Arbidol > COVID-19?

Arbidol versus COVID-19.

As is known, there are no drugs with specific action against the coronavirus Covid-19 or so we are told.

However, there is an antiviral drug available only in Russia, China and some other ex-Soviet republics that has shown some promise in the action against Covid-19, and some information, if not evidence, to that effect has been emerging from China.

Even though Arbidol is mentioned in the context of fighting the new coronavirus, it has a checkered reputation, of which you can read in its wikipedia entry, for example. 

It is this Arbidol medication that you see in the pictures here, and on the back of the box, it lists three regimens of treatment: for treating a flu (or viral infection) in progress, for prophylaxis after known exposure and for general prophylaxis during an epidemic.

Here is something from a Chinese research paper on Arbidol:

"Arbidol (Umifenovir) is a broad-spectrum anti-viral agent that is now widely used in China because of its use in treating influenza and recently its potential efficacy in treating COVID-19. Several in vitro studies indicate that Arbidol possesses inhibitory effect on coronavirus [5-7] and its derivative, Arbidol mesylate is even stronger against SARS-CoV [7].One study indicated that the therapeutic index of Arbidol (or selective index) on coronaviridae was 118, which is much higher than for orthomyxoviridae, which are 24 and 25 for influenza A/Aichi/2/68(H3N2) and B/Beijing/184/93, respectively[4]"-

While I don't recommend anything to anybody and merely record what seems interesting (please contact WHO for guidance), here is that Chinese article.

Potential of arbidol for post-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 transmission - preliminary report of a retrospective case-control study

Jinnong ZhANG1, Wenjing WANG1, Bo PENG2, Wei PENG2, Yisheng ZHANG3,

Yaling WANG4, Yan WAN4, Jiang CHANG5, Ling MAO4, Xiaoping MIAO5, Yifan

ZHOU4*, Yanan LI4, Yu HU6 & Bo HU4

1Department of Emergency medicine, Union hospital, Tongji medical college, Huazhong university of science and technology, Wuhan, 430022, China

2 Salt Lake Regional Medical Center, Heart and Lung Institute of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA 84108

3 Tongji medical college and School of Material science and engineering, Huazhong university of science and technology, Wuhan, 430022, China

4 Department of Neurology, Union hospital, Tongji medical college, Huazhong university of science and technology, Wuhan, 430022, China

5 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Key Laboratory for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Huazhong university of science and technology, Wuhan, 430022, China

6 Department of Hematology, Union hospital, Tongji medical college, Huazhong university of science and technology, Wuhan, 430022, China

Author Contribution Statement

Wenjing Wang, Yanan Li, and Yifan Zhou did the literature search;

Bo Hu and Jinnong Zhang were responsible for the concept of the study;

Jinnong Zhang, Bo Hu and Bo Peng were responsible for its design;

Yisheng Zhang, Yanan Li, Yifan Zhou, Wenjing Wang, Yan Wan, Yaling Wang and Ling Mao

collected data;

Jiang Chang, Wei Peng and Xiaoping Miao analyzed data;

Bo Hu, Jinnong Zhang and Bo Peng interpreted data;

Jinnong Zhang, Bo Hu, Wei Peng, Bo Peng, Wenjing Wang, Yanan Li and Yifan Zhou wrote the

manuscript.

Contributed equally

*Correspondence author:

Bo Hu

Or Yu Hu

Or Yanan Li

Or Yifan Zhou

Abstract

Objective: we postulated that post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) using Arbidol is associated with decreased infection among individuals exposed to confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control study on family members and health care workers who were exposed to patients confirmed to have SARS-CoV-2 infection by real-time RT-PCR and Chest CT from January 1 to January 16, 2020. We collected demographic information, work location of exposure, post-exposure prophylaxis information, and symptoms, if any, 24 days after exposure. The relation between post-exposure prophylaxis and infection in household contacts and healthcare workers were respectively analyzed.

Results: 27 families and 124 health care workers had evidence of close exposure to patients with confirmed COVID-19. There were no differences in age, profession and sex distribution in the two groups with different post-exposure prophylaxis, table 1. Logistic regression based on the data of the family members and health care workers with Arbidol or Oseltamivir prophylaxis showed that Arbidol PEP was a strong protective factor against the development of COVID-19 (Odds ratio 0011 , 95% CI 0001-0-125, P=00003 for family members and Odds ratio 0049, 95%CI 0-003-0-717), P= 00276 for health care workers). On the contrary, Oseltamivir was associated with an increase in COVID-19 infection (Odds ratio 20-446, 95% CI 1 -407-297-143, P= 00271).

