I came across a series of videos from Prof. Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi, a German infectious disease expert. He’s asking questions that few people are asking and nobody is answering. YouTube hates it when people do that, so I decided to copy the English subtitles (the videos are in German) in case of censorship. The first video is an interview, so I’ve added identifiers of who is talking. Otherwise, the subtitles are reproduced here exactly–from the occasional misspellings and odd word choices, the translator was probably a German who speaks English as a second language.
Corona virus Covid-19- hype and hysteria? Demystification of the nightmare!
Interviewer: Prof. Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi, you are infectious disease specialist
Interviewer: You are one of the most highly cited medical research scientists of Germany.
Interviewer: Today, we will talk about the Corona Virus
Interviewer: This virus spreads fear over the whole world.
Interviewer: in Germany, a state of emergency imposes extreme restrictions
Interviewer: What are Corona viruses?
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: These viruses co-exist with humans and animals around the globe.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: The viruses are the cause of very common, minor diseases of the respiratory tract.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Very often, infections remain subclinical without symptoms.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Severe courses occur almost exclusively in elderly patients with other underlying illnesses, in particular of lung and heart.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Now, however, a new member is on stage spreading fear around the world.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Why?
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: The new COVID-19 originated in China and spread rapidly.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: It appeared to be accompanied by an unexpectedly high number of deaths.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Alarming reports followed from Northern Italy that concurred with the Chinese experience.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: It must, however, be pointed out
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: that the large majority of other outbreaks in other parts of the world appeared to display lower apparent mortality rates
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: and such high numbers of 4, 5 or 6% were not reached.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: For example in South Korea
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: the apparent mortality rate was 1%.
Interviewer: Why “APPARENT” mortality rate?
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: When patients concurrently have other illnesses,
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: an infectious agent must not be held solely
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: responsible for a lethal outcome.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: This happens for COVID-19, but such a conclusion is false and gives rise to the danger
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: that other important factors are overlooked.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Different mortality rates may well be due to different local situations.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: For example,
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: what does Northern Italy have in common with China
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Answer:
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Horrific air pollution
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: The highest in the world
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Northern Italy is the China of Europe.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: The lungs of inhabitants there have been chronically injured over decades
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: and for this simple reason the situation may not be comparable to elsewhere.
Interviewer: What about Germany
Interviewer: – the virus has also spread to us.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Yes.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: It is spreading in Germany.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: One most important consequence being that we now have sufficient data to gauge the true danger of the virus in our country.
Interviewer: Which is what the german experts and politicians have done.
Interviewer: The highest alert level has been proclaimed
Interviewer: and extreme preventive measures have been installed in the desperate attempt to retard spread of the virus.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Yes, and this is the incredible tragedy.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Because all these adopted measures are actually senseless.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Namely,
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: the pressing questions are answered.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: The first one:
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Does the virus generally cause more serious illness also in young people
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: and kill patients who have no concurring illness?
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: This would make them different from other everyday Corona viruses of the world.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: The answer is clearly: NO!
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: We have 10 000 infections reported (18.03.2020)
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: 99,5 % have no or only mild symptoms
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Here, we already see
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: that it is false
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: and dangerous
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: to talk about of 10 000 “patients”!
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: They are not seriously ill.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: “Infection” is not identical with “disease”.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Of 10 000 infected people
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: only 50-60 were severly ill.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: And 30 died
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: to the present day.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: In 30 days.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: So we have a apparent mortality rate of 1 COVID-19 positive case per day.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Up to now.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: The looming worst case scenario
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: that must be prevented according to the authorities:
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Then we would have 1.000 000 cases
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: and maybe 3.000 death
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: in 100 days.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: This would mean 30 deaths a day.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: The aim is to prevent this “worst case scenario”
Interviewer: All current emergency measures aim to slow down virus spread to save lives.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Yes.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: But, we are looking already at the worst case szenario – with 30 death a day.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: 30 death a day may sound like very much.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Keep in mind that every day, 2200 over 65-year old depart from us, here in Germany
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Keep in mind that many of these carry common Corona viruses. How many are not known, so let us just assume 1% (which is surely too low).
