During the new crown epidemic, experts in various medical fields have become familiar faces in the news.
It is not the first time that Kong Fanyi, a clinical professor of the Department of Internal Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, has faced the epidemic of the century.
Recalling that during the outbreak of SARS, the whole social atmosphere was tense, and the hospital was like a dead city, but as a doctor, he needed to contact patients in the ward every day.
His experience with SARS made him fascinated by clinical research. In the early stage of the new crown epidemic, he had learned that drugs such as interferon and protease inhibitors were very helpful to the new crown disease. Early medication also made the patient's recovery progress faster and better.
Although Omicron is now a mainstream virus, the chain of community transmission triggered by Pakistani women spreads rapidly.
However, Kong Fanyi said that the case cited to the end of the virus cycle, the virus will be highly transmissible, but the fatal or severe rate is low; in the future, the new coronavirus may have the opportunity to be popular in winter, such as influenza, and citizens may need to receive one dose of influenza vaccine and one dose of influenza every year. The new crown vaccine, and with the introduction of the second-generation vaccine, will be more effective against the Omicron variant virus.
He encouraged the public to continue to adhere to the epidemic prevention measures at this stage: "I believe that we will persist for a long time, and we have seen the light. I believe that we have reached the end of the epidemic. When you see the end of the tunnel, you can walk out of the tunnel.
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Extended reading: Two years of anti-epidemic | The fifth wave of Omicron and Delta’s attack from external defense imports (review of one article)
Anti-epidemic for two years｜The first unidentified case was found to belong to a group of flight attendants.
Kong Fanyi recalled that during the outbreak of SARS in 2003, the whole social atmosphere was tense, and the hospital was like a dead city.
(Photo by O Jiale)
Kong Fanyi recalls that the hospital was like a dead city
During the SARS outbreak in 2003, the people of Hong Kong were in a state of panic. In the face of the unknown epidemic, medical staff could not back down.
Kong Fanyi pointed out that the whole social atmosphere was tense at that time, and the hospital was like a dead city. Not only citizens were afraid to visit the hospital, but even those with chronic illnesses were afraid to go to the hospital to seek medical treatment or be hospitalized, for fear of being infected with SARS in the hospital.
However, as a doctor, Kong Fanyi needed to contact patients in the ward every day. "Although it is an isolation ward, it is actually only a general ward, with no negative air pressure or double doors." In addition, the epidemic prevention equipment was insufficient at that time, and medical staff only wore N95 Masks and cloth reusable protective clothing greatly increase the risk of infection. "Even goggles and face shields are not available. It takes a long time to enter the ward, at least two to three hours. X-rays".
At that time, in the face of a century-old epidemic, it was inevitable to worry. In addition to taking care of confirmed patients at Queen Mary Hospital, Kong Fanyi was also dispatched to United Hospital to come into contact with more than 100 patients who contracted SARS due to the outbreak of Amoy Gardens.
At that time, every medical staff was under enormous psychological pressure, and Kong Fanyi relied on the support of his beliefs over the years, "Going to the ward first after praying, every time you will be very careful, check whether everyone is well equipped, and everyone will monitor each other. "
The drugs that can treat SARS patients are very limited. Even if the patient's condition worsens, only steroids can be added. If the patient's condition worsens, they will be transferred to the intensive care unit for intubation and ventilator.
It's frustrating to not be able to help, but there is really little that can be done.
Kong Fanyi
Kong Fanyi said that due to the lack of antiviral drugs in public hospitals at that time, and the limited understanding of the coronavirus during the SARS period, the mortality rate of patients was as high as 10%; But there are still big limitations."
After SARS, Kong Fanyi embarked on the road of research and was already mentally prepared for the coronavirus to strike Hong Kong at any time.
(Photo by O Jiale)
The battle of SARS is very different from the new crown. Early medication helps control the disease
After SARS, Kong Fanyi embarked on the road of research and was already mentally prepared for the coronavirus to strike Hong Kong at any time.
