"Declaring a state of emergency in relation to the spread of a coronavirus infection is a sensible solution as it is an infection that is spreading very quickly." This was the comment of today's decision of the National Assembly to introduce a state of emergency in Bulgaria of Academician Dr. Bogdan Petrunov from the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases. The diverse information surrounding the spread of the coronavirus around the world has led us to seek the expertise of the prominent Bulgarian immunologist *.

It is very important to strictly adhere to the recommendations of healthcare professionals in order to limit the spread of the infection, said Academician Petrunov in a special interview with Radio Bulgaria. Precautions will reduce "the amount of viral load - figuratively speaking, instead of ten units of the virus, only one unit will enter the body, which is of great importance for the development of the disease":

"The mortality from this disease is about 3%, depending on the different countries. For example, in Germany, where the healthcare system is very well-organized, it is below 1%, in China it is above 3.7%. In Italy, where the situation is truly tragic, the mortality rate is over 6%. These are all facts that indicate that appropriate measures must be taken to prevent the spread of the infection and the increase in the mortality rate. So far, at the world level, the death toll is below 3%. By comparison, with a flu epidemic, deaths range between 0.5 - 1%."

In the words of Academician Petrunov, this is not a matter of a disease that will destroy humanity, but it will undoubtedly not only have an impact on human health but will also affect the economy of the whole world. The World Bank has made estimates that the losses so far exceed 450 billion. The fact is that they will increase:

"And here for me, the main and the most important thing is the personal discipline and personal hygiene. We should not be reassured, as we Bulgarians often do, that this will not happen to us. Particular attention should be paid to people over 65 years of age suffering from cardiovascular diseases, especially pulmonary diseases, bronchial asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. They are the group most at risk in this case. This is a very serious challenge for those suffering from respiratory-allergic diseases. The virus affects the smallest airways - the alveoli, just at the border, where oxygen is transferred to the bloodstream. The virus has been shown to be able to persist in the epithelial cells of the lung for up to 96 hours, which is a very serious problem. Therefore, damage to the alveoli is really severe and leads to pulmonary insufficiency, also often death. "

Along with enhanced hygiene and precautions, one of  Academician Petrunov's main recommendations to people is to spend "more time outdoors, but not in close contact with other people." It is also important to know that air conditioners and ventilation systems are among the dangerous facilities that contribute to the spread of viruses. Therefore, the filters should be cleaned every two to three days.

Preventive measures also include boosting the immune system with antioxidants and immunostimulators, because there is no cure for the virus so far.

"We must maximize our bodies natural defense mechanisms to an infection," said Academician Petrunov. “There are many high-quality products, the so-called immunostimulants that have been used successfully in Bulgaria for many years. Antioxidants, in turn, suppress the so-called oxidation burst that results from an infection. Therefore, our doctors should recommend the use of these supplements.”

Contrary to claims that a vaccine will be available soon, the immunologist emphasizes that it will take at least two years to create an adequate vaccine. Anti-virus drugs are being actively developed, but they are in the experimental phase, i.e. their effectiveness and, above all, their safety has not been proven. The only sure thing is prevention.

* Academician Dr. Bogdan Petrunov is one of the leading specialists in the field of immunology and allergology in Bulgaria with wide international renown. Long-time director of the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (1993-2010). He is the creator of the first allergy laboratory in Bulgaria, in which more than 200 types of allergenic preparations for the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases were developed and put into practice. He is also the founder of a new scientific field related to the development, study and implementation of polybacterial immunostimulants, which are widely used in clinical practice in Bulgaria and abroad. In 2017 he was awarded by the Bulgarian Medical Association and Patient Organizations with the Award for "Overall Contribution to the Development of Medicine"

English Rossitsa Petcova