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: This would translate to 22 a day.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: And these die every day.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: The only difference is that we do not talk about “Corona-deaths”.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Because we know that these viruses are normally not the major cause of death
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: So, what we are doing in the moment is to prevent that these 22 are replaced by 30 COVID-19 positive patients.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: This is what is happening.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: We are afraid, that 1.000 000 infections with the new virus will lead to 30 deaths a day over the next 100 days.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: But we do not realize that 20, or 30 or 40 or 100 patients positive for normal Corona viruses are already dying every day.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: To avoid that COVID-19 enters the scene instead of the other Corona viruses, extreme measures are installed.
Interviewer: So, what do you think about all these measures?
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: They are grotesque, absurd and very dangerous.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Our elderly citizens have every right to make efforts not to belong to the 2200 that daily embark on their last journey.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Social contacts and social events, theater and music, travel and holiday recreation, sports and hobbies, etc., etc. all help to prolong their stay on earth.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: The life expectancy of millions is being shortened.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: The horrifying impact on world economy threatens the existence of countless people.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: The consequences on medical care are profound.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: Already, services to patients who are in need are reduced, operations cancelled, practices empty, hospital personnel dwindling.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: All this will impact profoundly on our whole society.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: I can only say:
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi: All these measures are leading to self-destruction and collective suicide because of nothing but a spook.
Prof. Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi – Corona-Nachtrag 1_ Belastbarkeit des Gesundheitssystems
I would like to address two questions that reach us every day
First, does the rapid rise of daily infections not underline the concern that our health system is going to collapse if nothing is undertaken?
The predictions are based on extrapolations
that assume that 5% of the patients will require artificial ventilation that can only be performed in intensive care units.
My reply:
The fatal error in these calculations is that infections are equated with illness and patients.
The fact is that an infection is just the entry and multiplication of a virus in the body.
Illness need not follow. Only if it does are we allowed to speak about patients who might require medical therapy.
In the case of corona viruses, 90% of infections will run mild or totally asymptomatic course. There are no patients.
This is evident in all statistics available to the public.
Now, if you realize that only 10 % of infections will generate patients,
this must be considered in the estimates, which will naturally be reduced by 90% (at least).
This means that all calculations should be divided by 10.
And when you do that, it becomes apparent that our health system as it stands, is in no danger of being overburdened.
Prof. Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi – Corona-Krise Nachtrag 2 – Schreckensszenario Italien
What about Italy?
A few days ago, 600 people reportedly died of Corona.
Are we not in danger of experiencing the same if we do not install preventive measures?
My answer:
It is known that the virus spreads very rapidly,
perhaps because it is rather harmless and healthy infected individuals therefore distribute it unknowingly in the polulation.
This means: I get infected and go around and infect you.
And you never realize this.
It is therefore all important that we differentiate between cause and coincidence.
One cannot say that just because the virus is detected, it is the cause.
But this is what is happening in Italy, unfortunately also in Germany, in Spain, and around the globe.
This leads to the catastrophic present situation worldwide that is almost hopeless.
A few days ago,
the first Corona death was registered in Schleswig-Holstein.
A 78 year old patient with terminal stage oesophagus carcinoma died in the palliative unit of a hospital.
He was tested for Corona a few days before his death. A positive diagnosis was reported thereafter.
Immediately, he entered the German list of Corona dead, number 52.
I do not know what is happening in Italy.
To differentiate between true cause and trivial coincidence, one would need data.
Data on the background and the cause of death, and the possible participation of the virus.
These we do not have.
But to say that because the virus is detected, it is the cause of death, is utterly unscientific and unacceptable.
And then to implement measures aimed at minimizing risk of the deadly virus spreading from the dead is simply devoid of reason.
This is what leads to the terrifiying scenes in Italy that are so eagerly spread by the media.
If we continue in this spirit and on these lines
you and I will, now and in the future, not be able to approach and be near to your dearest who lie mortally ill in the hospital and long to see you before they depart.
Can you live with this inhuman thought?
I think that the time has come for you to sit back and think seriously about the entire situation.
Why don’t you demand that the questions raised here are objectively and honestly discussed in an open manner, transparent to all.
All the best to you.
Corona-Krise_ Offener Brief an die Bundeskanzlerin von Prof. Sucharit Bhakdi
Open letter to the Chancellor of Germany
Dear Fellow Citizens
I am a medical microbiologist and infectious disease epidemiologist who served for 22 years as chairman of the Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Mainz University.
