Beijing News (Reporter Dai Xuan) At 4 pm on July 23, Pang Xinghuo, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, walked into the lobby of the Beijing New Crown Epidemic Prevention and Control Press Conference to give a lecture on the 108th "Spark Story"—— She hopes this is the last time.
Having worked on the disease control front for 37 years, Pang Xinghuo did not expect that he would become popular in this way. In her mind, the hero of the war against the epidemic is every Beijing citizen who cooperates and implements the epidemic prevention measures. On July 24, Pang Xinghuo accepted an exclusive interview with the Beijing News, telling Beijing's response ideas and gains in the three rounds of the epidemic.
Pang Xinghuo, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, accepted an exclusive interview with a reporter from the Beijing News. Photography/Beijing News reporter Wang Jianing
Talk about the new crown
The autumn and winter deployment has started to monitor influenza-like cases and conduct new crown screening at the same time
The Beijing News: Beijing’s "two drops to three" for the second time, has work been easier recently?
Pang Xinghuo: Because there are no new cases, emergency work related to the new crown epidemic has been significantly reduced, but other work has not stopped.
On the one hand, new coronary pneumonia is still the focus of prevention and control. As everyone’s life returns to normal and mobility increases, the pressure for disease control is actually increasing because the risk of transmission increases. Once a case occurs, the path will be more complicated, and our strings will be stretched. Tighter. On the other hand, other work is also restarting. After all, the new crown is only one type of infectious disease. Summer is still the season of high incidence of intestinal infectious diseases such as Noro. Autumn and winter are approaching. We must also prepare for influenza and deploy vaccination in advance. It is necessary to consider how to deal with the challenges at that time if the new crown and influenza strike together.
Beijing News: The autumn and winter flu season is approaching. Some experts worry that the new crown may make a comeback. How to deal with possible challenges?
Pang Xinghuo: We have already started to make plans. In response to influenza, we must determine the plan and strategy for vaccination this year, start bidding when it is finalized, and strengthen the monitoring of people and pathogens.
This year due to the new crown epidemic, the surveillance of cases will be different. Influenza and new crown pneumonia are respiratory diseases. Patients may have symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and cough. Coronavirus is also easy to spread in autumn and winter. In view of these characteristics, we are While monitoring influenza-like cases, nucleic acid testing for the new coronavirus will also be included, and both possibilities are considered. We will also increase the intensity of popular science publicity, so that everyone will tighten this string in advance.
Beijing News: Can the testing capabilities keep up?
Pang Xinghuo: After this new cluster of epidemics, Beijing has rapidly improved its detection capabilities. Up to now, the daily detection volume can reach 50,000, and various hospitals are constantly applying for nucleic acid testing. We will continue to maintain this level of testing, and will continue to provide due inspection and voluntary inspection services.
Beijing News: How do you evaluate Beijing's response to the epidemic in the past six months?
Pang Xinghuo: We worked very hard and managed to control the epidemic in the shortest time, especially this new round of incidents. We quickly locked the "epicenter". The number and time of the disease were within the pre-determination. It can be said that the task was successfully completed. Not ashamed of Beijing. Of course, this is the success of Beijing as a whole. It is not only the contribution of disease control, but the active participation of various departments and the high degree of cooperation from the citizens are indispensable. I think all Beijing residents should be praised.
Beijing News: Beijing has experienced three waves of epidemics before and after. What are the differences and what experience has been accumulated?
Pang Xinghuo: The source of the infection is different, and the focus of our response is also different. The initial wave of the epidemic mainly originated from Wuhan. This is the first time that we have been in short-hand with the new crown and established a series of response mechanisms and models. The second time was the overseas import. We asked us to check the entry gate. The more difficult thing was the group of people who entered the country. This brought a lot of pressure on the transfer and treatment. For this reason, the first entry point and Xiaotangshan Hospital were opened. If the number of landing flights increases in the future, we can make a more complete plan. The third time is a newly-occurring cluster epidemic. This is a sudden cluster epidemic, and it is such a large farmer’s market. The radiation range cannot be imagined. The shortest time is to find the source of infection and determine the different risk levels. This is the experience gained this time.
Few other cities have experienced so many rounds of epidemics like Beijing, and each round is different. We have also accumulated a lot of experience from it, time after time, the people’s awareness of prevention and control has also increased, and their confidence in the government has also increased.
Beijing News: Have you gained some new ideas for disease prevention and control?
Pang Xinghuo: There are still articles to be done for precise prevention and control. In the latest epidemic, we have divided different risks and control levels from high to low. For example, Xinfadi beef and mutton trading floor is the core first risk, and Xinfadi employees are the second level who come to the market to shop. People are on the third floor, and the fourth floor has been visited. There is no one size fits all by requiring them to concentrate on isolation, close management, and home observation.
