ASCO information campaign for prevention and counter measures on COVID-19

Between the end of the year 2019 and the beginning of 2020, a particularly aggressive new influenza virus has spread, which can lead to a form of fulminant pneumonia with an auto-immune mechanism.

For this reason, we of the Association for the Assumpta Science Center Owerri (ASCO) International Initiative, under the Patronage of the Pontifical Council for Culture, have decided to start a hygienic-sanitary and pharmacological information campaign to reduce its dangers. This will be through spreading knowledge of the risk factors of contagion and the contrasting measures for infected persons.

1. Prayers

Obviously, as an Initiative that promotes scientific and technological culture in harmony and dialogue with religious faith, the appeal includes that of intensive prayer so that God with his infinite mercy, would help us remove the pandemic. Our prayers also should include that God helps in the healing of those infected and in guiding experts, scientists and doctors, and governments find effective ways to curb the pandemic.

2. Covid-19 is real and serious!

Covid-19 is real and serious! But it is not a death sentence. A recovered patient cannot spread the disease and should not be stigmatized! It has spread to over 150 countries worldwide, causing an ever-increasing number of deaths, already over 200,000 deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that the Covid-19 flu syndrome caused by the Sars-Cov2 virus, represents a global challenge by officially declaring it a pandemic. That is, a disease difficult to stop, that threatens to invade the whole world. Nobody can predict exactly the future time duration nor the specific effects it will have in each region or country. However, the scientific community and most national governments invite and in several cases oblige people to adopt prudent measures and attitudes to avoid or at least limit the lethality of the disease.

ASCO joins this commitment in favor of life and health of human beings everywhere and in the African communities in which we operate. Unfortunately, today there are no standard remedial treatments in all cases. Scientists are still working. However, everyone agrees that prudent behavior by individuals and communities can slow down or even turn off the infection.

3. Hygienic-sanitary aspect

Follow Indications of local Authorities

For the hygienic-sanitary aspect, forms of containment of the “active” and “passive” types must be adopted.

3.1. Passive Containment

The passive measures are the cheapest and easiest to adopt, but require everyone’s collaboration. Here is what to do:

• Avoid direct contact with other people, keeping a distance of at least 1-1.5 meters between individuals.

• Wash your hands and face often with water or suitable hand wash gel.

• Try to get away from home as little as possible to limit contacts with other people, but without giving up taking some fresh air outside and getting some sun during the central hours of the day.

• Use disposable gloves only if you cannot wash your hands while in a potentially infected environment.

• Use dust masks, which must guarantee an airtight seal, so that if it is not possible to maintain the distance between people, to at least limit contact with the air that is breathed, achieving partial filtration. These masks should be changed every six hours, washing hands every time they are replaced to avoid infections.

3.2. Active Containment

Those of the “active” type are based on disinfectant and sterilizing chemicals.

Here’s what you need:

3.2.1) For personal hygiene, if water is available, solid and liquid soaps can be used. If water is not available, then alcohol-based gelatins are useful with the addition of a sterilizing product. These are blends that contain:

a) ethyl, propyl or butyl alcohol 60-80% by mass;

b) de-mineralized water;

c) a gelling agent

3.2.2) Disinfection of roads and external environments such as corners between sidewalks and buildings, but also other areas where dust and stagnation of air can accumulate (such as sewer manholes or narrow ditches and hollows).

Here, 7% (by mass) aqueous formaldehyde solutions, or 5% sodium hypochlorite solutions or 4% aqueous solutions of benzalkonium chloride (BACs) can be used.

3.2.3) Alcohol-based solutions or aqueous solutions of 3% hydrogen peroxide or benzalkonium chloride (BACs) can be used for the disinfection of rooms inside a building. However, the greatest effectiveness is obtained by sterilizing the air with low concentrations of ozone. This is achieved through special generators.

4. Medications to prevent and mitigate the infection

For the pharmacological aspect, preventive measures based on strengthening the immune system of individuals are advised. But also the use of treatments to promote the healing of individuals, in the absence of a vaccine and a more selective antiviral drug against this virus named by WHO with the acronym SARS-CoV-2, are useful and effective. Here is what you need:

4.1) Use supplements or fruits with a high content of vitamin C, such as Terminalia Ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum or Murunga), which is cultivable in tropical areas. This must be 1-2 grams per day to stimulate the immune system and strengthen blood circulation. At these doses it also has anti-inflammatory properties.

4.2) Use supplements or foods high in vitamin D. This must be at least 100µg per day. Vitamin D serves as a regulator of the immune system to counter allergies and auto-immune reactions.

4.3) Avoid ibuprofen-based anti-inflammatory drugs, because there are good chances (based on experimental data) that these could favor the auto-immune reaction caused by this type of virus. Use them only if prescribed by a doctor, in the case of specific therapies against particular pathologies.

4.4) For those with asthma problems, you need to stock up on your medicine, because the possible infection with this virus aggravates its symptoms.

4.5) Those who already have lung problems, or take immunosuppressant drugs, are particularly at risk and must report it to their doctor for a modification of the therapy and a more careful monitoring of their health.

4.6) Hospitals must be equipped with lung respirators in advance to be able to intervene promptly against possible respiratory crises that individuals infected with this virus in the most severe form may have

5. The symptoms of the disease and what to do

Typical symptoms of possible SARS-CoV-2 virus infection are:

• Dry cough;

• dry throat;

• loss of smell (food appears to be tasteless).

To these, one or more symptoms of the following may also be associated:

• sense of suffocation;

• fever;

• feeling heavy weight on the head with a sense of vertigo;

• general feeling of malaise.

In severe cases, the feeling of suffocation becomes more pronounced due to lung inflammation.

If you are sure of the infection of this virus, you need to:

5.1) Avoid leaving home and trying to sleep for longer hours and keep your body and mind rested.

5.2) Use paracetamol-based anti-inflammatory drugs (minimum 500-1000 mg / day: for higher dosages consult a doctor) associated with 1000-2000 mg / day of vitamin C and 100 µg / day of vitamin D3.

5.3) Herbal teas with laurel, ginger and lemon peel, or alkaline fruit drinks can also contribute to healing.

5.4) In case of lung infections, contact a doctor to check the severity of the infection. For very mild infections you can inhale aerosol-based anti-inflammatory substances (these only on prescription), water vapor enriched with essential oils with anti-inflammatory properties or you can also use Vicks Vaporub.

5.5) In the case of pneumonia, various drugs are being tested, which can be taken in addition to vitamins C and D3, the efficacy of which is still being studied:

a) The use of air enriched with ozone.

b) The anti-arthritis drug Tocilizumab.

c) Antiviral drugs (e.g. Avigan)

d) An antiparasitic drug, Ivermectin

e) The use of enoxaparin, administered intravenously or subcutaneously.

Conclusion

Waiting for this pandemic to end soon and for everything to return to normal, we at ASCO are close in Prayer and Comfort for all the sick. This is in the hope of building a better Future for all, in Science and Faith in that One God who inspires us in the works of Intellectual Charity.