My life has been devoted to researching the pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy of infectious diseases.
Nine days ago, I uploaded the first video to address the COVID-19 debate that is raging worldwide.
My intent was to channel the heated discussions back and down to a sound, scientific basis – for the sake of the entire community in this country.
I share no political agenda. I persue no personal interest and no interest of any third party.
The only reason for this video is the obligation to serve science and our community.
The decisive question is: Do we know enough to justify the massive measures that violate human rights in our free democratic society?
With all their predictable consequences.
And if so
on which data are these decisions based and which strategies have been construed?
I have now written an open letter to the Chancellor of Germany, addressing the most pressing 5 open questions.
In this, my last video, I will explain the reasons underlying these questions that are of vital importance to us.
My first question concerns statistics.
In our field, it has always been elementary to differentiate between infection (entry and multiplication of an infectious agent) and disease or illness (appearence of clinical symptoms).
In the case of corona, this would be cough and perhaps fever.
In other words: a new infection, diagnosed by a laboratory test, MUST NOT be equated with illness or with patient who requires medical treatment.
It is claimed that 5% of infected individuals will end up in ICUs and require artificial ventilation.
The ensuing prognosis is awesome and predicts that Germany’s health system will be driven to its utter limits.
My first question to the Chancellor: Did your projections differentiate between not or only slightly affected individuals and genuine, severly ill and hospitalized COVID-19 patients?
Dear fellow citizens:
The implicit danger of equating infections with patient numbers must be obvious. The daily numbers of registered infections is indeed exponential.
BUT – They cannot serve as a reliable basis for any calculations on the possible burden on medical care.
Rather, we need numbers of genuine, clinically relevant COVID-19 cases in order to arrive at any sensible prediction.
The second question relates to the true danger of the virus.
Implementation of the current draconian measures that so extremely restrict fundamental rights can only be justified if there is reason to fear that a truly, exceptionally dangerous virus is threatening us.
Do any scientifically sound data exist to support this contention for COVID-19?
I assert that the answer is simply:
NO!
To gauge the true danger of the virus: what is the type of data we need?
Here are common Corona viruses that we live with every day.
Here is COVID-19
What we need are – say – 10.000 patients, all with respiratory track disease that are infected with common Corona viruses
And 10.000 infected with COVID-19.
All really with respiratory track disease, nothing else.
Then, we need to ask how many die in this goup and how many in that.
If the mortality is simiar in both, then clearly they are similarly dangerous or less dangerous.
If the number here is higher, than obviously the virus is more dangerous.
If the number is much, much, much higher, than obviously the virus is much, much, much more dangerous.
You will ask me, has there been such a study?
And I answer: No
Until March, 19th 2020
When the first study ever appeared from our French colleagues that addressed this central question.
What do you think they reported?
The mortality in both groups was similar. COVID-19 did not differ in dangerousness from its everyday relatives.
My second question to the Chancellor:
How many patients with established, genuine COVID-19 patients are currently being treated in ICUs and how does the number compare with patients infected with everyday Corona viruses.
Are these data being considered in present and future prevention strategies?
And have the data of our French colleagues received attention in this all important context?
Dear fellow citizens:
I say not
that COVID-19 is as trivial as everyday Corona viruses. But I do assert that nothing points to the probability that it is much, much more dangerous
like for instance its alarming predecessors SARS and MERS that were really deadly.
or like the flu virus that plagued the world two years ago that was 50 or 100 times more deadly than annual flu viruses
which this year have caused around 300 deaths. Two years ago, we were horrified at more than 20.000 flu deaths in Germany.
And yet, no stingent preventive measures were implemented at all, and this was correct and reasonable.
Because our health system is equipped to deal with such emergencies and we have really good doctors and helpers that immediately stand up to master such situations.
There is no reason to panic.
Now imagine: that COVID-19 will and has actually already been exposed as a virus with perhaps somewhat but never ever extremely higher deadly potency than everyday Corona viruses:
Then, dear fellow citizens – incredible but true – the framework for all preventive measures instantly collapses like a house of cards.
My third question relates to the spread of the virus in the general, healthy population.
We urgently need to know whether the virus has already spread to the general population.
