{"id":1241,"date":"2020-04-06T12:52:08","date_gmt":"2020-04-06T16:52:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/altitudeclinic.com\/blog\/?p=1241"},"modified":"2023-04-02T14:46:34","modified_gmt":"2023-04-02T18:46:34","slug":"u_v-radiation-covid-2-at-high-altitude","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/altitudeclinic.com\/blog\/2020\/04\/u_v-radiation-covid-2-at-high-altitude\/","title":{"rendered":"U_V radiation protection against CoVid-2 at high altitude"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Translation from the Bolivian Newspaper LA RAZON<\/span><\/strong> (Original version available here<\/a>)<\/div>\n
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April 5, 2020<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The advantages of ultraviolet radiation in controlling the coronavirus at high-altitude<\/em><\/strong><\/h1>\n
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LA PAZ<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\/ April 5, 2020\u00a0\/ 09:00<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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BY\u00a0GUSTAVO ZUBIETA-CALLEJA \/ SPECIAL FOR LA RAZ\u00d3N<\/a>\u00a0(Espa\u00f1ol)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja \/ Special for La Raz\u00f3n<\/p>\n

As everyone on the planet knows, the coronavirus has attacked in a fierce way, due to its high speed of contagion and its physical characteristics.\u00a0The advanced countries of the first world have suffered the impact in an alarming way.\u00a0And they are fighting an almost uncontrollable battle.<\/p>\n

In Bolivia, the Government has correctly made rapid quarantine decisions, which constitute an essential measure in order to avoid the subsequent overload of medical centers and especially intensive care units, which are very limited.<\/p>\n

This is not an easy measure to carry out and understand in its complexity, but it is a fundamental defense mechanism to flatten the incidence curve.\u00a0That is, instead of being initially exponential or hyperexponential (as I have called it, because it does not double every time, but one person can infect many at once), shooting upwards, it becomes a flattened quasi-logarithmic progression.\u00a0In other words, a mathematical change occurs, very important in its evolution.<\/p>\n

Ultra-violet radiation, a component of light that comes from the sun, is very strong at high altitudes in cities above 3,000 meters above sea level (especially) such as La Paz (3,100-4,100), El Alto (4000-4100), Oruro (3,800) and Potos\u00ed (4,000), in Bolivia.<\/p>\n

The ultraviolet radiation index (UVindex) is considered to be at extreme levels in La Paz, as we found in a publication with Danish colleagues more than 10 years ago in the following graph, where the\u00a0 top line is La Paz, Bolivia 3,600, and the bottom Copenhagen, Denmark<\/p>\n

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Radiacion Ultravioleta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Footnote: Kessel, L., Kofoed, PC, Zubieta-Calleja, GR & Larsen, M. Acta Opthalmologica.88 (2): 235-40, March 2009.<\/p>\n

As an expert in altitude medicine, I was invited by Prof. Kusal Das to participate in the UNESCO International Forum on COVID-19 with Chairman Prof. Sinerik Ayrapetyan, on Friday, March 27.<\/p>\n

Various experts spoke about the molecular characteristics of the coronavirus, of the incidences in their countries, such as Italy, the United States, India and Iran, among others.\u00a0The mechanisms of action of the virus were analyzed and the search for different treatment techniques was discussed, taking into account many characteristics of the virus.<\/p>\n

Next I expose part of what I exposed:<\/p>\n

1) Ultraviolet radiation is a protection factor against this virus, because it is lethal.\u00a0One of the ways the disease is transmitted is because it sits on surfaces where it stays alive for several hours and possibly even days.<\/p>\n

But at high-altitude, solar radiation constitutes a sterilizer of all surfaces where the sun falls.\u00a0That is why the streets in high-altitude cities benefit from this physical characteristic.\u00a0As an expert, I always said that ultraviolet radiation was beneficial.<\/p>\n

Of course, some are afraid of sun exposure because it could lead to skin cancer, but there are no systematic studies to prove these claims.\u00a0The body adapts to the highest levels of radiation;\u00a0otherwise people living in the highlands would have a high incidence of cancer, from a long time ago and nowadays.<\/p>\n

