THE CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC

By H.A.Aponso, Emeritus Professor of Paediatrics,  University of Peradeniya 

Nostradamus wrote this prophecy in the year 1551 ( the interpretation is what is seen within brackets) There will be a twin year ( 2020 ) from which will arise a Queen (Corona) who will come from  the East ( China ) and who will spread a plague (virus ) in the darkness of the night, and on a country with 7 hills (Italy) and will transfer the twilight of men into dust (death to destroy and ruin the world. It will be the end of the world economy or your Kingdom.  – sent by DrS.B.Dhanapala
Corona Virus Infection was first reported on 31st December 2019 from Wuhan, China. It is an infection much more severe than SARS, and  carries a high mortality. It has now spread world-wide  -.apandemic rattling people everywhere.

During previous outbreaks of (SARS), human-to-human transmission occurred through droplets, and contact, suggesting that the transmission mode of the Corona virus too can be similar. Initially, the disease was reported to be spread from animal to human but now human to human as well. The first confirmed case of CV infected person in Sri Lanka was reported on 27th January 2020. The patient was a Chinese national who came to SL on Jan 9th, ‘20 as a tourist. As at April 18, SL has reported 244 positive contacts / patients – an approximate increase of 222 in 38 days; as at today (April 25th), the number of cases is 420. The statistics for the other countries that are listed has also changed alarmingly. The mortality rates referred to in the Table below are indicated as Mortality(i) which is the number of deaths per 100,000 cases, and Mortality(ii) which is the number of deaths per 100,000 population.

(the data in the Table above is as at April 18)  Note: Countries listed by descending order of Population  Source: Google Search

Strict Quarantine measures have now been introduced throughout the country. Those badly affected are the elderly and those with lung disease, heart disease, and Diabetes Mellitus.Clinical Features and Management  The incubation period is reported to be 2-14 days. The most common symptoms at the onset of the illness are fever, cough, and muscle pain and fatigue. Less common symptoms are sputum production, headache,  haemoptysis (coughing out blood), and diarrhea. More than half of patients developed dyspnoea (difficulty in breathing). These are symptoms of pneumonia. The basic principles to reduce the general risk of transmission of acute respiratory infections include the following: • Social Physical Distancing ; it is advocated that the distance that personsshould be from each other –e.g..at any gathering -  should be at least one metre apart •Avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections • Wearing a face mask, especially by health care providers, and those visiting medical clinics  • Frequent hand-washing, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment, with soap and water over 20 seconds; those in close  touch with contacts should use a alcohol- based gel for hand sterilising • Gargle with salt water frequently. • Refrain from touching your face, mouth, eyes • Refrain from handling cash (coins or notes), touching the handle of doors, and using the baskets/carts provided at shops • Instead of shaking hands (or a hug or kiss) to greet people adopt the Oriental style of “Ayubowan” - namaskaram   • Avoid unprotected contact with farm or wild animals.  • If you cannot stop yourself from coughing or sneezing in public, do so into a tissue (and dispose of it in a hygienic way) or into your bent elbow; not using a handkerchief •  Place cut slices of onions (the red small or the big ones) spread out at home or work; these attract the corona as well as other viruses and destroy them  • Perunkayam (Asafoetida) small packets tied in parts of the body (or hung round the neck), are claimed to prevent virus infections, including Corona virus. 

Treat the fever with paracetamol; on no condition should drugs such as Ibuprofen be given. Take plenty of fluids – water, coconut water, etc. Those whose condition is worsening should be admitted to the island-wide state hospitals that have all special facilities ( such as Ventilaters)  It is reported that a vaccine has been developed; this would perhaps take a year to be made available for public use. It is reported that : * A controlled clinical study conducted by doctors in France shows that a combination of Hydroxychloroquine and Azythromycin cures 100% of  patients within 6 days of treatment * Japan has been successfully treating patients with a drug – Avigan  * WHO has conducted a trial which is claimed to be successful. All thesedrugs and vaccines undergoing trials should be used only under the advice of a doctor.  

