There is bad news for those expecting the end of Corona in the next three to six months. Scientists have issued a warning to be prepared for another attack of the virus. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, says that everyone will either have been infected or have been vaccinated before the epidemic is over. In many cases both situations are possible. At the same time, there will be some people who will have to deal with the SARS-CoV-2 virus more than once. According to Osterholm, the ups and downs in new cases of corona will continue. The world may also have to face a new wave in winter.
When will the pandemic end?
According to Osterholm, the struggle to fight new forms of corona infection and vaccinate the global population will continue until the virus touches everyone. Whether it is in the form of infection or through vaccination.
Where is the risk of getting infected more?
According to Osterholm, most of the world's economies have moved towards unlocking, while billions of people are still waiting for vaccination. In such a situation, the risk of spreading the virus from schools, colleges, offices,
and public transport will increase.
Who is more sensitive?
Osterholm said, despite the increase in vaccination rates, there will not be a significant reduction in the vulnerable population of the virus. Newborns and young children who cannot be vaccinated and those with weakened immunity are at risk of becoming infected.
Why worry about the new look?
Osterholm says Corona is a forest fire that will not stop until every wood (human) is reached. In the meantime, if variants that acquire immunity against the vaccine are produced, then the epidemic can take a formidable form.
Is corona one of the deadliest pandemics?
Professor Lon Simonson of Roskilde University in Denmark says, "There is a detailed record of the five major flu epidemics of the past 130 years. The longest pandemic lasted five years. At the same time, the remaining four were in existence for two to three years. Each epidemic had an average of two to four waves a year. Simonson said, talking about the corona epidemic, it has entered its second year. The world is in the middle of a third wave, but there is no end to it. In such a situation, it can be said that it is one of the deadliest epidemics in world history.
Will cases of serious infections increase?
According to Simonson, the SARS-CoV-2 virus is not only a new and different type of virus but it has also been found to be highly contagious. Globally, it has killed more than 46 lakh infected people. Experts are calling Corona the deadliest pandemic since the Spanish Flu of 1918. Despite high vaccination rates, large numbers of patients are coming to the fore in countries like the US, UK, Russia, and Israel. It is clear from this that the virus is rapidly catching young people. They also have a higher risk of developing serious infections.
Will the vaccine have to be given repeatedly?
The scientific belief is that most viruses reduce their outbreaks with the passage of time in order to survive. However, according to Simonson, this does not apply in the case of Corona. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is learning the art of fighting against the developed immunity by entering the body of its new victim. Due to this, new forms of the virus are constantly emerging and the epidemic is not taking the name of ending. According to Simonson, Corona will become very similar to the flu in the future. To prevent this, people will have to keep getting 'top-up' of the vaccine.
Is the end of Corona difficult?
Professor Charters of Oxford University says many countries have been successful in overcoming the havoc of Corona by vaccination on a war footing. At the same time, many countries have not yet been able to apply the first dose to most of their population. The charters also say that different countries have different strategies regarding the fight against Corona. Some are expressing confidence in the lockdown to achieve the goal of zero infection, while some have completely unlocked it, citing preparing their population to live with the epidemic. In such a situation, the end of the epidemic seems difficult at the moment.