Quite the contrary, ultraviolet radiation is now a formidable mechanism for our defense against the virus.<\/p>\n

2) Dr. Jorge Sol\u00edz, from Laval University, Canada, also observed that in China there were no cases or they were very rare in the Tibet area.\u00a0Together with other colleagues we are writing a scientific article on this topic.\u00a0Dr. Kusal Das, from BLDE University, in India, where I am a \u201cvisiting professor\u201d, likewise noted that there is lower incidence in high altitude areas in his country.<\/p>\n

3) In December 2018 we published with my collaborator Dr. Natalia Zubieta de Urioste an article in relation to the advantages of life at high-altitude, in which we affirm that man lives longer at high-altitude.<\/a><\/p>\n

We demonstrate this with a longevity graph in all Bolivian cities (based on Segip , local citizen registration office, data), which shows an upward curve starting in Pando at 300m and ending in Potos\u00ed at 4100m. In it\u00a0we also mention the advantages of ultraviolet radiation at high-altitude.<\/p>\n

4) Ultraviolet lights are currently being built for use in hospitals and intensive care rooms.\u00a0Even a Bolivian company in Santa Cruz, whom I congratulate.<\/p>\n

5) The low incidence of infections in Oruro, undoubtedly, is due to a strict quarantine (if I’m not mistaken, the first in the country). It deserves our recognition because at the moment the initial eight cases have not increased, with only “patient zero” is an imported case in Oruro).<\/p>\n

But I must add that ultraviolet radiation, our ally in high-altitude cities, is also playing an important role.\u00a0This does not mean, however, that other cases may not appear eventually, because there are many variables, but at the end of this pandemic the statistics will most likely show thatat high-altitude\u00a0there was a lower incidence.<\/p>\n

This does not mean, however, that you must let your guard down.\u00a0There are also other technical aspects of adaptation to height that we will mention very shortly.<\/p>\n

6) On January 30, 2020, in an interview with University Radio-Tv, thanks to a kind invitation from Johnny Villarroel, who directs the Disarmed Discourse program, in which Gonzalo Taboada, president of the Bolivian Academy of Sciences also participated , I stated the following:<\/p>\n

That coronavirus treatment centers, with intensive care rooms, should be installed in remote and isolated areas of the cities so as to avoid contamination.\u00a0I recommended that patients not be taken to centrally located hospitals, leaving them free to care for common illnesses.<\/p>\n

In the case of La Paz, I suggested that it be in the highlands, precisely because there is more ultraviolet radiation there.\u00a0But I also made a recommendation: subsequently, intensive therapy treatment rooms should have a partially glass ceiling, like skylights, to allow ultraviolet light to enter, in order to sterilize the environment in a natural way.<\/p>\n

Hopefully in the future the importance of these suggestions will be understood.<\/p>\n

7) The following graph shows the evolution of coronavirus infections in Bolivia in which it is clearly observed that in high-altitude cities (with broken lines) there is less incidence as a function of time:<\/p>\n

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An updated version can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

8) It is also recommended that when someone arrives at home and takes off the clothes used on the street, they should expose them to the sun during this stage.\u00a0This will allow the virus to be removed quickly (possibly 1\/2 hour).<\/p>\n

9) It is important to mention that, as inhabitants of the highlands, if one were to suffer a very severe case of CoVid-2 that evolves favorably, thanks to the treatments of the heroic doctors, nurses and health personnel in the highland areas, the consequences of the lung lesions could leave fibrosis (scars), hindering exercise capacity.<\/p>\n

These people would develop a Chronic Mountain Sickness (PoliEritroCitemia),in more than a month and a half,\u00a0 which is a compensatory mechanism against chronic respiratory insufficiency, .<\/p>\n

Several are likely to be able to stay and develop their lives normally at high-altitude with proper medical care.<\/p>\n

Finally, I must add that you should not let your guard down, because although there are fewer cases at altitude, there are cases, of course, and we must all respect the quarantine.<\/p>\n

