Good day,
The
below “Dear Colleague” email came to me yesterday…maybe you got it too as
it’s gone viral in the last week or so
It’s
from a pathologist/molecular virologist, James Robb, MD FCAP, who has been studying the
corona virus since the 70s. I verified that he is a real person and in deed
wrote the letter for his family and friends but then it got shared via social media,
causing it to go viral.
Here’s
more about him:
And
verification from “Snopes” that he did write it and his comment on zinc as a
possible prophylactic measure:
Regardless
of his warnings and guidance, there is still no need for hysteria; instead just
calm, prudent, diligent protective action, like we would do during any flu
season. He gives some good advice below.
Here’s
his letter:
Dear
Colleagues, as some of you may recall, when I was a professor of pathology at
the University of California San Diego, I was one of the first molecular
virologists in the world to work on coronaviruses (the 1970s). I was the first
to demonstrate the number of genes the virus contained. Since then, I have kept
up with the coronavirus field and its multiple clinical transfers into the
human population (e.g., SARS, MERS), from different animal sources.
The
current projections for its expansion in the US are only probable, due to
continued insufficient worldwide data, but it is most likely to be widespread
in the US by mid to late March and April.
Here
is what I have done and the precautions that I take and will take. These are
the same precautions I currently use during our influenza seasons, except for
the mask and gloves:
1) NO
HANDSHAKING! Use a fist bump, slight bow, elbow bump, etc.
2)
Use ONLY your knuckle to touch light switches. elevator buttons, etc.. Lift the
gasoline dispenser with a paper towel or use a disposable glove.
3)
Open doors with your closed fist or hip - do not grasp the handle with your
hand, unless there is no other way to open the door. Especially important on
bathroom and post office/commercial doors.
4)
Use disinfectant wipes at the stores when they are available, including wiping
the handle and child seat in grocery carts.
5)
Wash your hands with soap for 10-20 seconds and/or use a greater than 60%
alcohol-based hand sanitizer whenever you return home from ANY activity that
involves locations where other people have been.
6)
Keep a bottle of sanitizer available at each of your home's entrances. AND in
your car for use after getting gas or touching other contaminated objects when
you can't immediately wash your hands.
7) If
possible, cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue and discard. Use your elbow
only if you have to. The clothing on your elbow will contain infectious virus
that can be passed on for up to a week or more!
What
I have stocked in preparation for the pandemic spread to the US:
1)
Latex or nitrile latex disposable gloves for use when going shopping, using the
gasoline pump, and all other outside activity when you come in contact with
contaminated areas. Note: This virus is spread in large droplets by coughing
and sneezing. This means that the air will not infect you! BUT all the surfaces
where these droplets land are infectious for about a week on average -
everything that is associated with infected people will be contaminated and
potentially infectious. The virus is on surfaces and you will not be infected
unless your unprotected face is directly coughed or sneezed upon. This virus
only has cell receptors for lung cells (it only infects your lungs) The only
way for the virus to infect you is through your nose or mouth via your hands or
an infected cough or sneeze onto or into your nose or mouth.
2)
Stock up now with disposable surgical masks and use them to prevent you from
touching your nose and/or mouth (We touch our nose/mouth 90X/day without
knowing it!). This is the only way this virus can infect you - it is
lung-specific. The mask will not prevent the virus in a direct sneeze from
getting into your nose or mouth - it is only to keep you from touching your
nose or mouth.
3)
Stock up now with hand sanitizers and latex/nitrile gloves (get the appropriate
sizes for your family). The hand sanitizers must be alcohol-based and greater
than 60% alcohol to be effective.
4)
Stock up now with zinc lozenges. These lozenges have been proven to be
effective in blocking coronavirus (and most other viruses) from multiplying in
your throat and nasopharynx. Use as directed several times each day when you
begin to feel ANY "cold-like" symptoms beginning. It is best to lie
down and let the lozenge dissolve in the back of your throat and nasopharynx.
Cold-Eeze lozenges is one brand available, but there are other brands
available.
I, as
many others do, hope that this pandemic will be reasonably contained, BUT I
personally do not think it will be. Humans have never seen this
snake-associated virus before and have no internal defense against it.
Tremendous worldwide efforts are being made to understand the molecular and
clinical virology of this virus. Unbelievable molecular knowledge about the
genomics, structure, and virulence of this virus has already been achieved.
BUT, there will be NO drugs or vaccines available this year to protect us or
limit the infection within us. Only symptomatic support is available.
I
hope these personal thoughts will be helpful during this potentially
catastrophic pandemic. You are welcome to share this email.
Good
luck to all of us! Jim
James
Robb, MD FCAP
All the best, Joseph Giove and the Common Passion Core Team www.CommonPassion.org
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