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Course of Sars-Cov-2: Scientists fear infection with corona and flu viruses

  • fromPamela Dörhöfer

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Harmless cold corona viruses subside in summer – but are fully back in November. So Sars-CoV-2 could also return – including the flu.

  • Since the beginning of Corona pandemic * many hope that the infection will subside in the warm summer months
  • All viruses then return with new mutations in winter
  • Scientists fear simultaneous infection with the Coronavirus Sars-CoV-2 * and other flu viruses

Since the appearance of the novel Corona virus The question arises as to whether the epidemic will subside in the summer – just as colds become fewer and the flu completely disappears for a few months. The currently falling number of new infections could also be attributed to this, among other things. Ulf Dittmer, director of the Institute for Virology at the University Medical Center Essen, assumes that too SARS-CoV-2 is dependent on seasonal influences. “We see that the reproduction rate is now falling towards the summer in those countries where the ban on contact is not as strict as it is with us,” says the virologist. “We see this seasonal effect in all corona viruses.”

The reasons for this are complex: Corona viruses are viruses with single-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA) instead of double-stranded DNA as genetic material. The RNA is more unstable than the DNA, especially against heat and UV radiation. “Since the viruses fly through the air in droplets, they are easily deactivated by sunlight,” explains Dittmer. Also like higher humidity Corona viruses Not. In addition, the innate immune system in the mouth works less well in cold weather than in warm temperatures.

Corona virus in summer: Sars-CoV-2 could return fully after a break, including new flu viruses

The four well-known, circulating in our latitudes Corona viruses, who are responsible for around 20 to 25 percent of cold infections, usually withdraw in June and only come back when it gets colder, says Dittmer. However, they are not completely gone, but “summer” in people with weakened immune systems. “When it gets colder, they spread again to people with a normally functioning immune system,” explains the virologist.

The flu shows an even stronger seasonal dependency: “It disappears at the end of March and comes back in November”, explains Dittmer, “with the special feature that the influenza viruses move from the northern to the southern hemisphere in spring. When we have peace of mind, people in Australia suffer from the flu. ”

Combination of Sars-CoV-2 and influenza may be particularly dangerous – experts recommend flu shots

They change during the trip around the world Influenza viruses – therefore every year a new one Flu vaccine be developed. “Influenza viruses are particularly keen to mutate and can easily mix with other related influenza viruses,” says Ulf Dittmer. Often, more than one flu virus circulates in one season: That is also the reason why so many people died of influenza in the severe flu season 2018, explains the virologist: “At the Essen Clinic, we treated patients who had two or more infected three different flu viruses at the same time. “

It could also be problematic if people may become infected with influenza and Sars-CoV-2 * in the coming autumn and winter, says Dittmer – which is why one Flu shot more than ever to be recommended.

Scientists sure: Coronavirus Sars-CoV-2 will not go away in summer

Hope that Sars Coronavirus-2 like its predecessor, the one that circulated in 2002/2003 Sars Coronavirus-1However, one cannot go away completely in summer, says the scientist: “Sars-1 is different from the current one Corona virus migrated into the deep airways immediately after infection and therefore always caused serious infections and led to many deaths. But this makes it more difficult for the virus to spread, ”explains Dittmer. “Viruses that are located higher up in the respiratory tract or in both places have it much easier. SARS-CoV-2 is one of them. The virus will come back in November. “

By Pamela Dörhöfer

There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the new type of corona virus. We answer questions about Corona and the lung disease Covid-19. *

* fr.de is part of the nationwide Ippen Digital Network.

Rubric list image: © Getty Images / Science Photo Library

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