A US expert warned yesterday that Corona virus may return in seasonal sessions, stressing the urgent need to find a vaccine and effective treatments, while US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to cooperate to develop a vaccine for the disease.
During the White House daily press conference, Anthony Fawcci, director of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, said that the Coruna virus had started to circulate in countries in the southern hemisphere, where winter was around.
He warned that "we must be prepared to face a second round" of the epidemic, adding, "This increases the importance of developing a vaccine, testing it quickly and making it ready and available for the next cycle."
Fauchi hinted that cold weather is more suitable than hot and humid weather for the spread of the virus. Mists of sick people coughing or sneezing remain longer in the open air in cold weather. People’s immunity is weakened in winter.
Viruses decompose faster on hot surfaces, as the protective fatty layer they envelop dries faster.
International efforts
On the other hand, Japan announced that Trump and Abe had agreed - by telephone - to cooperate in combating the virus.
Trump also told the Japanese Prime Minister that he supported the "excellent" decision to postpone the Tokyo Olympics.
China and the United States are conducting two clinical trials of vaccines, but they may not be available on the market for a year or a year and a half.
The US Food and Drug Administration also recently announced new emergency protocols that allow the use of "recovery plasma" extracted from those who have recovered from the virus, as it can contain antibodies, a treatment announced by China last month.
Scientists in several countries are also seeking research for new and existing drugs, such as antimalarials: chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine.