Pulmonologist Emir Festić: We will breathe a sigh of relief in July or August

Festić: We all have to be maximally prepared.

Epidemiological services are excellent, but the problem is that people do not follow the recommendations.

The situation is very fluid, and we are all learning in the process itself because there is no previous experience with this virus, except in countries that have already borne a greater burden. World-renowned pulmonologist Emir Festić, president (2018-2019) of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian-American Academy of Sciences and Arts (BHAAAS), said this at the beginning of the interview for "Avaz.".

Worst-case scenario

- Although it is a pandemic, the current situation on the ground is different due to several different factors. The definition of a pandemic means that an epidemic can infect the entire world, and therefore, regardless of the current situation, everyone must be very serious and maximally organized to be ready to meet the increased level of infection and the number of sick people, says Festić. As he states, the epidemiological services in the countries of the former Yugoslavia are excellent, but the problem is that people do not adhere to the recommendations. - It is best to prepare for the worst possible scenario and hope that the influx of newly infected people will be slow enough not to lead to the collapse of the healthcare and logistics system, to avoid human casualties as much as possible - emphasizes Festić. He believes that this situation will last for different lengths of time in different regions and that the longer it lasts, the more successful the epidemiological measures have been and the slower the spread of the disease has been.    This situation lasts for different lengths of time in different regions PHOTO: ILLUSTRATION

Good results

- I know that the most important thing for everyone is for this to pass as soon as possible, but that is wrong thinking. The longer it lasts, the lower the price we will pay. I believe that the warm weather and the strict epidemiological measures that people follow will give good results and that we will get a little relief in July or August, although that is also optimistic, explains Festić. For a drug that completely neutralizes the virus, he says, it will take a long time. - I think the first vaccines will be ready in a year. Some drugs have been made for other indications and are currently being tested to see if they have a partial possibility of shortening the disease or preventing the most severe form of the disease, but even there it will be necessary to wait at least a few months for the first results. I am currently waiting for final approval from the National Institute of Health for my study, which aims to prevent respiratory insufficiency in seriously ill patients," said Festić.

The virus attacks the entire body

- The virus attacks the entire body, but the receptors it binds to and through which it enters our cells are highly prevalent in the lungs. Since breathing is one of the most important functions of the body, respiratory failure is the most severe stage of the disease and the main cause of mortality, concludes Festić. (https://avaz.ba/)