What is the Corona/ Covid-19 Virus Really Teaching us? by Bill Gates
 I’m a strong believer that there is a spiritual purpose behind everything that happens, whether that  is what we perceive as being good or being bad. 
As I meditate on this, I want to share with you what I feel the Corona/ Covid-19 virus is doing to us:
1) It is reminding us that we are all equal, regardless of our culture, religion, occupation, financial situation or how famous we are. This disease treats us all equally, perhaps we should to. If you don’t believe me, just ask Tom Hanks.
2) It is reminding us that we are all connected and something that affects one person has an effect on another. It is reminding us that the false borders that we have put up have little value as this virus does not need a passport. It is reminding us, by oppressing us for a short time, of those in this world whose whole life is spent in oppression.

3) It is reminding us of how precious our health is and how we have moved to neglect it through eating nutrient poor manufactured food & drinking water that is contaminated with chemicals upon chemicals.  If we don’t look after our health, we will, of course, get sick.

4) It is reminding us of the shortness of life and of what is most important for us to do, which is to help each other, especially those who are old or sick. Our purpose is not to buy toilet roll.

5) It is reminding us of how materialistic our society has become and how, when in times of difficulty, we remember that it’s the essentials that we need (food, water, medicine) as opposed to the luxuries that we sometimes unnecessarily give value to.

6) It is reminding us how important our family and home life is and how much we have neglected this. It is forcing us back into our houses so we can rebuild them into our home & strengthen our family unit.

7) It is reminding us that our true work is not our job, that is what we do, not what we were created to do.
Our true work is to look after each other, to protect each other and to be of benefit to one another.

8) It is reminding us to keep our egos in check. It is reminding us that no matter how great we think we are or how great others think we are, a virus can bring our world to a standstill.

9) It is reminding us that the power of freewill is in our hands. We can choose to cooperate and help each other, to share, to give, to help and to support each other or we can choose to be selfish, to hoard, to look after only our self. Indeed, it is difficulties that bring out our true colors.]

10) It is reminding us that we can be patient, or we can panic. We can either understand that this type of situation has happened many times before in history and will pass, or we can panic and see it as the end of the world and, consequently, cause ourselves more harm than good.

11) It is reminding us that this can either be an end or a new beginning. This can be a time of reflection and understanding, where we learn from our mistakes, or it can be the start of a cycle which will continue until we finally learn the lesson we are meant to.

12) It is reminding us that this Earth is sick. It is reminding us that we need to look at the rate of  deforestation just as urgently as we look at the speed at which toilet rolls are disappearing off of shelves. We are sick because our home is sick. 

13) It is reminding us that after every difficulty, there is always ease. Life is cyclical, and this is just a phase in this great cycle. We do not need to panic; this too shall pass.

14) Whereas many see the Corona/ Covid-19 virus as a great disaster, I prefer to see it as a great corrector.

It is sent to remind us of the important lessons that we seem to have forgotten and it is up to us if we will learn them or not.    – sent by DrS.B.Dhapala

Dr. Li Wenliang, China's hero doctor who was punished for telling the truth about Corona Virus and later died due to the same disease, had documented casefiles for research purposes and had in the casefiles proposed a cure that would significantly decrease the impact of the COVID - 19 Virus on the human body. The chemical *Methylxanthine*, *Theobromine* and *Theophylline* stimulate compounds that can ward off these virus in a human with atleast an average immune system. Whats more shocking is that these complex words that were so difficult for people in China to understand is actually called “Tea” in India, YES, our regular Tea has all these chemicals already in it. The main Methylxanthine in tea is the stimulant caffeine. Other Methylxanthines found in tea are two chemically similar compounds, Theobromine and Theophylline. The tea plant creates these chemicals as a way to ward off insects and other animals. Who would have known that all the solution to these virus would be a simple cup of TEA. and that is the reason so many patients in China are being cured. The hospital staff in china has started serving tea to the patients 3 times a day, And the effect is seen finally in Wuhan , the centre of this Pandemic, which has now  been contained and community transmission has almost stopped.

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