more be done to help madagascar food to feed the hungry mouths and finally action on climate change. now you're up to date. remember, you can get all the latest news and information around the clock on our website. that's the w dot com to make sure to also on twitter and instagram, our there is at d. w. and go further. thank you so much for your company. the the fight against the corolla virus pandemic. how has the rate of infection in developing? what does the latest research information and contact the corona virus off the 19th special next on d w? how does the virus spread? why do we panic by and when will all this and just 3 of the topics that we covered

in our weekly radio. if you would like any more information on the kroner virus or any other science topics, you should really check out our podcast. you can get it wherever you get your podcast. you can also find us at w dot com, forward slash science. let me ah, who's on his lease was one of the 1st germans to contract cove in 1900. and she was one of the 1st to see that symptoms can remain even after the virus is gone. 5 months later, she was still experiencing difficulties. as you can see, moodle, i'm very tired, i can easily go to bed and fall asleep at 8 o'clock. that wasn't the case before. yeah. and that's the main problem. the tiredness, it's really debilitating. some 10 to 20 percent of those infected later suffer from

long covert. recent studies suggest women are at greater risk than men. the lungs, heart, brain, or mental health can be affected and it is still not exactly clear what causes long cove it or what can be done to treat it. hello and welcome to are covered 900 special. because cobra, berlin being tired out of breath and feeling like the infection simply won't leave . long covert syndrome is grueling for patients and a challenge to medical professionals. now researchers in the german city of allying and might have taken an important step towards understanding more about the condition a single drop of blood. it's all it's needed for the examination. at the university long and matthew monk institute in germany, scientists are looking for the causes of long coded or post covered 1900 syndrome,

and which patients suffer from lingering breathlessness tightness and the chest for fatigue and associates. we've seen many different blood cells react very strongly, they get bigger and have a greater volume, some become more malleable, others become more rigid. these characteristics might have something to do with the sales, not passing through the capillaries as easily. and instead, getting stuck in the lungs, advantage come the longest line to measure the cell smelly ability. scientists have developed a so called chip which contains tiny holes finer than a human hair. blood is pumped through these canals and filmed with the high speed camera. the result, healthy blood cells become rob shaped, infected ones remain around lunch alone. the finding that all blood cells change is very significant. and what we then saw is that these

characteristics revert back to normal in most patients, once they've got over the disease and made a full recovery, which i've added to the test method from among and provides doctors with yet another tool for better understanding cove. at 19 and it's long term. so there is some indication of what could be causing long coded symptoms, but a lot still needs to be figured out. let's try to unpack of what is known so far. with me is matthew bartels, professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation. and while you're a medical center in new york, welcome back to our program. matthew. as we just saw, the report abnormalities in the blood could be a cause of long could it, could this finding help in the prevention or even therapy of it? this is a very interesting finding because, you know, we have not really at this point understood the exact causes of long code and it is

a systemic type of disease and manifests in many ways. as you add in your intro piece. the idea that something that the blood malady may contribute to a systemic diseases is not at all something that would be unusual. many people are familiar with sickle cell and although that's a genetic condition and very different having ever maladies with the blood cells, they are cause many effects, including central neurological symptoms of tea cause muscular skeletal complaints problems with the joints. so having something that is present all throughout the body like blood showing these long term abnormalities may be a very important step in understanding part of where we may be getting the cause of our long cove. it 10 to 20 percent of covert patients end up suffering from long covered symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, headache. how long do those usually last? well, that's a very good point. we don't really know. we are, you know,

at this point only a year and a half into the pandemic, but we are seeing in our own medical center and we have along with clinic numerous patients that a year out are still seeing symptoms. the fatigue seems to be one of the greatest ones. there are of course, patients who have long term lung damage that have come from having had the co and that causes scarring that we don't know if it's going to reverse. but it seems in very. ready severe cases, unfortunately, that it persists. and we're now starting to be concerned that that may actually progress to the point where patients may actually require long transplantation. as the disease progresses and the neurological symptoms of the many patients complain of a fogginess or a little bit of mental clouding. that persists for a long time. we don't know exactly what the causes of these things are, but we do know that exercise and that having patients participate in our therapy

