Cindy Prince, an epidemiologist at the University of Florida, Once told me COVID-19 is a “behavioral disease.” This meant that people who worked from home, or who generally stayed away from others, had a much lower risk of infection. This is because coronavirus is spread from person to person through coughing, sneezing or talking. This is part of the reason why remote places where people frequently go – like Antarctica – have so far been able to avoid its deadly grip.
Unfortunately, the icy southern continent is no longer untouched by epidemics.
Last week, Chilean officials confirmed that the novel coronavirus had appeared in Antarctica, meaning it now infects humans on every continent on Earth. According to Wall Street Journal, 26 Army personnel and 10 civilians who are contractors for the research company General Bernardo O’Higgins Requelme’s company are infected. All have been moved to the Chilean city of Punta Arenas where they are being separated and are being monitored. As of December 22, none of the infected people have severe symptoms.
According to BBC News, On November 27, 2020, the naval ship Sergeanto Aldia arrived at the Antarctic Research Station. Prior to departure, everyone on board was tested for nasal-swab PCR COVID-19 and found negative results. He returned to Chile on December 10, when some parts of the crew disembarked from the ship, while some members began to develop symptoms. On December 14, two people tested positive. In light of this, each crew member on board had to be re-examined and segregated. But while this was happening in Chile, people at the Antarctic base in Chile developed COVID-19 symptoms.
So, before departure, when everyone was tested, how did the novel coronavirus make it to such a remote location? While the investigation is still ongoing, immediately available links can be found there.
“My guess – and that’s it – is that the original infection occurred before departure, or before boarding a ship or aircraft during a transition to the station,” said Arctic expert Alan Hemings. Euronews. “Once a single person at the station is infected, the proximity of parts and proximity will probably favor its widespread spread.”
Could it be that the spread happened on a ship? At the beginning of the epidemic, cruise ships were the mainstay Coronavirus spreading vector. Indeed, the main conditions for the spread of coronavirus near the vessel are.
However, it is strange that everyone was tested before the trip and found negative results, which can speak to the errors inherent in the test.
According to one A study by Johns Hopkins researchers, If a coronavirus-positive patient is diagnosed too early during an infection, it results in a false negative test. The state health department recommends that one reason asymptomatic people who think they are at risk for COVID-19 be tested five to seven days after exposure.
“A negative test result means that you did not have Covid-19 at the time of the test or that your samples were collected too early,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. “If you test negative for COVID-19, you may not have been infected at the time your sample was collected; this does not mean you will not get sick.”
In that sense, the Antarctic outbreak could be similar to the White House outbreak, in that it exposes the shortcomings of our testing technology. After President Donald Trump tested positive, many people close to him initially tested negative after the revelation, then a few days later finally tested positive. It can take days for a person to be exposed to the virus to bring those symptoms or test positive.
Although Antarctica is now plagued by epidemics, there are other places in the world where epidemics are under control and epidemics are a thing of the past. In New Zealand, this The coronavirus has been removed. Like BuzzFeed As reported recently, life has returned to normal in parts of Australia, Australia, South Korea, Taiwan, China and Thailand.
The most surprising aspect of the outbreak of Antarctica is how it signifies the incredible viral spread of the virus. The continent is heavily populated by temporary scientists and military personnel, and is a symbol of isolation, stress, and limited resources. Yet amid the epidemic, the inhabitants of Antarctica had more freedom of movement and interaction than the rest of the world. Said a field guide AP News In September: “In general, the freedoms granted at the height of lockdowns in the UK are more extensive; we can ski, socialize in general, use the gym, for all reasons.”
Since research is based in Antarctica, the outbreak is unlikely to spread to other people.
U.S. A spokesman for the National Science Foundation (NSF) said: “Employees at the U.S. Antarctic Program Stations have no contact with Chilean stations or employees living there.” Told CBS News. “The NSF is committed to not exchanging personnel or accepting tourists at USAP stations.”
