COVID-19: An Interview with Dr. Kelli Barr

The Pandemic that Took the World by Surprise: An Interview with Dr. Kelli Barr Isha Thapar

It is surreal to live in a world where everything seems to be at a standstill and the future seems so uncertain. However, viral pandemics are not novel events. Deadly pandemics like the Spanish Flu, HIV/AIDS, and H1N1 have affected millions of people around the world. Viruses essentially consist of genetic material enclosed in a protein shell. Viruses don’t satisfy all the characteristics of a living organism, as they cannot reproduce outside a host body. When a virus enters a host cell, it tricks the hijacked cell to transcribe and translate its genetic material, thereby producing millions of copies.

Coronaviruses are named for the crown-like spikes on their surface. Coronaviruses tend to primarily affect animals. There are only seven strains known to infect humans, including this new virus: COVID-19 (‘CO’ stands for ‘corona,’ ‘VI’ for ‘virus,’ ‘D’ for disease, and ‘19’ for 2019, the year it started). Four of the strains cause common colds and the other three strains, MERS-CoV, SARSCoV, and COVID-19, cause severe illnesses with acute respiratory symptoms. Like the H1N1 virus that emerged in 2009, COVID-19 is highly contagious, as humans have not previously encountered it and thus have no immunity. However, unlike H1N1, COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting older adults.

Scientia interviewed Baylor professor and tropical disease biologist, Dr. Kelli Barr, to gain an insight into the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for the future of research and healthcare. Currently, Dr. Barr is researching the epidemiology and pathogenesis of vector-borne and zoonotic viruses. Specifically, she studies the epidemiology of arboviruses in hyperendemic areas. According to Dr. Barr, viral pandemics like smallpox, measles, and polio have recurred regularly, as have several flu pandemics such as the H1N1 outbreak only ten years ago. During the H1N1 pandemic, widespread testing helped monitor the spread of the disease, and the implementation of self-isolation protocols prevented hospitals from being overwhelmed. Dr. Barr further elaborated that with the present pandemic, we are not conducting widespread testing, which is detrimental to proper surveillance. She believes that more labs must be approved for testing in order to prevent the spread of the disease. In addition to inadequate testing, the spread of the virus can also be attributed to lack of social distancing. In China, for example, a severe lockdown limited the spread of disease. Some countries implemented strict social isolation to the extent that only one person was allowed to leave the house once a week to get food. The lack of social distancing in the US is partially due to the absence of a community oriented mentality, as well as high population density in many cities, such as New York City. The restrictiveness of social distancing required to quell the spread of disease is one reason that Dr. Barr states vector-borne diseases are often easier to control. The control of vector-borne diseases can be achieved through the spray of insecticides and application of insect repellant, while contagious diseases spread by human contact are extremely difficult to deal with.

Many wonder if we could have been better prepared for this pandemic, possibly through earlier investment in research and vaccine development. However, Dr. Barr states that increased research could not have prepared us for this particular pandemic because COVID-19 is a zoonotic disease, meaning it is transmissible from animals to humans. There is simply no way to predict if and when a virus will jump species. This is the case with many previous pandemics as well. H1N1 came from pigs, SARS came from bats, and MERS came from camels. Dr. Barr emphasizes that we must have a good administrative infrastructure in place in order to quickly control the spread of a pandemic once it arises.

It is of interest to note how this pandemic will change the future of research and healthcare. According to Dr. Barr, research and healthcare “are already evolving.” Millions of dollars are being funneled towards coronavirus research. We do not yet have a human vaccine for any of the coronaviruses. This is due to the fact that these zoonotic viruses jump between humans and animals and mutate very quickly, making the development of a vaccine difficult. However, the severity of the illness caused by this virus is serving as an impetus for researching new antivirals and new vaccines. In addition to influencing research, this pandemic will fundamentally change an average person’s perspective on disease control and healthcare. Dr. Barr is of the opinion that “this pandemic is showing people how much they can contribute to the spread of disease.” The widespread nature of this disease emphasizes the importance of washing hands and staying home if ill. This pandemic will cause people to realize the extent to which behavioral changes impact the spread of illness.

Dr. Barr’s parting advice to students is to reference clinical data from trustworthy sources such as the CDC and the WHO when seeking information about the coronavirus. She warns that social media can sometimes be a misleading source of false information and should not be solely relied on.

Many Baylor students will go on to become healthcare workers, researchers, and policy makers. When another pandemic arises, which it inevitably will, we will be on the forefront. This pandemic will strongly influence how we behave in the future. Increased investment in the development of antiviral drugs, formation of policy to ensure effective administration, and better social distancing techniques will all aid in an improved response to a future pandemic. This pandemic was not the first to shock the world, and it certainly won’t be the last.