programs rehabilitation things that we would do for patients who have other causes of either neurologic or pulmonary or chronic fatigue or musculoskeletal symptoms. do seem to have effect as well for this population. so we're having benefit and we're actually making them feel better. but we still have a problem with not understanding fully the long term time course because it's just too early for us to know the long term effects. ok. we know that high age being overweight and other symptoms at the risk of a severe covert infection. do these conditions also contribute to the risk of long probing? it appears that the folks who had a higher risk for having coven seemed to have more symptoms. but it's not just only those patients we have young, otherwise active and healthy patients who are presenting with long coping symptoms . and so it's pretty broad spread. but they do see,

it does seem to be that very severe patients seem to have more of a pulmonary and cardiac symptoms that persists. whereas we're very surprised to see a lot of patients who are never admitted to hospital and who were never in an intensive care unit or on a breathing machine who are presenting now a lot of it. so they had a relatively mild initial, of course, but are still presenting with the f t and some of the mental clouding. and that is very interesting and kind of concerning because we don't necessarily have a handled and say, oh, you are definitely going to be free of this because it happens to everyone is the fact that we've just quote, unquote just been one and a half years into this pandemic, this fact make it so difficult to do proper research on long over well, the, the research, there's some things that are progressing rapidly and because so many individuals have had long. this is a disease and have a co way. we're actually getting

a much better categorization of for the long terms, the quello or the long term side effects of this condition. it's difficult for us to actually tell because we don't have a long term yet. so we don't know yet to say what will happen to people 5 and 15 years from now. but the other challenge that we have is a lot of the symptoms of long coping overlap with symptoms that we can see from other kinds of syndrome such as chronic fatigue syndrome or from mild dimensions or from other kinds of metabolic conditions that may cause some brain abnormalities which cause people to have some confusion. and then as you resolve those underlying metabolic conditions, you can resolve the underlying problem. so we, we really, at this point are looking at such a constellation of so many symptoms that it makes it a little hard to focus in because it's not like long code is just causing one thing . causes a whole constellation of symptoms which may actually be either enhancer,

worsened by other conditions, or may just be the other condition and we're thinking it may be long home. and so it's a bit challenging for researchers to actually tie it, get it tied up in the play bundle because we have so many complexities that are actually in there. but the knowledge that we're getting now is moving forward. for example, the blood study that you just mentioned is one of these things we're. ready now starting see the physiologic background. right. that's your bartels, professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation. thank you for his thoughts. thank you. and from the feeling that cove had never left its now onto the worry of catching it again. here is one of your questions for a science correspond the derek williams. paul, i had cobra 19 recently and recovered. then not long ago found out i was exposed again. could i have been infected again? the data we have indicates that although it's not impossible it's,

it's highly unlikely. a lot of researchers have looked at this question and come to that conclusion. for instance, a recent large scale study involving over 25000 healthcare workers in britain showed that having had cove at 900 ones had a dramatic protective effect for at least 7 months after an infection. the strength of the effect was close to the one observed and people who had 2 doses of our most effective vaccines. additionally, this study showed that people who had covered 19 then tested positive again for it a few months or weeks after convalescence. the chances of developing symptoms were also much lower than those who were infected with the 1st time. but if you have the disease and recovered, it's still doesn't mean that you can just sit back and relax completely. you still

really need to follow it up with the vaccination. that's because although recent studies into the robustness of long term immune response in people who got the disease, although they've been very encouraging, we still don't know whether that response might wayne over time. in fact, a growing body of research now indicates that people who recovered and were subsequently vaccinated, that they could very well have the best protection of all. some experts believe the immune response after that double whammy will be so powerful and so long lasting and those who recovered and been vaccinated, that they might never need future booster shots. but for those of us who have only been vaccinated, a lot of experts expect a booster shot will be necessary at some point down the line. me. and that's all for this edition of cover $900.00

special for more information about them. if you can check out the code with 900 section on our website at www dot com. now, thanks for watching ticket. the news entered the conflict with tim sebastian, american secretary of state, anthony lincoln, within craig last week is about to offer words of comfort and support for the country after russian troops in huge numbers. coast, who is border, my guess is we're ukraine's foreign minister. what did he get out of the visit and what was conflict zone? next? d w. refugees. the greek island lead is where their dreams.

