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Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

German Institute: Coronavirus Epidemic to Last Two Years  


Tue 17 Mar 2020 | 09:49 PM
Ahmed Moamar

Dr.Lothar Fellier, director of  Robert Koch Federal Institute for the Study of Infectious Diseases, considered that the epidemic of the novel  Coronavirus "COVID-19" will continue for at least two years.

He expected that the first vaccine against the deadly virus may appear in 2021.

He said over a news conference held on Tuesday that the epidemic is developing in consequent waves. That it is certain, he warned.

The health German official inquired: how fast are these waves?,  Will  60% to 70% of the Earth's population contract the virus?

He went on to say that the threats of the virus may extend for some years.

But scientists estimate that threats of the Coronavirus may take two years.

The Director of Robert Koch Institute, which is affiliated with the German Ministry of Health, pointed out that the course of the epidemic's spread depends on a large number of different factors.

He stressed that nothing would be accurate to predict this matter.

Fellier explained that the speed of the epidemic will be greatly influenced by the time of preparing an effective vaccine against the virus. He explained that the sooner we get the vaccine, the more quickly we can stem the spread of the epidemic.

"However, even when the scientists succeed in producing the vaccine, this does not mean vaccinating everyone with it immediately because this is linked to the quantities available for the vaccine."

The German scientist pointed out that starting the production of vaccine doses requires, above all, accurate tests to prove its effectiveness and the seriousness of its side effects.

He added that he is convinced that the vaccine will be ready in the next year.

He expressed hope that the vaccine may be produced within one or two months.

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed, in late January 2020, that the threat posed by the spread of the new type of coronavirus which sprang from the Chinese city of Wuhan, is an emergency for the world.

It calls for necessary measures to be taken at the international level to confront the disease.

In view of the rapid spread of the virus, which has so far reached nearly 150 countries, the international organization classified it on March 11, a general epidemic.

Up to the moment 187,405 cases were recorded in the world. About 7,478 people died and 80,848 cases recovered.

The United States and China confirmed yesterday, Monday, the start of clinical trials of a vaccine against the virus.

On the other hand, the Chinese scientists said they are currently working on developing and installing 8 different vaccines against this strain of the Coronavirus.