The Pandemic People: Professor Wendy Barclay

Sir Andrew Pollard engages in a captivating discussion with Professor Wendy Barclay, an esteemed virologist, about the crucial role of viruses in causing pandemics. Highlights include viral transmission routes, COVID-19's impact on the human body, differences from flu, and origins of the virus. Her expertise sheds light on virology and the ongoing global health crisis. Professor Barclay, from Imperial College London, provides a comprehensive overview of what viruses are, how they replicate within the body, and how they encode genetic information. 
 
Sir Andrew Pollard and Professor Barclay explore how humans first became aware of the existence of viruses. Throughout the discussion, Professor Barclay's expertise and deep understanding of viruses provide a captivating insight into the complex world of virology and the pivotal role of viruses in causing pandemics. The conversation turns to discussing COVID-19 variants, viral transmission, and how the immune system responds to the virus. They delve into the impact of variants on transmission rates, how the virus infects cells, and the body's immune response.  
 
Lastly, the conversation sheds light on the origins of the COVID-19 virus, explaining the prevailing theory that it originated from a natural source, such as a wet market in Wuhan, China, where the first cases were reported.