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by police and i'm the we are here is actually on fire for mines in the because this is our live, we will be defending it if they had cross that border. what do you think the west would have done for you out this whole system is in bad shape. america, secretary of state ones, and the blinker was in ukraine last week. the same apparently, to offer words of comfort and support for the countries after russian troops masked in huge numbers. first with border. my guess this week simply is ukraine. foreign ministers in nature to lay about. what did he get out of the visit? and what was he asked to give

me a call about welcome to complex. good afternoon. the us secretary of state was visiting last week and said he stands strongly with your country. what do you understand that to mean standing strongly with you? that means political, me and military and reforms support for ukraine. we count on our partnership with the united states as much as we count on the partnership with the european union and its key capitals. your president was clear that he wanted more than that a few days before blinking arrived. he posted a tweet, calling for a clear signal about the european and euro atlantic prospect. in other words,

a clear signal about your big for membership of the you and nato. did you get that clear signal? well, both perspectives, your atlantic and the european membership are long over you. and i would like to recall that, for example, when it comes to nature, the promise was given by allies in 2008 at summit. so we've been, it's been 13 years now and my president, to reiterate the ambition to achieve that. we have not heard affirmative positive response yet, but this is, you know, we aspirants, we are seeking membership so we will keep pushing the story forward. so you didn't get what you wanted to sell in effect. mister blink. and just bought a basket of fine woods and that was it. no, it would be not entirely correct mister blinking. there is nothing

to it. well, he did not bring with himself a promise that ukraine will become a member of nato this year or next year. but he reaffirmed that the united states stand by the decision of 2008, where it saves clearly ukraine and georgia because it applies to both countries, will be members of nato. and we will be working with our friends and partners or machine goal. but the problem is without a time table, it's meaningless, isn't it? well, what we need, we currently have a time table, which is called the national ano program of cooperation between ukraine and nita. it is structured very much along the pattern of the membership action plan. but what we do need, and i can agree with you here is a clear timeline of granting ukraine membership action plan.

and what will follow after that, this is the next step, you know, integration with their lines. how far did you get with your shopping list? because you are known to be looking for enhanced anti drone and anti aircraft capabilities. you also want the patriot missile is washington going to meet those requests. while we did submit to the united states list of the most urgent need for your korean army, some of the items on the least are more easier to get. some are more difficult. we did not expect to get everything at a time, but we are making progress on those items on those positions which, which are feasible at this. at this point. you say you're making progress so you didn't get any of them. you haven't signed any deals to get them. it's not, it's not fixed. mister smith, secretary blinking did not bring an anti sniper complex with him. but know

that he was going to give you why neither nor a date. i have no doubts that we will. we will receive a number of items from our list. this does not require a reiteration. it's meant a matter of cooperation of certain technicalities, but i have no doubt that we will give them this good a. but let's talk if we may about the frozen law in the eastern part of your country. if we can talk about it that way, there's been some, the escalation intention with moscow. it withdrew many of its troops off to the southern masses deployment, close to your joint border. if they had crossed that border, what do you think the west would have done for you? expressions of condemnation, maybe some sanctions. well 1st, there is no withdraw low, adequate to the number of russian troops and military

machinery assembled along the border of ukraine and in the occupied territories. what is happening cannot be called it was drove. all russian forces largely stay where they are. what has changed is a drop in military for x. this is true, but the threat is still there. and you know, in the soviet union, the had to show trials, trials without justice. and now what we observe is a show withdrawal. it was role without removal forces and this we should be, we should be, we should remain vigilant on this. when it comes to your 2nd question in this, this is all, and this is our people. we will defend it. we will fight for it. we do not expect for in troops to arrive and help us, but we do expect from partners to provide ukraine was all the assistance they can offer to make us prevail in this struggle for our country. so you are not expecting

