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Karl Lauterbach warns Markus Lanz of a higher risk of dementia after corona infection

Karl Lauterbach and the virologist Hendrik Streek will discuss the dangers of the corona virus with Markus Lanz on Wednesday. Lauterbach spoke about possible long-term consequences.

The two are seen as “opponents” when it comes to dealing with Corona: SPD politician and epidemiologist, Professor Karl Lauterbach, who likes to act admonishingly in pandemic times, and Professor Hendrik Streeck, who is also referred to in the media as “anti-drostening” , and advocates a more relaxed handling of the virus. On Wednesday they met directly at “Markus Lanz” – and represented their views in a friendly but determined manner. Karl Lauterbach initially stated that this virus would also lose its horror over time because it adapts to the immune system – however, one had to wait a relatively long time for it: “In 50 years, this corona virus will probably be very harmless too,” said Lauterbach . However, he also stated dryly: “But I don’t have anything of that now.”

The SPD politician has now completely ruled out the option – as discussed at the beginning of the pandemic – to focus on herd immunity. “If you had herd immunity, it would mean that between 250,000 and 500,000 people would die.” Including the undisclosed figure, mortality would probably be between 0.5 and one percent. The consequence of this: “Herd immunity is no longer persecuted”.

Then Lauterbach got to the point. He would “always be accused of warning too much”, now he explained why he was doing this. He just tries to think along: “What happens to those who have had it now and who will suffer consequential damage in ten years?” Known serious infections such as SARS 1 and MERS would have shown four factors: severe inflammability, blood clotting disorders, severe changes in the small vessels and direct tissue death. People who are now more seriously ill with Covid-19 are at risk of a similar fate. “Then the brain ages in fast motion, the four factors trigger processes that continue to run for a long time in parts, even if the infection is long gone.”

Host Lanz asked: “That means you believe that what causes this disease, we will only be able to finally evaluate in ten, 15 years?” – “That is exactly my point,” said Lauterbach. “I have a mix of processes in the brain that, in the long term, would personally worry me. So I honestly say, I admit that openly, I wouldn’t like it.” For example, there would be a “higher likelihood of developing dementia, for example”. In severe cases, the brain has been shown to ignite – the consequences could be drastic.

Professor Hendrik Streeck, on the other hand, emphasized again that this would only be the difficult cases. “If you calculate that down, it’s five to nine percent,” the doctor put into perspective. The two of them agreed on one point: It was illusory and not expedient not to allow any more infections.

But Lauterbach made it clear that people had to be made aware of the existing risk. He states that “if I honestly say that people are more careful”. He called warning a duty. “It is a task for us to pour pure wine.”

Source: teleschau – der mediendienst GmbH –

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