MyVoice: Views of our readers 14th May 2020

Plasma therapy may be useful in containing Covid-19

This is with reference to your article 'Why not homeopathy to cure coronavirus?' (May 12)

It is recently known that 80 per cent of the population which has contracted the virus is in an asymptomatic state, not exhibiting symptoms of the infection but capable of transmitting the disease. It is certain and scientifically correct that these asymptomatic carriers would have formed and contain the antibodies needed against the virus in their blood/plasma/serum. The advantage here is that a good quantity of blood can be made available from this vast majority of asymptomatic carriers. However, the plasma prepared from their blood, apart from containing the desired antibodies to fight the novel coronavirus disease, may also contain some virus (similar to the antiserum of the olden days). This number is likely to be minimised, attenuated or eliminated by the confronting antibodies which are also present in the same fluid. If this new line of thinking materialises, after research and careful trials, there could be a breakthrough in treating Covid-19.

Syed Ahmed Ali, Hyderabad

Nobody is stopped from finding cure for Covid-19

The article 'Why not homoeopathy to cure coronavirus? (May 12) pleads homoeopathic doctors be given a chance to contain the virus with homeo preventive and curative medicines. The fact is that nobody can prevent anybody from finding a cure for the pandemic. However, those who find a cure should prove its efficacy for adoption on a general basis by the medical fraternity or recommendation by WHO, AYUSH, or whatever. As of today, with worldwide knowledge that there is no cure for this novel virus, the WHO or any governmental or professional organisation including AYUSH is issuing only guidelines with regard to going in for any type of medication for gaining immunity etc., with strong notes of caution for surveillance and remedial measures later. Despite the huge popularity in terms of promoters, practitioners and advertisers, scientific knowledge from all branches confirms that homeopathic remedies have no active content. In any case, one has to rush to a hospital at the slightest complication. Also, all vaccination after birth is unavoidable including homeopaths, leave alone vaccination for other diseases to be developed later. Touting for supremacy of homeopathy over allopathy and other systems is just weird.

R Umamaheswara Rao, Hyderabad