21st Century Science of Surviving Viral PANDEMICS Surviving Viral Pandemics

Pandemics, global infections since 1918 due to Influenza, Coronaviruses, HIV and other infectious agents have caused millions of deaths and have been periodic occurrence in the past century. Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses with a positive-sense single-stranded RNA genome and with a nucleocapsid of helical symmetry. There is no confirmed specific treatment that works for every person who has severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS) due to corona viruses at this time. Antiviral broad spectrum drugs like remdesivir and anti-inflammatory immunosuppressive steroids like dexamethasone are appropriate to be given to reduce lung inflammation due to cytokine storm or complement mediated hyper inflammation or blood clots, causing critical organs to fail, but is not effective for everyone. One has to be very careful not to administer immunosuppressive agents just after suspected exposure or infection. Supplemental oxygen or a ventilator has been prescribed when necessary depending on the extent of breathing difficulty or shortness of breath. COVID-19 or Coronavirus 2 (CoV-2), which originated in the city of Wuhan in the Hubei province of central China is similar to the SARS virus which caused the 2003 outbreak in Southern China in appearance. COVID-19 and other pandemic viruses or potentially pandemic enveloped viruses are most likely to be neutralized by viral entry inhibitors, broad spectrum enveloped virus neutralizing compounds, present in 100% pomegranate juice based on global studies on multiple enveloped viruses. Along with travel restrictions to and from epicenters and lock downs, safe distancing both indoors and outdoors frequent hand washing, use of sanitizers, wearing of a mask N95 or one with an ULPA or Hepa filter (ordinary masks will not trap viruses), a dash to the primary care or immediate care physician, daily drinking of a glass of pomegranate juice could be started if exposure is suspected or first symptoms are noticed. The WHO or CDC should be promptly informed so that the tracking of the spread is possible. If the history of COVID-19 is any indications of how this pandemic has spread rapidly by air travel, it is very appropriate that all airports, and entry points by land and sea should screen passengers for temperature elevation using heat sensing digital devices and infrared sensing devices for large groups and prompt quarantine of those found positive for the virus or having symptoms for observation and further action. Wild animals be best left in the wild and all infected mortal remains be best cremated. Bats and Migratory birds such as the ones that spread Influenza H5N1 could be monitored for infections along their intercontinental flight path. Prevention is better than cure and knowledge is power. Following suspicion of an unknown deadly virus lurking in clinics and hospitals as manifested by serious symptoms and inability to rapidly diagnose and characterize the causative agent should be alarming and a reason for concern. Physicians like Dr. Li WenLiang, one of the first few Wuhan doctors should never be considered as false alarm. But instead awaken the world with an urgency of now. Imagine how the world could have responded in a timely manner and contained the virus from spreading out of Wuhan, China like wild fire. Travel restrictions and tracing could have been done much earlier and the world could have prepared to respond just like China did. After the 2003 SARS Coronavirus (CoV-2) pandemic that also originated in China, China was prepared and ready to mobilize an appropriate response without a vaccine and without a widely known and available antiviral. When I gave a talk in 2008 at the Henan Univ., China to the Infectious Disease specialists, on the broad spectrum entry inhibitor compounds in pomegranate juice, I was told that pomegranate juice is considered traditional Chinese Medicine. I have no way of knowing that it was used but China used quarantine, masks, soaps, ventilators well.