“The virus can never disappear”

The World Health Organization (WHO) emergency aid coordinator is skeptical that the new coronavirus can be eliminated after the rapid spread around the world. Michael Ryan said this on Wednesday night in Geneva.

“This virus can become a home in the population, it may never go away,” he emphasized.

HIV, the virus that triggers immunodeficiency disease, has never disappeared again. In the case of HIV, the world has managed to create medicines and preventive measures so that the virus has lost its horror. “I don’t want to compare diseases, but we have to be realistic,” said Ryan.

There is a small chance of eradicating the new Sars-CoV-2 virus, which can trigger the dangerous Covid-19 lung disease. To do this, a highly effective vaccine had to be found. Furthermore, it had to be manufactured to a sufficient degree and distributed throughout the world. People must also agree to be vaccinated. “Each of these steps is challenging,” said Ryan.

He criticized widespread skepticism about vaccines and the lack of funds for good health systems in many parts of the world. “We have very effective vaccines on this planet that we have not used effectively,” he said, referring to measles. The number of measles cases has increased again for several years.

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