The Daily A Missed Warning About Silent Coronavirus Infections
Jul 9, 2020
Matt Apuzzo, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, joins Dr. Camilla Rothe, an infectious disease specialist, to discuss the alarming early detection of coronavirus in Germany. They highlight the missed warnings about asymptomatic spread, emphasizing the challenges faced in conveying this critical information. The conversation critiques how the World Health Organization handled early data, navigating public confusion surrounding silent infections and their implications for controlling the pandemic. The discussion reveals the urgent need for better public health communication.
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First Case in Germany
- A 33-year-old auto part employee in Munich visited Dr. Rothe's clinic, seemingly with a common illness.
- Tests revealed he had coronavirus, contracted from a Chinese business partner who showed no symptoms.
Asymptomatic Spread
- The significance of the diagnosis was that the virus spread from a seemingly healthy person.
- This challenged the prevailing understanding of the virus, which was assumed to spread like SARS, only after symptoms appear.
Conflicting Reports
- Dr. Rothe published a paper about the asymptomatic spread.
- Another group of scientists published a contradicting paper, claiming the Chinese patient had mild, undetectable symptoms.