Coronavirus in Germany: A study is to show that humans can develop immunity to Sars-CoV-2. Experts are now expressing criticism and doubts.
- A study on Corona virus* causes a stir in Germany.
- It is designed to show that humans can develop immunity to Sars-CoV-2.
- There are doubts about the quality of the study, it may even be methodologically incorrect.
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Munich – When the first results of a study attention was high in Germany. After initial investigations in Heinsberg district (North Rhine-Westphalia) found accordingly Virologist Hendrik Streeck from the University of Bonn and other experts found that at 15 percent of the citizens examined a Corona infection could be demonstrated and this one immunity would have developed.
It has already been speculated whether the strict measures to curb the rapid spread of the Pathogen Sars-CoV-2 could be loosened. Streeck said that it was possible to enter “phase two”.
Coronavirus in Germany: Great doubts about the Heinsberg study
But quickly Doubts about the quality of the study according to. “There is simply so little explanation that you don’t understand everything,” criticized about Virologist Christian Drosten of the Berlin Charité the presentation of the interim results at a press conference.
According to a report by Süddeutsche Zeitung could that Heinsberg study, where especially the Gangelt municipality – the Epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic – was in the spotlight, even methodically flawed be.
Call the reason Gerard Krause from Helmholtz Institute for Infection Research. According to the Braunschweig infection epidemiologist, there are still no widely available teststhat could reliably demonstrate immunity.
Coronavirus in Germany: Virologist Drosten points to problem with antibody tests
Virologist too Drosten sees a problem with the Antibody tests. These could in part be used to detect antibodies against harmless cold pathogens, which also include the Corona viruses belong, said the 48-year-old. The Helmholtz Institute confirms this thesis, like the SZ reported. According to this, a third of the colds are caused by four known, harmless corona viruses.
It goes on to say that only elaborate neutralization tests have so far been able to prove that the person concerned Sars-CoV-2 infection* went through. However, this was not mentioned by Hendrik Streeck at the press conference on April 9th.
Virologist Hendrik Streeck from the University of Bonn.
© dpa / Federico Gambarini
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Heinsberg study methodically incorrect? All people in a household tested
Another point of criticism of the study by the scientist and his team: Individual households were selected for the tests and all people tested in these households. “You should not take all results from these households and convert them into percent, but at most one person per household”, says epidemiologist Gérard Krause The risk of infection within a household is many times higher than that of the general population. A full count of all family members therefore gives an excessive percentage for immunity.
I had a bitter aftertaste SZ also that Kai Diekmann, former editor in chief of picture, with his social media agency “Storymachine” had taken over the Facebook appearance of Streeck’s study. According to the report, the 55-year-old was involved in the scandal surrounding the Heidelberg blood test for breast cancer last year as a PR consultant. The SPD member of the Landtag Sarah Philipp now wants to know from the North Rhine-Westphalian government whether public funds have gone to the agency.
*Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.
sk / dpa
List of rubric lists: © dpa / Roberto Pfeil
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