In an interview with NHK, a Japanese doctor at the forefront of treatment for the new coronavirus in the United Kingdom, which was the first to experience the threat of the mutant virus, emphasized the importance of controlling the infection before the mutant virus spreads.

Toru Suzuki, a specially appointed professor at the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Tokyo and Professor Toru Suzuki at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, is the head of the Department of Cardiology at a university hospital.



The University of Leicester has one of Europe's leading "Ekmo Centers" that specializes in the treatment of ECMO, a heart-lung machine, and has been one of the bases for responding to the new corona in the United Kingdom. It means that we have accepted.



Professor Suzuki commented on the spread of the variant virus infection in the United Kingdom since December last year, saying, "The number of inpatients in our hospital has doubled. In the UK hospital, we have more than moderate illness to secure a bed. However, there are a large number of seriously ill patients, and the patients died almost every day in the spring of last year and this winter. Many of my colleagues were infected, and the situation was very tense. I said.



Currently, it is said that it is calm because the number of infected people has decreased, but regarding the situation when there were many patients, Professor Suzuki said, "I heard that there were hospitals in the UK that could not provide oxygen. The shortage is more than expected, and it is almost impossible to function as a hospital. The same thing is happening in India now, showing the fear of the new corona virus and the need to secure medical resources. I'm doing it. "



Regarding the infectivity of the mutant virus, "In the UK, despite the lockdown that took place from November to December last year, the flow of people did not decrease sufficiently, so the mutant virus spread. In Japan as well. Unless the flow of people can be changed, the infection situation may worsen. If the lessons of the United Kingdom are to be used, it is important to suppress it before it spreads, "he said.



On top of that, regarding the medical care provision system, "In the fight against the unknown, the new corona, it was necessary for all medical staff to learn medical care and techniques that they were not accustomed to until now. In fact, it was seen that the director-class doctors were re-educated and entered the field again, "he said.



Professor Suzuki said, "The British medical system has undergone an unprecedented organizational change in a week to 10 days in response to an unexpected situation. Japan works very well in the event of a natural disaster. I hope that this new Corona will be overcome. However, it may be necessary to take a response close to an emergency not only in the medical field but also through dialogue with patients and the public. " ..