Scientists unveil results of medical experiment on intentionally infecting people with COVID-19
What’s happening
- British scientists submitted results of a controversial experiment to intentionally infect healthy people with COVID-19.
- It involved 34 volunteers aged 18 to 30 who were exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection at low doses to monitor the course of the disease from the very beginning.
- The experiment started in early 2021. For two weeks, the infected were quarantined at the Royal Hospital in London. Each of the study participants received a monetary compensation of £4.5 thousand.
- It is noted that only 18 people, or 53% of the number of participants in the experiment, were able to “pick up” the virus. The first symptoms of the disease appeared in them already on the second day, and a high viral load persisted in the body for an average of 9 to 12 days.
- 70% of the patients lost their sense of taste and smell – some of these problems persisted for nine months. Sore throat, runny nose and sneezing were other common symptoms.
- Some volunteers with a positive PCR test showed no symptoms, while others were diagnosed negative. The latter researchers associate with the active struggle of the immune system with the virus.
- Despite discussions regarding the ethics and safety of such medical research, scientists are already preparing for a second experiment in which volunteers will be infected with the delta strain.
What does it mean
Controlled infection research is a controversial topic in the scientific community from an ethical point of view. However, it is they that allow much faster access to the information needed to develop vaccines and treat the disease. Such studies have already proven their value in the fight once morest a large number of diseases.
It is worth noting that the study of British scientists as a whole confirmed the already known symptoms of COVID-19. However, the authors of the experiment were able to more reliably establish the duration of the incubation period, as well as trace the course of the disease from the moment of infection with SARS-CoV-2. The results will be useful in the development of vaccines for both COVID-19 and other types of coronavirus.
Previously reportedthat scientists at Oxford University are planning to conduct a similar experiment, but with volunteers who have had a coronavirus infection. This will allow us to find out what kind of immune response is needed to protect once morest re-infection with SARS-CoV-2.