nato to go to war with you. with russia, you're clear on that to defend you? absolutely, we are not a member of nato yet. and i would like to say again, clearly in squarely this is our land. we will be defending it, but partners can help us to defend our land, and i'm sure that this is what will this will be happening when it comes to negotiations. your president has made it clear he no longer thinks the minced to agreement and lay down 6 years ago is the way forward. is that because not be, you know, of the russians know the separate is that actually done what you signed up to do? well, the key demand off russia in means is to recognize so called a little dance can donate the people's republic s party to the conflict which will

effectively turn an international armed conflict between ukraine and russia into an internal armed conflict between ukraine and separatist. this is the cornerstone of the discussions that are taking place in in means. now my president is saying that our goal number one should be peace and security and lives of people and not the political, political, recognitions. and we call on moscow to focus on the same on bringing peace to dom bus. and on making progress on a number of drug decisions which are ready to be adopted. they are pending greenlight from moscow. moscow can easily give the green light, but the continuous playing this game with the demands to recognize dornen can little dance gas particles conflict. so this is an essence, what is happening and means can, this is why we're making steps to ensure

a way forward out of the stalemate. the mid stew agreement is, you know, contains political commitments on you. and on the other side, article for a dialog on local elections was supposed to start the day after a heavy weapons were pulled back from the contact line. article 11, the new ukranian constitution should have entered into force by the end of 2015. its key element was to have been decentralization. none of these things happen. did the end, each side blamed the other for not fulfilling their side of the bargain? where do you go from here? you are absolutely right. this is, this is the word, the word by word russian narrative about means when moscow a meet the fact that item paragraph, one of means is security. first you stop shooting. and then you proceed to political settlement. ukraine spared the no effort and made

a number of painful concessions to ensure a cease fire. unfortunately, this is fire has been violated on the systemic basis and more than more and many korean soldiers had been killed. i would like to assure you that we are absolutely committed to moving along the political part of the over the midst of the means agreements. you really think you to defer, you think you get those through your parliament, those political aspects of the minutes to agreement. while, if we see, if we see that russia is not killing our soldiers, is withdrawing it's heavy machine that have a military machinery from ukraine and that advice by security provisions. this will give us an additional argument in the parliament to convince that this is the road to the 2 piece. this is the road to settlement, and this is what my parliament once. but we will never accept any russian idea of

federalist zation of ukraine. because in this country, we have a very advanced reform of decentralization. and by the way, i would like to thank the government of germany in helping us with this reform to really empower communities on the ground and to give them more right rights. and when certain regions of don s can, will ganske parts of ukraine, which are currently occupied by russia, returned to ukraine. they will enjoy all those vast possibilities for development and prosperity. yeah, but why does your president say he's not going to talk to them? russia says, talk to the separatists, your president refuses. i'm curious as to why he refuses because the people and then that's going to look at castille ukrainian citizens. why is your president refusing to talk to you craniums if he 15 area back under his control? my president will talk to legitimately elected ukrainians in the currently occupied parts of don't ask and

a little and we will not talk to hold there so fresh and passwords who vigorously in newly implement only instructions coming from moscow. the we should not mix these 2 categories up one, we hold elections as provided by the means. agreements when there are legitimately elected representatives, they will be become part of the political system and we will talk to them. but today, the only party that makes decisions and instructs people on the ground, how to act is moscow. it's not the so called separatist, yes, but this process is going nowhere, isn't it? and the fact is that your out of ideas for how to pursue it, something that the president's chief of staff actually admitted at the end of last month and a year mark on television, he said it's necessary to continue working in all directions and it all formats because in the end, we don't know what format will bring peace to our land. 7 years after the seizure

