Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –
Griffith University epidemilogue, Dicky Budiman stated there was no evidence to prove it ABOUT (Mother’s milk) is able to prevent and cure corona virus Covid-19. He actually confirmed that there was no evidence that explained breast milk was an intermediary for virus transmission.
Dicky also emphasized that so far, breast milk plays a more important role in increasing children’s immunity. He considered that the role of breast milk to treat Covid-19 needed further research.
“What is clear is that breast milk cannot cure Covid-19,” said Dicky CNNIndonesia.com, Tuesday (29/9).
Dicky’s statement responded to the findings of Chinese scientists and published on a health website biorxiv.org that breast milk can cure Covid-19.
Quoting South China Morning Post, research led by Professor Tong Yigang from Beijing University of Chemical Technology claims to have collected breast milk since 2017, long before the onset of the pandemic.
Breast milk has been tested on cell types ranging from animal kidney cells to lung and intestinal cells in young children. The result is that most of the live virus strains are killed by breast milk.
The Chinese researcher claims that there is almost no binding or entry of the virus to these cells. Treatment also stops viral replication in cells that are already infected. Research concludes that the infection can be cleared by breast milk, which is known to have a suppressing effect on bacteria and viruses such as HIV.
Tong Yigang et al suspected that the corona virus was sensitive to several antiviral proteins in milk, such as lactoferrin, but did not find any of the proteins that worked as expected. Instead, they say the most preferred ingredient for virus inhibition is whey, which contains several different proteins.
Later research said they had not found any signs of danger caused by breast milk, which promotes cell proliferation while killing viruses.
Response of Covid-19 Spray Drugs
Meanwhile, Dicky explained that the spray drug to reduce the level of the SARS-CoV-2 corona virus was not a surprise. He said a similar drug was developed during the SARS and MERS pandemics.
“The drugs that are sprayed or nasal sprays currently being tested are in the case of MERS and SARS, there are tests, but lab tests,” said Dicky.
Dicky explained the spray drug developed at the time of SARS and MERS used Povidone-iodine, a type of Betadine. At that time, he said the results of lab tests showed that there was effectiveness in reducing the amount of virus in the upper respiratory tract, namely the nose and throat when sprayed.
“But that was his research in the lab at the time of MERS and SARS. So that for Covid-19 theoretically there is research to show that it can reduce the number of virus particles,” he said.
Previously, Australian biotechnology company Ena Respiratory claimed to have a spray drug to reduce levels of the SARS-CoV-2 corona virus. The company said INNA-051 could reduce virus replication by up to 96 percent. INNA-051 is a synthetic small molecule that is administered via a nasal spray.
Despite being good news, he reminded that the spray drug still has to go through a series of tests. If successful, he considered that the spray would be more appropriate for people who were positive for Covid-19 who were undergoing isolation or quarantine.
“It only needs to be understood that it is not a drug. It is only to minimize and preventive in nature,” he said.
Dicky added that the decrease in the number of viruses in the body can have a good impact on immunity work. He said immunity will be stronger to protect the body because of the small amount of the virus.
(jnp / DAL)
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