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Deputy Prof. Penka Petrova Staff: BNT
Bulgarian scientists continue to work on a vaccine against the coronavirus. The prototype will be ready for the new year, then we will be ready for clinical trials. This was announced to BNT by associate professor Penka Petrova, director of the experimental immunology laboratory of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
According to her, whether the Bulgarian vaccine will be cheaper depends on the production capacity and the extent to which the state will be involved in production. That is why science must be supported regularly, because in the event of a new pandemic we will be able to react appropriately, explained Prof. Asoc. Petrova. Our protein vaccine has been genome-focused and should work against all strains, she added.
The Russian and Astra Zeneca vaccines are currently being tested, and the results are very encouraging for both, the scientist said.
The increase in the number of people infected by coronavirus in our country in recent years is due to relaxed measures, the fact that children went to school. Currently, the virus mutates less frequently than it spreads. We can conclude that it is more contagious, but less deadly, explained Associate Prof. Petrova.
At the moment, Bulgaria is in the orange zone of Europe and we should not worry, these are the July levels, he added.
Scientists continue to study the genomes of the virus and it has been discovered that there are around 1,200 mutations in 12,000 different ones. One in ten viruses has mutated, but the trend is to go to less deadly strains. In Europe and Bulgaria the same strains predominate, explained Associate Prof. Petrova.
According to her, to prevent it, it is advisable to change our diet. Selenium deficiency in the body has been found to have an increased risk of fatal disease. In Bulgaria, however, there are no serious selenium deficiencies, since selenium is found in traditional Bulgarian foods, such as cereals: wheat, oats, rye. Nuts like Brazil nuts and shellfish are highly recommended. Our body also needs antioxidants, so we need to get enough vitamin C and vitamin D.
If one in 10 people has had the coronavirus, it means they have antibodies. It is necessary to monitor the level of antibodies to know how it can be counteracted, according to Prof. Assoc. Petrova.
It turns out that some of the drugs that people with comorbidities constantly take actually cause the coronavirus, so these people are a risk group, he explained.
Sofia residents follow the best measures: masks can be seen everywhere in stores and indoors, said the associate professor.
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