The delineation of risk areas has also been refined from districts to streets to reduce the scope of spread, and do our best not to affect the production and life of urban residents. In the future, according to the assessment situation, it may be refined to a community or even a door, and the scope of management and control will be reduced as much as possible. We will gradually seek such a working model to balance epidemic prevention and control with the resumption of work and production, and reduce the impact on people's normal life. influences.
Beijing News: Some experts say that you should not expect "zero growth" in cases, as long as you can control it. What do you think of the epidemic prevention and control situation and challenges in Beijing?
Pang Xinghuo: I have always said that our goal is to maintain zero growth as much as possible, but zero growth does not mean zero risk. Other provinces, other countries, and epidemics have occurred. Beijing has also experienced a comeback after 56 days without new cases. The new outbreak in Beijing has found the source of the infection. It can be said that it is completely under control, but it has not been completely released.
The resumption of work and production means that the risk of the spread of the epidemic has increased, because more people gather and opportunities for contact. We dare not relax, we have to keep our eyes open to monitor and discover.
Residents should also have this awareness and be aware of the risks in life. For example, when gatherings, ensure that the participating members are healthy, keep a safe distance, wear masks, and do not touch the eyes and mouth indiscriminately after touching public goods and the environment. Don't go to work and seek medical attention early. With this awareness, the risk of disease transmission is even smaller.
As of July 23, Pang Xinghuo has participated in 108 Beijing epidemic prevention and control conferences. Photography/Beijing News reporter Li Kaixiang
Talk about publishing
Participated in 108 press conferences, hoping that the public can listen to the "broken thoughts"
Beijing News: You are now popular. Some people say that you are the president of the "Spark Story Club". Some people call you "a woman who has gone through a hundred conferences." Did you know?
Pang Xinghuo: I know that when I go out to park now, some citizens who don't know greet me, saying that Director Pang pays attention to the body.
Beijing News: Why did you decide that you should mainly undertake the task of news release?
Pang Xinghuo: I am mainly in charge of the prevention and control of infectious diseases. All the information related to the new crown epidemic will be summarized here first. In previous years, I will also participate in the release of infectious disease related information in the institute, which is more appropriate from the perspective of business.
Beijing News: Beijing’s epidemic prevention and control conferences have reached 160. How many have you attended?
Pang Xinghuo: My colleagues counted, I went to 108 games. At first, I never thought it would last so long.
Beijing News: After attending so many press conferences, what changes have you made in your status?
Pang Xinghuo: The changes are still quite big. In fact, I am not very comfortable with the camera. With "long guns and short guns" in front of me, I will be nervous and I am used to it now.
In the past few months, I have been constantly learning and adjusting. I used to think that my major is disease control, not a host, and I don’t care too much about the details of pronunciation and speaking speed. But when I went to the press conference, I represented the image of disease control, so even if I was very busy and tired, I would try my best to pay attention to my appearance and state, preview the release manuscript at hand, check the pronunciation of the words I don’t know, and when I release it Make sure to speak clearly and so on. Sometimes there are some verbal errors, but netizens are very tolerant, which touches me a lot.
Beijing News: As an expert, you may pay more attention to professional and practical issues. What do you think about participating in the press conference? Do you think it takes too much energy?
Pang Xinghuo: In this special period, it is very important to keep information smooth and transparent between professional institutions and the general public. When the epidemic is coming, everyone will feel anxious and even panic. They are eager to know what environment they are in. Therefore, there have been various folk messages on the Internet, but these messages are indistinguishable from the truth and will only make the public more uneasy.
I went to the press conference. On the one hand, I wanted to convey real information to the public, hoping that everyone would not be gullible about rumors; on the other hand, I also hope to give you some prevention and control guidelines.
The epidemic is coming, and disease control is ahead, but disease control alone is far from enough. Everyone is a member of prevention and control and has their own rules and responsibilities to abide by. Wearing masks, washing hands frequently, and gathering less. These sounds simple, everyone will say, but it is difficult to implement meticulously in life. With the help of some representative stories, I have repeatedly emphasized these points, hoping that more people can remember and practice them. I think that using the form of press conferences to improve the public's health literacy is as important as professional work such as circulation, testing, and screening.
Talk about occupation
There is no substitute for the value of the job "strayed into" the field of public health
Beijing News: Why did you choose to work in the public health industry?
Pang Xinghuo: I wanted to be a doctor, but I got into this business by mistake, but I did it for most of my life.
Beijing News: Many people say that public health is a hard industry, tired, and the treatment is average. What do you think of this job? Have you ever thought about changing careers?
Pang Xinghuo: I never thought about changing careers. This is already part of my life. It seems that I was born for this. I am a very extroverted person, suitable for people-related work, disease control, in line with my nature. I also recognize the value of this profession. As you said, this is indeed not a job that can make you rich, but it can bring health to many people. This value is irreplaceable.