Other recommendations can be found online at our website: http:\/\/altitudeclinic.com\/blog<\/a><\/p>\n

Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja<\/p>\n

He is a doctor, professor and director of the High Altitude Pulmonary and Pathology Institute\u00a0 (IPPA)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Las ventajas de la radiaci\u00f3n ultravioleta en el control del coronavirus en la altura<\/h1>\n
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En Bolivia, el Gobierno ha tomado correctamente decisiones r\u00e1pidas de cuarentena, que se constituyen una medida esencial a fin de evitar la sobrecarga posterior de los centros m\u00e9dicos y sobretodo de las unidades de terapia intensiva, que son muy limitadas<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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LA PAZ<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\/ 5 de abril de 2020\u00a0\/ 09:00<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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POR\u00a0GUSTAVO ZUBIETA-CALLEJA\/ESPECIAL PARA LA RAZ\u00d3N<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja\/Especial para La Raz\u00f3n<\/p>\n

Como todos en el planeta sabemos, el coronavirus ha atacado de una forma feroz, por su gran velocidad de contagio y sus caracter\u00edsticas f\u00edsicas. Los pa\u00edses avanzados del primer mundo han sufrido el impacto de una manera alarmante. Y est\u00e1n librando una batalla casi incontrolable.<\/p>\n

En Bolivia, el Gobierno ha tomado correctamente decisiones r\u00e1pidas de cuarentena, que se constituyen una medida esencial a fin de evitar la sobrecarga posterior de los centros m\u00e9dicos y sobretodo de las unidades de terapia intensiva, que son muy limitadas.<\/p>\n

\u00c9sta no es una medida f\u00e1cil de llevar a cabo y entenderla en su complejidad, pero es un mecanismo de defensa fundamental para aplanar la curva de incidencia. Es decir, en vez de que sea inicialmente exponencial o hiperexponencial (como la he denominado, porque no se dobla cada vez, sino una persona puede contagiar a muchos a la vez), dispar\u00e1ndose hacia arriba, se la vuelve una progresi\u00f3n cuasi logar\u00edtmica aplanada.<\/p>\n

Es decir se produce un cambio matem\u00e1tico, muy importante en su evoluci\u00f3n. La radiaci\u00f3n ultra-violeta, componente de la luz que proviene del sol, es muy fuerte en la altura en las ciudades por encima de los 3.000 msnm (sobretodo) como La Paz (3.100-4.100), El Alto (4000-4100), Oruro (3.800) y Potos\u00ed (4000), en Bolivia.<\/p>\n

Se considera que el \u00edndice de radiaci\u00f3n ultravioleta (UVindex) est\u00e1 en niveles extremos en La Paz, como lo constatamos en una publicaci\u00f3n con unos colegas daneses hace m\u00e1s de 10 a\u00f1os en la siguiente gr\u00e1fica, donde la l\u00ednea delgada es La Paz, Bolivia 3.600, y la gruesa Copenhagen, Dinamarca<\/p>\n

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Pie de gr\u00e1fica: Kessel, L., Kofoed, P.C., Zubieta-Calleja, G.R. & Larsen, M. Acta Opthalmologica.88(2):235-40, March 2009.<\/p>\n

Como experto en medicina de altura fui invitado a participar en el Forum Internacional sobre COVID-19 de la UNESCO, el viernes 27 de marzo, como \u00fanico exponente de toda Sudam\u00e9rica.<\/p>\n

Diversos expertos hablaron sobre las caracter\u00edsticas moleculares del coronavirus, de las incidencias en sus pa\u00edses, como Italia, Estados Unidos, India e Ir\u00e1n, entre otros. Se analizaron los mecanismos de acci\u00f3n del virus y se discute la b\u00fasqueda de diferentes t\u00e9cnicas de tratamiento, tomando en cuenta muchas caracter\u00edsticas del virus.<\/p>\n

