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When the professor of Microbiology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Anna Papa-Konidari, first met with the new SARS-CoV-2 crown, a short distance from her Laboratory that day, February 26, the Hellenic Society of Iology celebrated the most interesting winter day.
His only problem is the new corona and how healthcare providers and medical staff should act once it appears in Greece.
What a coincidence? “Such,” she replies. “You can write a book about the crown … That day I was at the company meeting (of which she is president) and the laboratory informed me that one of the suspicious samples was probably positive. I quit my job and went to laboratory to see the result. “
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««You are not welcome “(You are not welcome!)exclaimed Mrs. Papa, looking at the indication of the PCR method on the Laboratory computer, confirming “themselves” that the sample Thessaloniki’s wife, who had returned from Milan, Italy, was undoubtedly positive.
“We immediately informed EODY (and the ministry) and returned to the conference room, where I informed delegates that we have the first incident of the new crown in Greece. Everyone was stunned. This coincidence has not happened again (in these circumstances)… ». A few hours later, keynote speakers at the scientific event (infectious disease specialists and microbiologists, who were later called to treat it in AHEPA by all means) went to the AUTh Laboratory to see the first confirmed case of SARS-CoV-2 in Hellas
Seventy-five days later, the Laboratory of the Department of Molecular Diagnosis and Specific Pathogens has investigated more than 8,000 samples from all over northern Greece, identified a large part of all positive samples in the country, and continues to do the “battle” adding findings. valuable. which can help treat the new crown.
“No one can be sure,” Papa told APE-MPE in response to a question about whether the new coronar was circulating in Greece before February 26, when the laboratory he directs located him. “But in general, he adds, from the epidemiology it seems that there were not many incidents in Thessaloniki. That was all and the rest of the family followed, but there did not seem to be much shock. This makes us believe that it should not have been launched … However, this can be seen in a phylogenetic study … “.
However, late last February, detection of cases was more difficult since the flu virus was also present. Its increase peaked in late January and finally stopped circulating in the country in the second week of March. According to Papa, the two viruses coexisted for less than three weeks, but who could … dominate “no one can say that if they don’t see it. They are two independent viruses, said the AUTh professor,” and what matters is seeing if someone is infected by one, how vulnerable are they to the other. ”
Is there another member of the crown circulating in Greece?
The Laboratory (and virus reference center in northern Greece) has recently launched a new study on the circulation of the new crown in Greece. Answering the question of whether another member of SARS-CoV-2 has been found to be circulating or circulating in Greece, Ms. Pappas explains to APE-MPE “that it certainly exists and is expected because we have imported cases from various countries”. From Italy, England … Each importer is a different executive … As he explained, “we are talking about variations of small executives, one is the executive, but they have small changes in their genome. These will be highlighted by a study of phylogenetic analysis and gender geography. It shows how similar the executives are to each other and, according to the bank’s sequences, the genetic information can be correlated with each country. These undiagnosed cases (“orphan cases”, as some like to call them) “with this study we see which country they are related to. This effort is ongoing and will be complemented by a second that will take X-rays of the virus course from the moment in which it was established in Greece and especially at the speed at which it evolved “and evolves, crucial conclusions for the population. However, added Ms. Papa, there did not appear to be a clear difference between the executives here … “
Coronavirus and West Nile virus: what problem will arise?
In the past, a similar study has been conducted for West Nile virus (which is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes) to determine when and when the virus reached the country, whose cases (and deaths) have been reported every summer since 2010. Various areas of Greece.
Given that in a few weeks the country will be in the West Nile virus period, Ms Papa said “there may be a problem with mild cases, that is, those with only one feverish symptom.” There, he added, we will not know if it is a fever caused by the “crown” or the West Nile virus. These are two different conditions: West Nile virus generally infects the nervous system and causes encephalitis or meningitis, whereas coronavirus is more likely to infect the respiratory system … Some mild cases, with only fever, can be a problem. We should check for both (for both the new corona and the West Nile virus) and it may, he hastened to note, be neither of these … “.
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