Hantavirus : la vraie grande menace, c'est la presse!

Professor Didier Raoult discusses the recent media focus on the Hantavirus, comparing it to the Monkeypox scare, which ultimately did not lead to a widespread epidemic, mandatory vaccinations, or lockdowns. He questions why there's already talk of large-scale vaccine development, with seven prototypes mentioned by the Mellof Foundation, given that vaccine development typically takes 5 to 10 years. He suggests that the accelerated pace might be driven by financial incentives. Professor Raoult explains that hantaviruses are emerging viruses originating from dense animal populations, specifically rodents, unlike previous concerns about bats. Hantaviruses have been known for a long time, with an estimated 200,000 cases annually. Historically, they caused hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, which was generally not severe. However, more severe pulmonary forms have been described in the southeastern United States. Until recently, hantavirus was considered exclusively a zoonosis, meaning it was transmitted from animals to humans sporadically through contact with animal excretions. A new variant, Andes, circulating in Argentina, causes severe respiratory forms and has been reported to be transmissible through very close contact. Raoult notes that this information aligns with statements from the current French Minister of Health, suggesting a more informed approach than previous officials. He draws a parallel with the first SARS virus, which had two epidemic outbreaks, one in Hong Kong and one in Toronto, where healthcare workers were primarily affected due to close contact and insufficient protection. Raoult emphasizes the importance of proper hygiene for healthcare workers, particularly regarding gloves. He recounts lessons from the Ebola epidemic in Guinea, where local healthcare workers, using kitchen gloves and bleach, had lower contamination rates than in the West because they disinfected their gloves after contact. He explains that viruses can be transferred from contaminated gloves to surfaces and then to the person when gloves are removed, a point often overlooked. Hantaviruses, like most emerging viruses, are RNA viruses. Raoult explains that RNA viruses mutate a hundred times more frequently than DNA viruses, constantly creating new variants. This high mutation rate has significant implications for therapeutic and vaccine strategies. For example, he points out that monoclonal antibodies for COVID-19 failed because the virus mutated rapidly, rendering the narrow-target antibodies ineffective. His team demonstrated that resistance to monoclonal antibodies was already present in viral quasispecies before exposure, and treatment only selected for these resistant mutants. He compares this to changing a Wi-Fi password: once the code changes, the old password (monoclonal antibody) is useless. This concept, known as selection, not induction, was famously demonstrated by Lederberg for antibiotic resistance. Raoult then discusses the hantavirus replication cycle, noting that the virus attaches to a transmembrane protein, is internalized by endocytosis, and requires an acidic environment within the endosome to release its genome. He highlights that chloroquine, a weak base, can inhibit this acidification step, making it effective against hantavirus. He notes that chloroquine is a safe and widely used drug for rheumatology and tropical diseases, and claims of its toxicity during the COVID-19 pandemic were misleading. He criticizes the politicization of science, referring to "Fiat science," where scientific claims are accepted based on authority rather than evidence, similar to Fiat currency. He also expresses frustration that those who made demonstrably wrong decisions during the pandemic, potentially leading to thousands of deaths, have not been held accountable. He references a scientific publication from March 2021 by Valentin Vergotte and collaborators in "Frontiers in Cell and Infection Microbiology," which demonstrated chloroquine's effectiveness against hantavirus, both in vitro and in vivo. The study found that the effective concentration of chloroquine against hantavirus was 25 times lower than the toxic concentration for cells, suggesting a high safety margin. Raoult laments that such findings, despite being simple and effective, are often ignored because they do not generate substantial profits for pharmaceutical companies. Raoult addresses the concept of a virus having a "hat-trick" of lethality, transmissibility, and mutability. He states that no known virus, except possibly smallpox, possesses all three simultaneously. He criticizes the "laziness" of virologists in sequencing viruses compared to bacteria, noting that while there are millions of bacterial genome sequences, there were only a few hundred for influenza. He recounts discussions with President Macron about France's lag in viral sequencing compared to countries like England, where private funding, such as from the Welcome Trust, drove massive sequencing efforts. He discusses the difficulty scientists