Because, should this be the case, any attemps to halt its further spread would obviously be senseless.
My question to the Chancellor: Has any attempt been initiated to answer this question?
Dear fellow citizens, a representative investigation of our community could be performed within 1 or 2 weeks – and we would then know….
My fourth question relates to the true mortality rates of the virus with special reference to Italy and Spain.
In my conviction, the terrible error made in the entire world is that whenever the virus is detected in a deceased, it is automatically assigned as the cause of death and enters the aweful list of the Corona-dead.
This violates a basic principle in medicine: it simply MUST be established that a patient dies BECAUSE OF and not simple WITH a virus.
This is explicitly stated in the German medical guidelines which are however not heeded in the case of COVID-19.
Hence, my question to the Chancellor:
Has Germany simply followed the global trend of unscientifically categorizing and defining COVID-related deaths?
And does Germany intend to continue breaking the established rules?
How, then, can you ever hope to differentiate between virus as the cause of death and virus accidentally present at death.
My last question queries the comparability of the situation in Italy and Germany.
Because: the terrible reports from Italy – and in these days also from Spain – are frequently extrapolated to warn of the possible, similar situation that threatens this country.
However, the true significance of COVID-19 in Italy can simply not be assessed.
In addition to the problems we have addressed above, additional factors such as horrific air pollution in North Italy and the ailing Italian health system may be playing unpredictable roles.
And now
dear fellow citizens
I submit a new thoght for your consideration:
We know that the virus is extremely infectious.
Reflect: The virus has probably already spread far beyond your estimates. It may be present in a considerable part of the healthy Italian, Spanish and also German population.
How probable is it that when bed-ridden elderly patients are visited by their beloved and friends, the virus is passed on to them – as are other everyday Corona-viruses?
When, then the patients enter the hospital, the virus is immediately detected. Or if they succumb to their true disease at home the virus is sought and found post mortem.
A trivial event, but with undescribable consequence because of false interpretation.
I say once again: the simple and trivial presence of the virus must never ever qualify it to enter the register of COVID-deaths.
My dear fellow citizens, the reports from Italy, as sad and depressing as they are, cannot and must not become the basis for our own measures in Germany.
Thus, my last question to the Chancellor:
What efforts are being made to inform our society about these basic differences between the situations in Italy and Germany.
And to tell our people that they need have no fear that a similar scenario threatens this country?
Dear fellow citizens
it is my sole intent to draw dawn the heated discussion to a sensible basis so that the situation can hopefully soon return to the desperately needed normality.
I do not stand alone.
Many of my colleagues in this country have openly voiced their similar opinion.
And one of the most reknowned and acknowledged experts in the field in Stanford, Prof. Ioannidis, has done the same.
The most imporant question to be immediately answered is: Can the present implementation of measures that curtail essential elements of human rights be legally justified?
Fellow citizens:
Erroneous beliefs in medicine have caused undescribable suffering to countless inhabitants on this earth.
Robert Koch opened the door to modern medicine when he demonstrated that a specific disease – tuberculosis- had a specific cause: the bacterium.
Since then, scientifically based knowledge has continued to replace belief in medicine.
Let us strive to follow in the path of progress
and assemble knowledge and truth in a collective effort to master this terrible crisis.
His open letter was posted to a sharing site with an expiration date, so I made a copy. It’s a PDF file, and in German.
Prof. Dr. Bhakdi mentions Italy’s death rate reporting. The Telegraph, a British paper, reported that the scientific advisor to Italy’s minister of health admitted that Italy is grossly inflating the number of deaths, and the true number is only 12% of what’s been reported. We’ve seen evidence of this happening here in the US, although it’s not clear how common it is. Naturally the mainstream media is too busy enjoying the mass hysteria they’ve created to ask any questions about the practice.
One thing we can be sure of. Once this blows over, and tens of millions of people are unemployed in the midst of a Greater Depression, the governments will insist that their Bear Patrol saved millions of lives. If irrefutable evidence comes out (and can’t be suppressed by the media) that SARS-CoV-2 was never as dangerous as the hysterical fear-mongers wanted us to believe, they’ll fall back on the Iraqi WMD approach of “everyone was fooled, we couldn’t possibly have known any different.”