In the early days of the new crown epidemic, the team had already known that drugs such as interferon and protease inhibitors were very helpful to the disease, and early medication also made the patient's recovery progress faster and better.
Kong Fanyi said that this outbreak is completely different from SARS. After the lessons learned from the SARS battle, Hong Kong's response to the new crown epidemic is "one of the best in the world. In terms of infection control, infection number and treatment, and vaccine development research, Hong Kong is all in it." Leadership.” Compared with the SARS period, public hospitals now have enough negative pressure wards to accommodate confirmed patients, and medical staff also have sufficient protective equipment, and can review patients’ medical records through the system. The time is shorter and the risk is relatively low.
Multiple waves of epidemics have never been discouraged, strive for local clearing time to accompany family members
The new crown epidemic in Hong Kong broke out in January 2020. It has lasted for two years and is also in the fifth wave of the epidemic.
Kong Fanyi pointed out that this epidemic has never been expected to be a pandemic for a long time, "I think it will be over for a year, and there will be vaccines available as soon as possible. The most surprising thing is that it is different from the previous thinking. There are many The mutated virus strains have come out”, among which the Delta and Omicron variant viruses have greatly increased the spread.
Although there have been waves of epidemics, he pointed out that he never felt discouraged, and joked that he used to seize the gap between the fourth and fifth waves of the epidemic with zero local confirmed cases, resume normal social activities, play in the stadium, and strive for time with family.
In the early stage of the epidemic, taking the lead in contacting patients laid a "reassuring needle" for medical care
When asked about the most unforgettable moment in the two years since the epidemic, Kong Fanyi immediately thought of the first wave of the epidemic, and many doctors and nurses in the hospital were also worried. A reassurance for medical staff.
The "Banner Furnace Group" that appeared in the early days of the epidemic also gave him the opportunity to conduct clinical drug research, and to witness one after another confirmed patients recover and be discharged from the hospital. "It means a lot to me."
▼On January 21, Yikui Building implemented a 5-day enclosure test▼
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It is expected that the new crown will evolve into influenza in the future
Although Omicron has become the mainstream virus now, Kong Fanyi said that Omicron causes milder disease than Delta, and has lower complications and mortality. It is believed that as some people become infected and more people receive the third dose of the vaccine, herd immunity can be achieved. ; In the future, the new coronavirus may be prevalent in winter, such as influenza, and citizens may need to receive one dose of influenza vaccine and one dose of new crown vaccine every year. With the introduction of the second-generation vaccine, it will be more effective against the Omicron variant virus.
Earlier, a Pakistani woman who was diagnosed with the disease caused a super transmission chain.
Kong Fanyi believes that the case is cited to the end of the virus cycle, the virus will have high transmissibility, but the fatal or severe rate is low, "The overall destructive power of each generation is less and less, from the lower respiratory tract to the upper respiratory tract, the symptoms are also flu-like, sore throat. , headache, recovery in about a week."
In the two years of anti-epidemic, the ban on dine-in and gatherings in evening markets has made many Hong Kong people feel fatigued in the fight against the epidemic.
Kong Fanyi pointed out, "The most important thing is not to talk about fatigue. For example, do you know how to wear a seat belt? Are you not fatigued? You do it every day when you get in the car, and wearing a mask is the same."
I believe that we have persisted for a long time, and we have seen the light of day. I believe that we have reached the end of the epidemic, and we have reached the end of the tunnel and walked out of the tunnel.
Kong Fanyi
He encouraged the public to continue to adhere to the epidemic prevention measures at this stage. It turned out that behind his professional identity, he, like ordinary people, hoped that the epidemic would pass as soon as possible and return to normal life, without the need to wear masks, and even travel abroad for skiing.
Anti-epidemic for two years｜The first unidentified case was found to belong to a group of flight attendants. Xiao Jieheng adheres to his belief: hope to survive the epidemic for two years.