Coronavirus – Chief infectologist: Epidemic curve stable

The epidemic curve in Hungary is stable and there are promising drug and vaccine trials underway for the virus across the world, the chief infectologist of St. László Hospital said at an online press conference on Saturday.

János Szlávik expressed hope that the epidemic would end soon. “We don’t know when and how it will end, and it’s also possible that the virus will stay with us throughout the year in smaller centres of infection,” he said.

In this situation, he added, certain epidemiological measures must be maintained and it is also necessary to immediately isolate and treat any infected case because that is the only way to prevent the spread of the epidemic.

“Let’s hope that we will have a proven effective antiviral drug,” he said, adding that anti-malaria, type C hepatitis and anti-HIV drugs are already being used, and that various drug combinations and antibiotics are being tried to cure patients.

He said that an antiviral drug developed in Japan is available in Hungary, which can be used effectively in mild to moderate cases in the early stages of the disease, and that an intravenous drug developed in the United States is available to treat those who are in a severe and life-threatening condition because of the virus.