of crimea, that's an extraordinary admission of both failure and despair. isn't it? you don't know how to continue. there is no fate. neither failure, no despair in here, we have the number of while we are upset with the behavior of moscow with its willingness to play constructively, inter shipper, kate, sincere willingness of ukraine and of germany and france to put an end to the war in don't us. when it comes to crimea, we launched, we came up with very good idea of crimea platform. and they say, this initiative is gathering more and more international support. so now we are not running out of ideas. but unfortunately, russia has adopted a very ah, very unhelpful tactics of simply downplaying every,

any idea that they did not like or ignoring them. but we will keep trying because as i said, just a couple of minutes before this is all and we cannot sit down with our and lay down our hands. we have to come up, we have with new ideas, we have to be creative and we will be doing that. this is all lent and it may take some time. but in the end we will succeed. the fact is that your president was elected 2 years ago on a promise to end the war in the dumbass region. he didn't do it even blame the continuing conflict on his predecessor, president bar shameka saying it wasn't russian aggression. that was the problem. it was the ukrainian side being unreasonable that came back to bite him as well then that in effect, he's over promised and delivered. the biggest sin a politician can commit, isn't it? while my president still has a couple of years in office to deliver on that and the 2 before the end of his 1st or the 2nd point is that in just 1st year of his presidency,

there were some very good achievements in our relations with russia and they were promising, for example, the exchange of prisoners, including the return of the famous director or all x in so who was a political prisoner in russia. russia during the vessels captured at the carriage rate. so there was a good period now there is the best period, but it doesn't mean that we will not find a solution that will bring back the good period. and we will find we will settle the conflict without crossing our red lines. miss greeley. but it's clear that if you want more help from washington in the west, you're going to have to do more to deal with the rampant political corruption in your country. and you, the state department says that's key to securing ukraine's democratic institutions . it's economic prosperity in euro atlantic future every year. the same message

from the us from europe, year after year. why are you not doing better on this front? well, 1st we're doing good for ourselves, not for the sake of support, but you're not doing it. you're doing, you're not doing it until you're not getting to grips with well, you on, you can do your, your, your, your, your either misinformed or exaggerating. it was under the president of an under the prison zelinski that the anti corruption court finally started functioning the ukraine, and it was a very long battle to set up the court and make it operational. unfortunately, the previous president did not allow that to happen. president zalinski did, and he does not interfere in the operations of the court when the constitutional court of ukraine and other body of judicial system tried to destroy an anti

corruption reform. it was the president who stepped in immediately. and then if he was followed by the government and the parliament who restored parts of critical legislation that was declared new and void and not invoice by, by the constitutional court, things are happening. and you know, every country is, is a difficult combination of various factors. but this country is moving in the right direction and those who are calling on us to move foster, they are cordially invited to come and join us and help us. that's easy. well, those who are your cordial, inviting with those who were there last week. if you look at the state department, human rights report, the latest one, what, what's clear is that what's damaging western confidence in you is this continue drumbeat of human rights abuses that are reported in your country. as pointed out in the latest human rights report from washington. the concern that's highlighted is not just the abuse, that's where the corruption,

the abuse or torture that's carried out by state employees and you know, security service that's bad enough, but the impunity that surrounds them. the fact they can violate the, or with a pretty strong assurance that they'll get away with it. are you happy about that? when it comes to human rights abuses, insecurity institutions, you know, this is something that is not just neither systemic nor large scale. and unfortunately, to my deepest regrets present not only in ukraine but also in other countries of europe. we follow recommendations of the european committee against torture on that . and we enjoy excellent cooperation with them. otherwise, i do not understand what kind of systemic violations of human rights you are referring about. it's quite clear in the report, the report says, abuse of detainees remains a widespread problem. the government generally failed to take adequate steps to prosecute or punish. most officials who committed abuses, most officials resulting in a climate of impunity. that couldn't be clara,