face in changing paradigms, especially after decades of work within a specific framework. He shares an anecdote about a paleontologist who felt his 40 years of work were rendered meaningless by genetic discoveries. Raoult emphasizes the need for older generations to be open to new scientific advancements, rather than clinging to outdated ideas. Regarding hantavirus prevention, Raoult reiterates that transmission is primarily through contact with rodent urine, feces, or saliva, and sometimes by inhaling dust containing these particles. The transmissibility of the Andes variant is not fully understood but seems to require prolonged contact. Symptoms are flu-like, including fever and fatigue. Prevention involves cleanliness, rodent control, proper food storage, and avoiding vacuuming areas with rodent droppings to prevent aerosolization. He stresses the importance of disinfecting gloves, as previously mentioned. Raoult remains unconvinced that hantavirus poses a highly contagious threat. He points to cruise ship outbreaks as a good indicator of contagiousness: if a disease is highly contagious, 30-50% of people on a ship will be infected. He contrasts the few hantavirus cases on a recent cruise ship with the COVID-19 outbreaks on the Diamond Princess and the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, where infection rates were 80% and 50% respectively. He suggests that if he were in charge, he would focus on rodent eradication rather than widespread panic. He then discusses the issue of rats in cities, using Paris as an example, and the controversial suggestion to call them "surmulots" to avoid discrimination. Raoult advocates for reintroducing free-roaming cats, as they naturally control rodent populations. He recounts his research on ancient cat skeletons from the Louvre, where his team found evidence of cat-scratch disease bacteria in their dental pulp, demonstrating the historical role of cats in rodent control, particularly in places like bakeries and granaries. He criticizes policies that sterilize and remove stray cats, arguing that such actions lead to an increase in rat populations. He cites Istanbul and the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg as examples where cats are successfully integrated for rodent control. Raoult emphasizes that "good intentions" often lead to considerable mistakes and that sometimes it's better to let things unfold naturally. He then addresses a petition against a "new COVID crisis" related to hantavirus, noting the similar media playbook to previous scares like the H5N1 avian flu and COVID-19. He expresses concern about the proliferation of vaccine projects for hantavirus, noting the immense profits generated by the Pfizer vaccine and the tendency for other entities to imitate successful financial models. He critiques the declining credibility of the press and the medical profession, attributing it to the politicization of health and the dissemination of misinformation. He warns the new Minister of Health about the conflicts of interest among previous advisors, some of whom were reportedly funded by pharmaceutical companies. Raoult expresses concern about the erosion of public trust, arguing that a society built on constant falsehoods, unnecessary lockdowns, and nonsensical measures like curfews cannot endure. He highlights the absurdities of official actions, such as the attempt to ban him from practicing medicine despite him having already retired and deregistered from the medical council. Raoult discusses the challenges of achieving intellectual immunity against media manipulation and preventing a return to lockdowns and mandatory measures. He suggests that Western civilization, particularly in Europe, is "extraordinarily sick," citing issues like national debt and political instability. He criticizes the lack of long-term vision in politics, exemplified by the "annualité budgétaire" (budgetary annuality) principle in France, which means that government promises beyond the current year are legally void. He points out that politicians often make promises they cannot legally keep, leading to a system of "false contracts" and a "society of the fictitious." He also touches on the "gain of function" research, which he has repeatedly argued is ineffective and dangerous, despite being funded and pursued by figures like Fauci. He believes that the idea of a "mad scientist" creating a super-virus is unreasonable and largely based on fiction. He explains that real threats in biological warfare are more likely to come from chemical toxins or easily disseminated bacterial agents like anthrax, rather than engineered viruses. Raoult concludes by emphasizing the importance of skepticism and independent thought. He believes that people are becoming more "vaccinated" against media manipulation and the "society of the fictitious." He encourages individuals to diversify their sources of information and understand that there is always an agenda behind presented information. He reiterates his belief that honesty and integrity in science and public discourse are crucial for society's well-being.