'Coronavirus is weakening and may disappear on its own': Italian doctor gave an optimistic forecast

The Italian infectious disease doctor believes that coronavirus has become less dangerous and can disappear on its own without a vaccine. Writes about it New York Post.

Dr. Matteo Bassetti, head of the Infectious Diseases Clinic at the San Martino Hospital (Italy), said the virus appears to have become weaker, possibly due to genetic mutations.

"My impression is that the virus is waning," Bassetti said. - In March and early April, the picture was completely different. People came to the emergency room with a very serious illness, they needed oxygen and ventilation, and some developed pneumonia. "

“But over the past month, the picture has completely changed,” said Matteo.

“In March and April, the coronavirus looked like an aggressive tiger, and now it looks like a wild cat,” Bassetti said. Even elderly patients in their 80s or 90s now sit in bed and breathe without assistance. Previously, the same patients would have died in two or three days. "

The doctor claims that one of the reasons for the weakening of the virus may be that he mutated in response to measures of social distance.

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“I think the virus has mutated because our immune system is responding to it, and we now have a lower infection rate due to quarantine, wearing masks, social distancing,” said Matteo. "We still have to figure out why the picture is different now."

It is possible that the virus will be destroyed before the researchers find the vaccine, the expert shared his thoughts.

“We have fewer and fewer people who become infected, and this can lead to the extinction of the virus,” Bassetti emphasized.

But another specialist was less optimistic about the likelihood of the virus disappearing soon, saying it could take years.

“I don't expect it to disappear so quickly,” said Dr. Bharat Pankhaniya, professor at the University of Exeter School of Medicine in the UK. - The coronavirus will disappear if it has no one to infect. If we have a successful vaccine, we can do the same as with smallpox (a virus that mankind has managed to completely eradicate). But because it is highly contagious and widespread, it will not go away for a very long time. ”