A continuaci\u00f3n expongo parte de lo que expuse:<\/p>\n

1) La radiaci\u00f3n ultravioleta es un factor de protecci\u00f3n ante este virus, porque le resulta letal. Una de las formas de transmisi\u00f3n de la enfermedad es porque se asienta en superficies donde se mantiene con vida durante varias horas y posiblemente hasta d\u00edas.<\/p>\n

Pero en la altura, la radiaci\u00f3n solar se constituye en un esterilizador de toda superficie donde cae el sol. Por eso las calles en las ciudades de altura se benefician de esta caracter\u00edstica f\u00edsica de la altura. Como experto, siempre dije que la radiaci\u00f3n ultravioleta era beneficiosa.<\/p>\n

Por supuesto que algunos tienen miedo de exponerse al sol porque podr\u00eda producir c\u00e1ncer de la piel, pero no existen estudios sistem\u00e1ticos que prueben estas afirmaciones. El organismo se adapta a los niveles m\u00e1s altos de radiaci\u00f3n; de otra manera la gente que vive en el altiplano tendr\u00eda mucha incidencia de c\u00e1ncer, desde antes y en la actualidad.<\/p>\n

Al contrario, la radiaci\u00f3n ultravioleta ahora resulta un mecanismo formidable para nuestra defensa ante el virus.<\/p>\n

2) El doctor Jorge Sol\u00edz, de Universidad de Laval, de Canad\u00e1, tambi\u00e9n observ\u00f3 que en China no hubo casos o fueron muy raros en la zona del T\u00edbet.<\/p>\n

En forma conjunta con otros colegas estamos escribiendo un art\u00edculo cient\u00edfico sobre este tema. El doctor Kusal Das, de la BLDE University, en India, donde soy \u201cprofessor visitante\u201d, tambi\u00e9n not\u00f3 que en las zonas de altura en su pa\u00eds hay menor incidencia.<\/p>\n

3) En diciembre de 2018 publicamos con mi colaboradora la doctora Natalia Zubieta de Urioste un art\u00edculo en relaci\u00f3n a las ventajas de la vida en la altura, en el que afirmamos que el hombre vive m\u00e1s largo en la altura.<\/p>\n

Lo demostramos con un gr\u00e1fico de longevidad en todas las ciudades de Bolivia (basada en datos del Segip), que muestra una curva ascendente empezando en Pando y terminado en Potos\u00ed.<\/p>\n

All\u00ed tambi\u00e9n mencionamos las ventajas de la radiaci\u00f3n ultravioleta en la altura.<\/p>\n

4) Actualmente se est\u00e1n construyendo luces ultravioleta para utilizar en los hospitales y salas de terapia intensiva. Incluso una compa\u00f1\u00eda boliviana en Santa Cruz, a la que felicito.<\/p>\n

5) La baja incidencia de contagios en Oruro, indudablemente, se debe a una cuarentena estricta (si no me equivoco, la primera en el pa\u00eds), que merece nuestro reconocimiento porque por el momento no han aumentado los ocho casos iniciales, que de los cuales, seg\u00fan tengo entendido, varios fueron importados por viajeros al exterior (ndR: solo la \u201cpaciente cero\u201d es caso importado en Oruro).<\/p>\n

Pero debo a\u00f1adir que tambi\u00e9n est\u00e1 jugando un rol importante la radiaci\u00f3n ultravioleta, nuestro aliado en las ciudades de altura. Eso no significa, sin embargo, que no puedan aparecen otros casos eventualmente, porque existen muchas variables, pero al final de esta pandemia las estad\u00edsticas muy probablemente demostrar\u00e1n que en los lugares de altura hubo menor incidencia.<\/p>\n

Esto no significa, sin embargo, que se debe bajar la guardia. Tambi\u00e9n existen otros aspectos t\u00e9cnicos de adaptaci\u00f3n a la altura que mencionaremos en una futura oportunidad.<\/p>\n

6) El 30 de enero de 2020, en una entrevista de Radio-Tv Universitaria, gracias a una gentil invitaci\u00f3n de Johnny Villarroel, quien dirige el programa Desarmado Discursivo, en el que tambi\u00e9n particip\u00f3 Gonzalo Taboada, presidente de la Academia de Ciencias de Bolivia, afirm\u00e9 lo siguiente:<\/p>\n

