The director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, assured this Friday that all the hypotheses about the origin of the coronavirus, despite the fact that after the mission of this agency in China it was said that the theory of a generation in the laboratory it had been ruled out.
“I want to confirm that all the hypotheses remain open and require further analysis and study,” Tedros said at a press conference, to point out that the recent mission to China “was not going to find all the answers, but it has provided important information that brings us closer to the knowledge of the origin of the virus “.
The director-general added that the mission, made up of experts from ten countries (including the US, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Russia) will publish a preliminary report of its visit next week, which it will expand on in the following weeks, and will also give a press conference, which complements the one they gave this week in Wuhan (China).
Tedros noted that the mission, which also included experts from the World Food Organization (FAO) and the Organization for Animal Health (OIE), was carried out “under very difficult circumstances,” for which he thanked the members of that group for their efforts.
The vaccinated, possible contagion
In addition, the chief scientist of the WHO, Soumya Swaminathan, warned this Friday at a press conference that some people vaccinated against Covid-19 can still contract the virus, and even if they do not get sick, infect others.
“If you have the vaccine and you contract the disease, the viral load is much lower, so the chances of infecting others may also be lower,” said the Indian expert.
Because of this possibility, and “until we know more, it is important that all people, even if vaccinated, continue to maintain safety measures: use of a mask, frequent hand washing and maintaining a safe distance,” continued Swaminathan.
In most clinical trials, vaccines have been shown to protect against the development of severe forms of the disease, but it is not certain that they will completely prevent infection.
“Our understanding of this is evolving as different studies come out,” explained the scientist.
Studies are also being carried out on immunity after contracting covid-19 since the World Health Organization has received information about people who have been re-infected with any of the new variants.
What is certain, according to Swaminathan, is that after infection antibodies are obtained that last at least six months, and that cellular resistance also develops against possible infected cells, which although it is more difficult to measure, can last for years.
