Virologist Drosten and colleague Kekulé argue about child study

The dispute over the preprint of the Corona study on children by Germany’s chief virologist Christian Drosten (48) is entering the next round. After he was heavily criticized by several scientists in an article in the “Bild newspaper” earlier this week (VIEW reported), a new criticism at Drosten now causes displeasure.

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The virologist Alexander Kekulé (61) once again complained about the Corona study in a guest article in the Berlin daily newspaper “Tagesspiegel”. Kekulé listed the statistician at the University of Zurich, Leonard Held, who pointed out several methodological errors in the study. The study lacks the “scientific basis,” says Kekulé.

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Update of data and statistics should follow

“Leonhard Held, tried by Kekulé, says even about his statistical post-analysis of our study that it is not conclusive,” Drosten shoots on Twitter against his virologist colleague. And: “Kekulé doesn’t care, he fires anyway.” Germany’s chief virologist, however, promises in the same breath: “We will provide an update of our data and statistics.”

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The study in question is a so-called pre-print. A preliminary version of a final study that is released for scientific discussion, also to identify weaknesses by other scientists. A normal course of action in science.

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Kekulé’s portrayal “tendentious”

For Drosten it is clear: «Kekulé creates mood. His presentation is tendentious. He does not know our data and quotes incorrectly. One could not criticize Kekulé himself, he would have to publish something first, »said Drosten on Twitter.

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Finally, a Twitter user intervened in the Twitter dispute between the two virologists: “If the scientists now beat each other up in public, the ‹Bild› wins in the end.”

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