Que se deben instalar centros de tratamiento del coronavirus, con salas de terapia intensiva, en \u00e1reas alejadas y aisladas de las ciudades para no contaminar. Recomend\u00e9 que no se lleven a los pacientes a los hospitales centralmente localizados, para dejarlos \u00e9stos libres para la atenci\u00f3n de las enfermedades habituales.<\/p>\n

En el caso de La Paz, suger\u00ed que sea en el altiplano, justamente porque all\u00ed existe mayor radiaci\u00f3n ultravioleta. Pero adem\u00e1s hice una recomendaci\u00f3n: posteriormente, las salas de tratamiento de terapia intensiva deber\u00edan tener el techo parcialmente de vidrio, como unas claraboyas, para permitir el ingreso de la luz ultravioleta, con el fin de producir la esterilizaci\u00f3n del ambiente en una forma natural.<\/p>\n

Ojal\u00e1 en el futuro se comprenda la importancia de estas sugerencias.<\/p>\n

7) La siguiente gr\u00e1fica muestra la evoluci\u00f3n de las infecciones del coronavirus en Bolivia en la que se observa claramente que en las ciudades de altura (con l\u00edneas entrecortadas) hay menor incidencia en funci\u00f3n del tiempo:<\/p>\n

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8) Tambi\u00e9n se recomienda que cuando alguien llegue a su casa y se saque la ropa que us\u00f3 en la calle, debe exponerla al sol durante esta etapa. Esto permitir\u00e1 que el virus sea eliminado r\u00e1pidamente.<\/p>\n

9) Es importante mencionar que, como habitantes de la altura, si se llegara a sufrir un caso muy severo que al final evolucionara favorablemente, gracias a los tratamientos de los heroicos m\u00e9dicos, enfermeras y personal de salud en las zonas de altura, las secuelas de las lesiones pulmonares podr\u00edan dejar fibrosis (cicatrices), dificultando la capacidad para el ejercicio.<\/p>\n

Estas personas desarrollar\u00edan en el lapso de m\u00e1s de un mes y medio una poliglobulia (PoliEritroCitemia), que es un mecanismo de compensaci\u00f3n frente a la insuficiencia respiratoria cr\u00f3nica.<\/p>\n

Es probable que varios puedan permanecer y desarrollar su vida normalmente en la altura con un cuidado m\u00e9dico adecuado.<\/p>\n

Finalmente, debo a\u00f1adir que no se debe bajar la guardia, porque aunque son menos los casos en la altura, existen casos y debemos respetar todos la cuarentena.<\/p>\n

Otras recomendaciones pueden ser encontradas en l\u00ednea en nuestra p\u00e1gina web: http:\/\/altitudeclinic.com\/blog<\/p>\n

Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja<\/p>\n

Es m\u00e9dico, profesor y director del Instituto Pulmonar y Patolog\u00eda en la Altura (IPPA)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Translation from the Bolivian Newspaper LA RAZON (Original version available here) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 April 5, 2020 \u00a0 The advantages of ultraviolet radiation in controlling the coronavirus at high-altitude \u00a0 LA PAZ\u00a0\/ April 5, 2020\u00a0\/ 09:00 \u00a0 BY\u00a0GUSTAVO ZUBIETA-CALLEJA \/ SPECIAL FOR LA RAZ\u00d3N\u00a0(Espa\u00f1ol) \u00a0Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja \/ Special for La Raz\u00f3n As everyone on the … Continue reading U_V radiation protection against CoVid-2 at high altitude<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1236,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,3,11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1241","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adaptation","category-medical-news","category-scientific-publications"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/altitudeclinic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1241","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/altitudeclinic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/altitudeclinic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/altitudeclinic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/altitudeclinic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1241"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/altitudeclinic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1241\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1913,"href":"https:\/\/altitudeclinic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1241\/revisions\/1913"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/altitudeclinic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/altitudeclinic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1241"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/altitudeclinic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1241"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/altitudeclinic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1241"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}