The CDC makes a good suggestion, once adopted, it can affect thousands of people. For example, pneumonia is a disease that seriously affects the health of the elderly. We have been pushing for vaccination against pneumonia for the elderly. It finally landed the year before. The elderly in Beijing can get the pneumonia vaccination for free. I am very happy. Everyone thinks that influenza is a common disease, but in high-risk groups, influenza can cause a series of serious problems, causing severe damage to individuals and families. Influenza vaccination can save many people from this pain. From 2008 to now, Beijing has been vaccinating the elderly and primary and secondary school students for free. The proposal and implementation of these policies to benefit the people is also part of the work of disease control.
Beijing News: Is the new crown epidemic the most serious public health incident you have experienced since your career?
Pang Xinghuo: Yes, SARS did not spread to such a large area and lasted for such a long time. There are some measures that have never been taken before, such as the "closure of the city" in Wuhan. As soon as the new crown comes, everyone has seen the power of infectious diseases, which can kill people and shut down social and economic operations. The impact is no less than war.
Beijing News: You were on the front line during SARS. What was the situation at that time?
Pang Xinghuo: There was a feeling that the sky was about to collapse. I have never seen such an empty Beijing city. There is no one on the road. It takes ten minutes to go from the CDC to the Beijing Municipal Government. We go home very late every day, there is no one on the road, I am afraid, thinking about who is going to rob me, I said I was involved in SARS.
Once, we went to the Beijing Hotel to prepare a room for a foreign leader who was about to visit our country. In a huge hotel, there was not a single guest, and it was dark. The sight was terrible. I was at the headquarters of the Health Bureau, and I received calls from hospitals and patients' requests for help every day. In the early stage, there were a lot of patients. The entire city seems to be shut down, and Beijingers are also discriminated against wherever they go.
This time the new crown is coming fiercely, much worse than SARS, but I don't feel helpless. On the one hand, I have been working in disease control for so many years and have experienced storms; on the other hand, the government has paid more and more attention to public health and established a mature response system over the past few decades.
Beijing News: What specifically made you feel better?
Pang Xinghuo: The response model is becoming more and more perfect, orderly and scientific. Moreover, under the leadership of the government, various departments cooperate with the participation of the whole society. It can be said that although challenges have always existed, we are becoming more and more comfortable.
Human scientific and technological progress has also played a huge role in the fight against infectious diseases. Over the years, there have been more detection methods and the detection speed has accelerated. The complete gene sequence of the new coronavirus will be available soon, and many departments will work together to develop virus detection methods and reagents. These are the basis for precise prevention and control in the later stage. The technical conditions and capabilities of SARS are far inferior to the current ones.
Beijing News: In the 37 years you have been in business, what has been the biggest change in public health in the entire society?
Pang Xinghuo: The scale of infectious diseases has dropped significantly. It almost makes people forget the existence of the CDC. Many people heard about the disease control and thought they were vaccinated. However, this is how the work of disease control is. The better the prevention and control, the lower the sense of existence. This is the original intention of our business.
Talk about viruses
Viruses are human’s old opponents. Face them when they come, don’t be afraid
Beijing News: Will the new crown coexist with humans from now on, just like the flu?
Pang Xinghuo: We are paying close attention. After all, it hasn’t been long since the new crown appeared. Whether the future will completely disappear like SARS or become a seasonal epidemic like influenza A. It’s hard to draw conclusions now.
The Beijing News: From the Black Death, the Spanish flu, to SARS, H7N9, and the new crown, the development of human society to this day seems to have not been able to get rid of the shadow of the virus. As a public health expert, what do you think?
Pang Xinghuo: The earth we live in has a very complicated environment. If people want to eat and drink, they have to communicate with the outside world. After the economy develops, the scope of communication is greater. There are various pathogens in the outside world. Viruses are one of them. .
Viruses are very powerful. There will be the resurgence of old viruses and the emergence of new viruses. Old opponents you feel familiar with will continue to mutate. This is the case with influenza, and the same is true for the new crown. This is a complex aspect of the world’s organisms. This challenge is long-term. , Complex and full of uncertainty, but this is how human beings have survived continuously fighting against various external factors.
The history of human civilization is a history of fighting against viruses. Sometimes we have to overcome and sometimes we must coexist with each other. In this process, humans have acquired drugs, vaccines, new testing methods, better health literacy, and weapons are increasing. The more, the more powerful the ability to fight the virus.
Beijing News: You are the group of people closest to the virus. If others want to avoid it, you have to meet it. Are you afraid?
Pang Xinghuo: The root of fear is not self-confidence, feeling weak and inadequate. As professionals, we should not be afraid. How can we deal with it if we are afraid? Face the virus when it comes, try to control it, and we have dealt with a lot of sudden epidemics. We are confident, and after fighting again and again, we will continue to improve our ability and accumulate experience, and we will become more and more confident.
Beijing News reporter Dai Xuan, photographer Wang Jianing