The Infectious Diseases Professor of Pathology, of the Medical School of the University of Cyprus and Professor of Pathology and Infectious Diseases of the Hospital Medical School of the University of Patras, a member of the Epidemiology Department, spoke on the Front Page about the immunity of the herd and the validity of the tests. Dr. George Panos.
Among other things, the expert opposes the view that the spread of this virus can lead to the immunity of the herd, as we mean it with other viral diseases, such as measles and influenza. "Many patients who got sick in the summer are still sick and that means we can not expect herd immunity. We could have herd immunity if someone gets sick or is vaccinated and does not get stuck for a long time. This is a viral disease that may persist and people, depending on the strain, will get sick at short intervals. "The real meaning of herd's immunity will never exist."
On the issue of validity of tests, he said that "PCRs are the most valid, but rapid tests and self tests are very close to the results one expects to see when comparing it with PCR. There are other situations to consider. The rapid test and the self test measure the antigenemia which means that the viral load must be increased to such an extent that these tests give us results. The antigen needs a little time to be produced. "