by Sucharit Bhakdi
Editor’s Note: The author of this article is a professor emeritus of Medical Microbiology at the University of Mainz. It was published on March 26, 2020. Some bolding added by GumshoeNews.
Dear Chancellor,
I feel obliged to critically question the far-reaching restrictions on public life that we are currently taking on ourselves in order to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
It is expressly not my intention to play down the dangers of the virus or to spread a political message. However, I feel it is my duty to make a scientific contribution to putting the current data and facts into perspective ….
The reason for my concern lies above all in the truly unforeseeable socio-economic consequences of the drastic containment measures which are currently being applied in large parts of Europe and which are also already being practiced on a large scale in Germany.
My wish is to discuss critically – and with the necessary foresight – the advantages and disadvantages of restricting public life and the resulting long-term effects.
To this end, I am confronted with five questions which have not been answered sufficiently so far, but which are indispensable for a balanced analysis.
- Statistics
In infectiology – founded by Robert Koch himself – a traditional distinction is made between infection and disease. An illness requires a clinical manifestation. [1] Therefore, only patients with symptoms such as fever or cough should be included in the statistics as new cases.
In other words, a new infection – as measured by the COVID-19 test – does not necessarily mean that we are dealing with a newly ill patient who needs a hospital bed. However, it is currently assumed that five percent of all infected people become seriously ill and require ventilation. Projections based on this estimate suggest that the healthcare system could be overburdened.
My question: Did the projections make a distinction between symptom-free infected people and actual, sick patients – i.e. people who develop symptoms?
- Dangerousness
A number of coronaviruses have been circulating for a long time – largely unnoticed by the media. [2] If it should turn out that the COVID-19 virus should not be ascribed a significantly higher risk potential than the already circulating corona viruses, all countermeasures would obviously become unnecessary.
The internationally recognized International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents will soon publish a paper that addresses exactly this question. Preliminary results of the study can already be seen today and lead to the conclusion that the new virus is NOT different from traditional corona viruses in terms of dangerousness. The authors express this in the title of their paper „SARS-CoV-2: Fear versus Data“. [3]
My question: How does the current workload of intensive care units with patients with diagnosed COVID-19 compare to other coronavirus infections, and to what extent will this data be taken into account in further decision-making by the federal government? In addition: Has the above study been taken into account in the planning so far? …
- Dissemination
According to a report in the Süddeutsche Zeitung, not even the much-cited Robert Koch Institute knows exactly how much is tested for COVID-19. It is a fact, however, that a rapid increase in the number of cases has recently been observed in Germany as the volume of tests increases. [4]
It is therefore reasonable to suspect that the virus has already spread unnoticed in the healthy population. This would have two consequences: firstly, it would mean that the official death rate – on 26 March 2020, for example, there were 206 deaths from around 37,300 infections, or 0.55 percent [5] – is too high; and secondly, it would mean that it would hardly be possible to prevent the virus from spreading in the healthy population.
My question: Has there already been a random sample of the healthy general population to validate the real spread of the virus, or is this planned in the near future?
- Mortality
The fear of a rise in the death rate in Germany (currently 0.55 percent) is currently the subject of particularly intense media attention. Many people are worried that it could shoot up like in Italy (10 percent) and Spain (7 percent) if action is not taken in time.
At the same time, the mistake is being made worldwide to report virus-related deaths as soon as it is established that the virus was present at the time of death – regardless of other factors. This violates a basic principle of infectiology: only when it is certain that an agent has played a significant role in the disease or death may a diagnosis be made.
The Association of the Scientific Medical Societies of Germany expressly writes in its guidelines: “In addition to the cause of death, a causal chain must be stated, with the corresponding underlying disease in third place on the death certificate. Occasionally, four-linked causal chains must also be stated.“ [6]
At present there is no official information on whether, at least in retrospect, more critical analyses of medical records have been undertaken to determine how many deaths were actually caused by the virus.
My question: Has Germany simply followed this trend of a COVID-19 general suspicion? And: is it intended to continue this categorisation uncritically as in other countries? How, then, is a distinction to be made between genuine corona-related deaths and accidental virus presence at the time of death?
- Comparability
The appalling situation in Italy is repeatedly used as a reference scenario. However, the true role of the virus in that country is completely unclear for many reasons – not only because points 3 and 4 above also apply here, but also because exceptional external factors exist which make these regions particularly vulnerable.
One of these factors is the increased air pollution in the north of Italy. According to WHO estimates, this situation, even without the virus, led to over 8,000 additional deaths per year in 2006 in the 13 largest cities in Italy alone. [7] The situation has not changed significantly since then. [8] Finally, it has also been shown that air pollution greatly increases the risk of viral lung diseases in very young and elderly people. [9]
Moreover, 27.4 percent of the particularly vulnerable population in this country live with young people, and in Spain as many as 33.5 percent. In Germany, the figure is only seven percent [10]….
My question: What efforts are being made to make the population aware of these elementary differences and to make people understand that scenarios like those in Italy or Spain are not realistic here?