could it that's from your friends in washington. you are probably, you are referring to the situation in presence with regard to the imprisoned imprison persons. this is a big scorch. not only for ukraine, but also for other european countries, but this is not a large scale systemic oppression of human rights happening across the country. as i said to you answering my previous question, we are absolutely cooperating with all human ride bodies, including the council of europe and the european union to address out standing issues related to the treatment of prisoners in in prisons. one of the other key issues which has been raised by washington is the low level of confidence reported in your judges. the u. s. says that despite efforts to reform the

judiciary and the prosecutor general's office corruption among judges and prosecutors remained endemic, invent mac, why is it that you're absolutely why? unable to guarantee the rule of law in your country? well, 1st, the rule of law and judiciary is not the same thing. tradition is part of the rule of law. and the reason a rule of law in this country, but one of its weakest point that requires a systemic attention is judicially. i'll judicial system is in bad shape. i can fully agree was that it's i, as a citizen, i regret it. and the president and the government and the parliament, they are all addressing the issue in close cooperation with our international partners and the venice commission of the council of europe. because we all realize

that the judiciary is an essential, important element for foreign investments. and for bringing also for, for, for bringing justice to the country for, for protecting human rights in the country. so we are addressing it this, this problem through a set of reforms conducted in the closest possible corporation with international institutions and international partners. the state department says some judges were pressured by high level politicians. others reported lead to brides in exchange for giving particular verdicts. if they're found to be breaking the law like that, why can't they be removed from office? i'm not aware of any report that a member of the government or the president's office would be pressuring, pressuring a judicial in court or judge. quite the contrary, as some of the elements of the ukrainian judiciary are putting pressure on the

government and by issuing ill legitimate judge judgements. in particular, the one that i mentioned, the, the judgement of the constitutional court that tried to destroy the anti corruption reform that was designed and implemented by ukraine and its friends and partners from abroad. but i'm sure that we will come this problem as well, because no corrupt the judge can succeed against the government and the people of ukraine that are willing to overcome to resolve and overcome this problem. what about the press journalists to a feeling the heat in your country when they deal with sensitive topics. washington's as violence against the press remain the problem with human rights scripts, blaming government inaction in solving crimes against them. why this inaction on the part of the government?

well, the problem of press should be considered from 2 sides on the one side. it's the problem of disinformation flowing into the country and the spreading around among, amongst citizens. this is something that the government should be addressing and is addressing to insure security of the country. on the other hand, you, we do have to ensure the freedom of speech and we are absolutely committed to it. and of course, to ensure safety of journalists, i'm not aware of any recent cases where a government agent or representative or someone associated with the government would be conducting would be suppressing freedom of speech. in fact, the criticism against the president, the parliament, the government as a whole is coming from many, many media coordinators and that's normal because we live in

a democracy and the it's vibrant and there are many different opinions. all these can, can exist, can and should exist and if democratic country, however, we will not allow this information specifically coming from russian media to destroy our peoples and people's minds. it's a question is all set to what extent you're protecting your journalists? because the state development report mentioned a journalist from romance gay who was beaten by a police officer while he was filming protest in front of a government building that was april last year. 7 months later, the state bureau of investigations was still quote, looking into it. is that good enough as far as you are concerned? well, if we start picking up one specific case and focus on it, of course the situation will look doom and gloom. i. i'm where i'm aware of this case, i find it disturbing as well. and i stand on the on the side of jordan,

the least in this particular case. but please do not try to create a picture of doom and a doom and gloom picture. but no, i'm not trying any cases taking out taking out of the context. we are in a dialogue with you. i'm just trying to make the point. yes, i'm not creating any, any image that hasn't been reflected in the state department. human rights report. just one final question, you talk about how you're protecting your country and you talk about getting your land back. do you seriously imagine a day when the russians will fade, you? sorry, we took crimea big mistake. have it back. well, has that train left the station? well, did you imagine that the soviet union was one day would seriously say eastern germany can go back to germany and reunite again? i'm sure that if your leadership and your politicians never imagined that they

would never succeed. mr. co labor. it's been a pleasure having you on colleagues on thank you very much. thank you. the the the me use the news . news

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