billion in funding after proposing a cut in the department's budget epidemic.
Decision made in late May, Tokyo Olympics could be cancelled due to epidemic
With the global spread of new crown pneumonia, many meeting cancellations will be postponed. According to the latest news, the Tokyo Olympic Games held this summer may be cancelled due to the epidemic.
A few days ago, Dick Pound, senior member of the International Olympic Committee, said that if the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia epidemic proves that the Olympic Games held in Tokyo this summer is too dangerous, organizers are likely to cancel the Olympic Games completely instead of postponing or changing the city.
He estimates that there is a window of two or three months to determine the fate of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which means that the decision may be postponed until late May.
As for the possibility of postponing the game, Pound said, "You can't postpone events of the size of the Olympic Games," because it involves too many organizations, countries and different racing seasons, TV seasons. He added, "You can't just say, let's postpone (Olympics) until October."
Pound also mentioned that because there is not much time left for the start of the Olympic Games, it will be difficult to change from Tokyo to other cities or to spread to multiple cities.
However, he also emphasized: "At this point in time, the Tokyo Olympics can still be held on schedule."
According to previous public data, the Tokyo Olympics will be held from July 24 to August 9 this year, and the Paralympics will be held from August 25 to September 6.
In addition, according to Reuters, UEFA Vice President Michel Uva said recently that if the new crown pneumonia epidemic cannot be effectively controlled in Europe, it was originally scheduled to be held from June 12 to July 12, 2020. The European Cup may be postponed or cancelled.
Top issues of Nature and Science warn the epidemic is entering a new phase, WHO calls on the world to move quickly
In the face of a severe global outbreak, two top issues of Nature and Science also published two articles warning that the new crown virus has entered a new stage and the world should be prepared.
Although WHO officials said on the 24th that the "global coronavirus epidemic has not constituted an epidemic", many scientists believe that the surge in international cases marked a turning point in the two-month outbreak.
"In my opinion, the virus has indeed 'escaped' from China and is spreading widely," said Christopher Dye, an epidemiologist at the University of Oxford.
So how should the world respond?
At the conference on the 24th, Dr. Bruce Aylward also conveyed the advice to the world on behalf of WHO, that is to take action as soon as possible, and speed is everything.