From: James Robb, MD, FCAP
Dear Colleagues,
As some of you may recall, when I was a professor of
pathology at the University of California San Diego, I was one of the first
molecular virologists in the world to work on coronaviruses (the 1970s). I was
the first to demonstrate the number of genes the virus contained. Since then, I
have kept up with the coronavirus field and its multiple clinical transfers
into the human population (e.g., SARS, MERS), from different animal sources.The
current projections for its expansion in the US are only probable, due to
continued insufficient worldwide data, but it is most likely to be widespread
in the US by mid to late March and April.Here is what I have done and the
precautions that I take and will take.
These are the same precautions I
currently use during our influenza seasons, except for the mask and gloves.:
1) NO HANDSHAKING! Use a fist bump, slight bow, elbow bump,
etc.
2) Use ONLY your knuckle to touch light switches. elevator
buttons, etc.. Lift the gasoline dispenser with a paper towel or use a
disposable glove.
3) Open doors with your closed fist or hip - do not grasp
the handle with your hand, unless there is no other way to open the door.
Especially important on bathroom and post office/commercial doors.
4) Use disinfectant wipes at the stores when they are
available, including wiping the handle and child seat in grocery carts.
5) Wash your hands with soap for 10-20 seconds and/or use a
greater than 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer whenever you return home from ANY
activity that involves locations where other people have been.
6) Keep a bottle of sanitizer available at each of your home's entrances. AND in your car for use after getting gas or touching other contaminated objects when you can't immediately wash your hands.
7) If possible, cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue and
discard. Use your elbow only if you have to. The clothing on your elbow will
contain infectious virus that can be passed on for up to a week or more!
What I have stocked in preparation for the pandemic spread
to the US:
1) Latex or nitrile latex disposable gloves for use when
going shopping, using the gasoline pump, and all other outside activity when
you come in contact with contaminated areas.
Note: This virus is spread in large droplets by coughing and
sneezing. This means that the air will not infect you! BUT all the surfaces
where these droplets land are infectious for about a week on average -
everything that is associated with infected people will be contaminated and
potentially infectious. The virus is on surfaces and you will not be infected
unless your unprotected face is directly coughed or sneezed upon. This virus
only has cell receptors for lung cells (it only infects your lungs) The only
way for the virus to infect you is through your nose or mouth via your hands or
an infected cough or sneeze onto or into your nose or mouth.2) Stock up now with disposable surgical masks and use them
to prevent you from touching your nose and/or mouth (We touch our nose/mouth
90X/day without knowing it!). This is the only way this virus can infect you -
it is lung-specific. The mask will not prevent the virus in a direct sneeze
from getting into your nose or mouth - it is only to keep you from touching
your nose or mouth.
3) Stock up now with hand sanitizers and latex/nitrile
gloves (get the appropriate sizes for your family). The hand sanitizers must be
alcohol-based and greater than 60% alcohol to be effective.
4) Stock up now with zinc lozenges. These lozenges have been
proven to be effective in blocking coronavirus (and most other viruses) from
multiplying in your throat and nasopharynx. Use as directed several times each
day when you begin to feel ANY "cold-like" symptoms beginning. It is
best to lie down and let the lozenge dissolve in the back of your throat and
nasopharynx. Cold-Eeze lozenges is one brand available, but there are other
brands available.
I, as many others do, hope that this pandemic will be reasonably
contained, BUT I personally do not think it will be. Humans have never seen
this snake-associated virus before and have no internal defense against it.
Tremendous worldwide efforts are being made to understand the molecular and
clinical virology of this virus. Unbelievable molecular knowledge about the
genomics, structure, and virulence of this virus has already been achieved.
BUT, there will be NO drugs or vaccines available this year to protect us or
limit the infection within us. Only symptomatic support is available.I hope
these personal thoughts will be helpful during this potentially catastrophic
pandemic. You are welcome to share this email. Good luck to all of us!
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