[Note: References will be shown below]
Professor Sucharit Bhakdi explaining his Open Letter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=347&v=LsExPrHCHbw&feature=emb_logo
References:
[1] Fachwörterbuch Infektionsschutz und Infektionsepidemiologie. Fachwörter – Definitionen – Interpretationen. Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin 2015. (abgerufen am 26.3.2020)
[2] Killerby et al., Human Coronavirus Circulation in the United States 2014–2017. J Clin Virol. 2018, 101, 52-56
[3] Roussel et al. SARS-CoV-2: Fear Versus Data. Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents 2020, 105947
[4] Charisius, H. Covid-19: Wie gut testet Deutschland? Süddeutsche Zeitung. (abgerufen am 27.3.2020)
[5] Johns Hopkins University, Coronavirus Resource Center. 2020. (abgerufen am 26.3.2020)
[6] S1-Leitlinie 054-001, Regeln zur Durchführung der ärztlichen Leichenschau. AWMF Online (abgerufen am 26.3.2020)
[7] Martuzzi et al. Health Impact of PM10 and Ozone in 13 Italian Cities. World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. WHOLIS number E88700 2006
[8] European Environment Agency, Air Pollution Country Fact Sheets 2019, (abgerufen am 26.3.2020)
[9] Croft et al. The Association between Respiratory Infection and Air Pollution in the Setting of Air Quality Policy and Economic Change. Ann. Am. Thorac. Soc. 2019, 16, 321–330.
[10] United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Living Arrangements of Older Persons: A Report on an Expanded International Dataset (ST/ESA/SER.A/407). 2017
[11] Deutsches Ärzteblatt, Überlastung deutscher Krankenhäuser durch COVID-19 laut Experten unwahrscheinlich, (abgerufen am 26.3.2020)
Adolf will never be dead while she’s alive. Kevin Woodman
Kevin – there is much to your thinking. I would suggest that as time rolls along much will be exposed about where dear ol’ Adolph really died, and it wasn’t in a Berlin bunker.
Whoopee! And we are to consider ourselves fortunate that these nitwits are allowing us partial freedom. May be only for a short time if we do those things demanded of us “by those who must be obeyed”.
Next move? Identification inserted chips, (passport) so that we can travel more than 50 kilometres from home?
Just seeing if I can smoke Fish out.
Let’s see who else we can smoke out …
The big picture………….Bankers and their financial scam!!
https://x22report.com/
listen to the x22 report interview with Harley Schlanger.
Well , you’ve smoked me out.
Never saw that before – great to have seen it .
I recall A report in regard to some of these murders is from a Aussie journo there at the time.
He identified two killers with Aussie accents.
No chance of smoking out those killers.
Cowardice seems to be the perennial hypocritical lying modus operandi
And their lying hypocritical sayanin (sp: ?)
Try searching Jewish sayanin (sp) and see how far you get!
As I understood the term, it describes those who in our community support Israel and are the 5th column in our social and political midst.
Recognise some comments past?
£€$$$$$$$$
Go and look at ex PM Faser’s interview with Dee.
Add to the USS Liberty murders, just following the form: look up the Israeli operation Susannah where Israeli sayanin (sp) were caught out in the act blowing up Uk and US interests to blame the Arabs.
I think it is also referred to as ‘The Lavron Affair’ , getting the name correct?
He was the Israeli defence minister at the time and fell upon a shechle (sp) or two ?
No problem, I read a few years ago that the Israeli team of murderers were presented with medals by the Israel government,,,,, for services rendered. (Murdering Egyptians?)
Easy to get a medal or two in Israel, hey Neminis?
Were you really a copper in NSW investigating crime, servicing truth and justice?
Enjoy retirement we will be forever thankful
The New Normal – Pandemic Police State
TPARS (These people are really sick …).
I wouldn’t be surprised if this disappears from Youtube – it shows far too clearly exactly what’s going on: It’s the same old brainwashing, fear-mongering where they’re all reading from the same script. All on the same team: leaders, MSM reporters, influencers.. Gates being lauded as the great (& only?) saviour… He sure has some gall, & huge media loyalty – fancy being able to ‘slip in there’ that Trump shouldn’t listen to RFK Jr’s concerns about vaccines! To imply that you only get herd immunity from a vaccine is the height of ignorance!
God works in mysterious ways – these EVIL, VILE CREATURES work in the most devious, nefarious ways.
Ned , since you brought up the USS Liberty in your comment above ( yes Gumshoe readers , I know I’ve been carrying on about it a lot in recent posts but bear with me for one final very important fact that I left out of my previous treatise ) , I thought you might like to read the following article relating to ‘ Operation Cyanide ‘ :
https://sites.google.com/site/onedemocraticstatesite/archives/uss-liberty-operation-cyanide
Two paragraphs from the article speak volumes :
” The American president, Lyndon B. Johnson, was under the influence of several Zionist intelligence agents, namely Arthur and Mathilde Krim, Arthur Goldberg, the Rostow brothers, Abe Feinberg and others. He was the most important member of Operation Cyanide.