Limitations: Limitations of this study include the retrospective design of case-control studies and potential selection bias because the collection of data was through telephone calls.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest Arbidol could reduce the infection risk of the novel coronavirus in hospital and family settings. This treatment should be promoted for PEP use and should be the subject of further investigation.

Key words: Arbidol; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Post-exposure prophylaxis

Pass the message: Five steps to kicking out coronavirus WHO, FIFA launch joint campaign to equip football community to tackle COVID-19

Pass the message: Five steps to kicking out coronavirus
WHO, FIFA launch joint campaign to equip football community to tackle COVID-19

Geneva, 23 March 2020: FIFA, the international governing body of football, and the World Health Organization (WHO) have teamed up to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) by launching a new awareness campaign led by world-renowned footballers, who are calling on all people around the world to follow five key steps to stop the spread of the disease.

The “Pass the message to kick out coronavirus” campaign promotes five key steps for people to follow to protect their health in line with WHO guidance, focused on hand washing, coughing etiquette, not touching your face, physical distance and staying home if feeling unwell.

“FIFA and its President Gianni Infantino have been actively involved in passing the message against this pandemic since the very beginning,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the virtual launch of the campaign at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. “Be it through campaigns or funding, FIFA has stood up to the coronavirus, and I am delighted that world football is supporting WHO to kick out the coronavirus. I have no doubt with this type of support that together we will win.”

“We need teamwork to combat the coronavirus,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “FIFA has teamed up with WHO because health comes first. I call upon the football community worldwide to join us in supporting this campaign to pass the message even further. Some of the greatest players to have played the beautiful game have put their names to the campaign and are united in their desire to pass the message to kick out COVID-19.”

Twenty-eight players are involved in the video campaign, which is being published in 13 languages.

Sami Al Jaber (KSA), Alisson Becker (BRA), Emre Belözoğlu (TUR), Jared Borgetti (MEX), Gianluigi Buffon (ITA), Iker Casillas (ESP), Sunil Chhetri (IND), Youri Djorkaeff (FRA), Han Duan (CHN), Samuel Eto’o (CMR), Radamel Falcao (COL), Laura Georges (FRA), Valeri Karpin (RUS), Miroslav Klose (GER), Philipp Lahm (GER), Gary Lineker (ENG), Carli Lloyd (USA), Lionel Messi (ARG), Mido (EGY), Michael Owen (ENG), Park Ji-sung (KOR)    , Carles Puyol (ESP), Célia Šašić (GER), Asako Takakura (JPN), Yaya Touré (CIV), Juan Sebastián Verón (ARG), Sun Wen (CHN) and Xavi Hernández (ESP).

A video campaign, which will be published on player and FIFA digital channels, is also being provided as individual localized files to the 211 FIFA member associations and media agencies, together with a graphics toolkit for implementation on social media to further pass the message.

Hands:

“It starts with your hands,” says Alisson Becker, WHO Goodwill ambassador for health promotion, Liverpool FC and Brazil goalkeeper, and The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper, 2019. “Please wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based solution.”

Such frequent washing with soap and water, or preferably with an alcohol-based hand solution, kills viruses that may be on your hands. It is simple, but it is very important.

Elbows:

“Cover your nose and mouth with a bent elbow or tissue when you sneeze or cough,” says Carli Lloyd two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner from the United States. “Dispose of tissue immediately and wash your hands.”

Droplets spread the coronavirus. By following respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from contracting viruses, such as cold, flu and coronavirus.

Face:

“Avoid touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose or mouth to prevent the virus from entering your body,” adds FC Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi, The Best FIFA Men’s Player in 2019, and a multiple FIFA Ballon d’Or winner.

Hands touch too many surfaces and can quickly pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your face, from where the virus can move inside your body, making you feel unwell.

Distance:

“In terms of social interaction, take a step back,” says Han Duan, who represented China PR 188 times in an international career that spanned 11 years. “Stay at least one metre distance from others.”

By maintaining such social distancing, you are helping to avoid breathing in any droplets from someone who sneezes or coughs in close proximity.

Feel – know your symptoms:

“If you feel unwell, stay home,” concludes Samuel Eto’o, former FC Barcelona and Cameroon striker, who represented his country 114 times. “Please follow all instructions provided by your local health authorities.”

If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance.

Keep informed as local health authorities provide the latest information on the situation in your area. Please follow their specific instructions, and call in advance to allow them to direct you to the appropriate local health facility. This serves to protect you and to help prevent the spread of virus and other infections.

Google's COVID‑19 Information & Resources

Google's COVID‑19 Information & Resources website.