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V.Usonis, a professor at the Clinic for Childhood Diseases of the Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine and a consultant to the Children’s Hospital Pediatric Center, participated in a meeting of the opposition conservative faction in Seimas on Tuesday.
After a meeting with politicians, journalists were asked if the second wave of COVID-19 had already started, and V. Usonis explained that it was a matter of definition.
“Is it already as important as we will call it, or the second wave, or the continuation of the first wave? The fact is that in the summer months we had a smaller number of new diseases, now it is increasing and, of course, we have to do something more, more intensive, “he says.
Photo by Sigismund Gedvila / 15min / Vytautas Usonis
The fact is that in the summer months we had a smaller number of new cases, now it is increasing and, of course, we have to do something else, more intense.
V.Usonis said that to stop the spread of the coronavirus, it is first necessary to implement simple measures that work and work well, although they are difficult for the public to accept.
“It just came to our knowledge then. And that means social distance, we already have a term, distance, masks, communication time.” These are simple measures that are inconvenient for us, but are necessary to be safe for each of us as individuals first, and so that our society is safe, “emphasized the professor.
Who should be considered a contact person?
Regarding COVID-19, residents have questions about who should be considered a contact person. According to the professor, people who have been close and close to a person infected with coronavirus for a long time and close enough should be considered.
“It just came to our attention then. But she is like that. When we talk about an infectious disease, we say what is the distance, what is the time for the person who was in contact,” he said.
Julius Kalinskas / 15 min photo / “Hook” culture bar
At the same time, the professor pointed out that there is a lack of information in the public about when people who have been in contact with a coronavirus should be tested.
“Taking the survey too early can be misleading. There are deadlines for when the investigation should be done, what the investigation should be. With us, the myth of such rapid tests floats here, and sometimes the public doesn’t imagine at all the tests that they would like to give it to the professionals. And very often people do not understand why the research is not delivered to them now, immediately, although it is not necessary to deliver the research, “commented V.Usonis.
Tomas Markelevičius / 15min photo / COVID-19 point in Radviliškis
Population survey questions
Rapid tests (drawing blood from a finger, not a sample from the nasopharynx), the acquisition of which is clarified by the police, will examine teachers, social workers, police officers, further – employees of state enterprises, institutions, cultural institutions.
V.Usonis explained that when designating an investigation, the objective, the tasks and the means are important.
He said he did not hear an explanation as to why they were purchased in March when the rapid tests were purchased.
“Perhaps the word ‘fast’ has played a misleading role here because it is not the point – we will take the test quickly or take it more slowly. What we want to know after taking this test is very important. More importantly, what will we do if we get one result or another. It is really very unfortunate, but the information about the purpose for which the antibody tests were bought in March, when the number of cases in Lithuania was very small, the number of people with antibodies was very small, we are simply missing, ”he said. the teacher.
K dedainiai fair photo / Rapid tests
Speaking about the quality of the rapid tests, V.Usonis claimed that information was published in the media that had been verified at the Vilnius University Life Sciences Center.
“Those quick tests correspond to the situation for which they are made. And they are made for the detection of antibodies. Antibodies are produced in the body of an infected person, with detectable levels of antibodies after about two weeks. In other words, these tests are not suitable for a quick diagnosis. And these tests could be used for two purposes: either to assess the prevalence of infection in society based on the presence of antibodies for epidemiological studies, because antibodies persist significantly longer than viral structures, or to assess human immunity – yes a person with antibodies is safe. Unfortunately, we did not hear any of these clearly stated goals. (…) So far we do not see the role of rapid tests in the management of the situation and the management of this epidemiological process ”, emphasized the doctor.
These tests could be used for two purposes: either to assess the prevalence of infection in the community based on the presence of antibodies for epidemiological studies, or to assess human immunity – whether a person with antibodies is safe.
A few weeks ago, data from a population study on coronavirus transmission were presented.
A study of more than 3,000 people found that less than 3 percent of the population had this infection.
V.Usonis said he has more information about the vaccine study in the Oxford or American group than about the national study conducted.
“Of course, when there is no information, many questions arise as to whether a population study can be called a study, of which a fifth of the population was rejected immediately, even when planning the study, children, for example. (… ) I couldn’t find detailed information, publications, reports. Maybe it is, maybe they will publish it. So it’s difficult to comment, “said the professor.
Photo by Julius Kalinskas / 15min / Visitors to the shopping center
According to V.Usonis, the most important question is what’s next.
“We conducted a study, what comes next, based on the data from this study? Where do we go next? Once again, we once again lack that scientific analysis and scientific dialogue in this COVID-19 situation, “said the doctor.
We conducted a study, what’s next, based on the data from this study? Where do we go next?
Lack of cooperation
During the meeting of the Lithuanian National Christian Democratic Union of the Seimas, V.Usonis mentioned that science is not sufficiently involved in the decision-making process on controlling the spread of the coronavirus.
According to the professor, there are suggestions, for example, from the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences that an independent group of qualified and competent scientists, perhaps, not only from Lithuania, could come together to carry out analytical work, to provide scientific recommendations. .
In addition, strategic recommendations, for example, on the training of specialists.
Žygimantas Gedvila / 15min photo / Laboratory of the VU Life Sciences Center
“Everyone here talks about the lack of epidemiologists. In fact, there is a great shortage of specialists in the epidemiology of communicable diseases and epidemiology of infectious diseases in Lithuania and they certainly do not appear in a day. Its preparation needs to be planned, it is a process of several years. Now we are talking about new areas, about medical mathematics or mathematical epidemiology, modeling epidemiology, very modern things. What is beginning to spread in several countries, we also have beginnings in Lithuania: in the universities of Vilnius and Kaunas. Again, these are the strategic things that we must discuss, debate and propose to implement ”, explained V. Usonis.
In fact, there is a great shortage of specialists in the epidemiology of communicable diseases and epidemiology of infectious diseases in Lithuania and they certainly do not appear in a day.
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