Destroyer 626/4 came to the aid of the Liberty in the aftermath of the attack [on the Liberty ] and stuck by her until US forces were allowed to approach about seventeen hours later. It has been reported that the American submarine, USS Amberjack, was standing by to sink the Liberty and save the operation but the presence of 626/4 prevented this from happening ” .
Yes people , the Soviet navy saved the USS Liberty & don’t let anyone tell you this was sheer coincidence.
That Soviet ship stayed around for SEVENTEEN HOURS (17) until it was absolutely certain that the Liberty was safe .
Had not that Soviet destroyer arrived on the scene , the submarine Amberjack ( on orders from LBJ ) would’ve finished off the Liberty.
Upon detection of the quickly arriving Soviet destroyer , the Amberjack got the hell out of there & THAT is why LBJ called off the attack .
It seems the American people have a debt of gratitude owed to that supposed ‘ Cold War enemy ‘.
To quote the words of someone I have a lot of time for, & whose career & reputation was destroyed by the Zio-cabal for daring to speak the truth :
” Evil does exist …. but it is within your own government , not out there in the ‘ Other ‘ , who is about to be bombed .
Evil is that spirit which fabricates the complicated webs of deception to make people live in fear & validate the next war ” . …… Nicholas Kollerstrom .
So, as an Australian it pains me to denigrate the ‘ Anglo ‘ component when I make critiques of the Anglo-Zionist Empire ( as I often do ) .
I am not criticising the Anglo peoples . I am trying to draw attention to the malfeasance of that tiny minority of miscreants ( hello Five Eyes / Josh Frydenberg / Julia Gillard in years past etc ) among those ‘ wise over-lords ‘ that rule over us that are aligning themselves with the Zionist agenda & sacrificing our Gentile blood & treasure in pursuit of those Oded-Yinon plan objectives .
Yes,
I noted similar reports over the years except the uS submarine there to cover. For Israel incompetence.
I had heard of the Russian sticky beaks stuffing up the abominable murders and international deceit.😜
Nothing changes….. evil continued. (911)
And will continue till the treasonous politicians are dealt with by a informed dumb public suckered by the msm running dogs.keeping us safe from TERRORISTS..
Two points Bhakdi seems to have missed:
1) Once a plague is at large, so-called “social-distancing” won’t do anything but SLOW DOWN the spread.
2) The shut-down was implemented accordingly; the sole object was to keep the fat controllers on the throne
It’s not hard to figure out that:
* (2) was driven by panic, and as such no attention was given to the sustainability ( ever watched a herd of cattle go into fear-run mode? They all just follow the first one that moves irrespective of where it’s headed).
* Those concerned are consequently now faced with having to back out as unobstrusively as possible
* By the time the restrictions are lifted accordingly many folk who would otherwise have voluntarily adopted some form of preventative measures will be so over the whole goddamn episode they’ll simply throw caution to the wind.
Get the picture?
Meanwhile , yet another smoking gun that demonstrates that , almost certainly , the C-virus was a bio-weapon attack on China initiated by the U.S ( an extract from a recent Pepe Escobar article ) :
” Israeli intel confirms U.S. intel did in fact warn them in November about a potentially catastrophic pandemic in Wuhan (once again: how could they possibly know that on the second week of November, so early in the game?) And NATO allies were warned – in November – as well.
The bottom line is explosive: the Trump administration as well as the CDC had an advance warning of no less than four months – from November to March – to be properly prepared for Covid-19 hitting the U.S. And they did nothing. The whole “China is a witch!” case is debunked.
Moreover, the Israeli disclosure supports what’s nothing less than extraordinary: U.S. intel already knew about Sars-Cov-2 roughly one month before the first confirmed cases detected by doctors in a Wuhan hospital. Talk about divine intervention.
That could only have happened if U.S. intel knew, FOR SURE , about a previous chain of events that would necessarily lead to the “mysterious outbreak” in Wuhan.
[ Trump’s right hand man ] Mike “We Lie, We Cheat, We Steal” Pompeo may have given away the game when he said, on the record, that Covid-19 was a “live exercise”. Adding to the ABC News and Israeli reports, the only possible, logical conclusion is that the Pentagon – and the CIA – knew ahead of time a pandemic would be inevitable.
That’s the smokin’ gun. And now the full weight of the United States government is covering all bases by proactively, and retroactively, blaming China ” .
Beware the second wave. https://www.corbettreport.com/interview-1451-the-propaganda-report-dissects-the-second-wave/
Talking about early warnings: London Olympics Opening Ceremony (Analysis video now ‘censored’); Event 201; News report on CNA on 7 July said that WHO announced a likely global pandemic in June; Harry Vox brings our attention to Rockefeller Plan’s “Lockstep”, published in 2010;
AND we learned from the ABC NEWS this week “Think of coronavirus as a test run: Australian military leaders warn we must prepare for worse” about a “confidential report” prepared for Australian Defence in late 2018 where a pandemic was one scenario used to examine our “National resilience”.
When does “coincidence” become collusion?