Influenza drug ,favipiravir shows promise against SARS-CoV-2

By Dr Narendra Saini
SARS-CoV-2,Covid 19 Update

Cases : 41,469,233 deaths : 1,136,254
US Cases 8,584,819 death 227409
India : Cases 7,705,158
death :116653
Brazil : cases 5,300,649 deaths : 155459 (worldometer)

Influenza drug ,favipiravir shows promise against SARS-CoV-2
Researchers have found that high doses of a drug,favipiravir strongly inhibit SARS-CoV-2 in hamsters while low doses of the drug gave poor results.The scientists chose Syrian hamsters to model COVID-19 because the SARS-CoV-2 virus replicates strongly in these animals shortly after infection. Also, unlike in mice, infected hamsters develop a lung disease similar to the early stages of COVID-19 in humans.So hamster model is ideally suited to identify which new or existing drugs may be considered for clinical studies.Favipiravir significantly reduced the number of viable virus particles present in the hamsters’ lungs, with higher doses leading to a more significant reduction. However it did not appear to work for more severely ill people with hypertension and diabetes

face coverings (nose &mouth) should be part of new normal.
Smoking in any form at this time should be banned in public places as it may increase the spread of virus
Teamwork and feeling of openness is important for winning this Corona war.

Dr Narendra Saini
Chairman Scientific
committee DMC
Chairman AMR committee IMA Hq
Past Sec Gen IMA
Director SAINI DIAGNOSTICS ICMR approved lab for RTPCR testing