Infectious Disease Expert who predicted the coronavirus answers our biggest questions

On March 10th, Expert Michael Osterholm sat down with Joe Rogan of the Joe Rogan Experience show, to talk more about the Covid-19 pandemic and why most nations are not prepared against it.

 

 

So how bad is the coronavirus?

 

The Covid-19 outbreak happened on December 1st and although we’ve been familiar with the virus for over three months now Michael Osterholm explains that spread is only just beginning and that it will continue to spread for the next 7 months despite efforts to contains this outbreak.

Another aspect he explained was that the coronavirus is extremely contagious to the point where you could be infected just by breathing contaminated air, which is what makes this virus highly infectious and dangerous.

 

Is the virus an “old person’s” disease?

 

Since the virus has had a bigger impact on people over the age of 60, Michael Osterholm was asked if the Covid-19 was considered dangerous mainly for the elderly of which he replied “yes, in fact, that’s the primary risk factor for dying is being old and having certain underlying health problems” adding that some of the most common risk factors for developing serious health issues are amongst smokers and overweight individuals. He also stated that younger people under the age of 19 are the least vulnerable to the virus.

What is an incubation period?

An incubation period is a period between exposure to an infection and the appearance of the first symptoms which Michael Osterholm explains than in this case is 4 days post contamination. He then added than some people can be infected without showing any symptoms at all which makes them even harder to detect and are more likely to infect others with a weaker immune system.

What can be done to prevent the infection?

Joe Rogan starts with a simple question “We see people wearing gloves and masks to protect themselves is that non-sense?” to which Michael replies “yes largely!” adding that the primary mechanism for transmission is through breathing and that we’ve never been successfully able to stop an infection this large other than with a vaccine which we don’t have at the moment and that the most efficient way to prevent an infection is by staying home and not be in large public spaces especially if your immune system is already compromised.