Viruses seem to have
only one purpose
– to replicate more
of themselves in a
captured host cell.
Viruses multiply
by invading and
stealing energy
from animal cells,
then take them over,
and force them
to clone
thousands,
or hundreds
of thousands,
of themselves.
Viruses are
typically spherical,
about 1/10,000 of a
millimeter in diameter,
with protuberances
that bond with
surface cells in a
respiratory tract.
All viruses inject bits
of themselves into
healthy cells of the host
they’re attacking, and then
trick the cells into turning
their genetic material
against themselves,
into making duplicate
copies of the invaders !
The host cells
almost always die,
usually when the
new viral particles
burst out to spread
the invasions.
In humans, viruses directly
attack only the respiratory
system, becoming more
dangerous as they penetrate
deeper into the lungs.
Our bodies’ immune defenses
react to infections in two surges.
The first, an "innate" response,
occurs within minutes to hours,
triggering a fever.
Tissues and cells produce
"interferons" -- molecules that
incapacitate many viruses.
Some infections require
a second wave of "adaptive"
immune responses, that arrive
four or five days after
the initial infection.
The wave
of "T cells"
that arrive
release
cytotoxins,
to kill virally
infected cells.
Over-aggressive
immune responses
cause much
of the damage
in severe cases.
After winning a "virus war",
your body is programmed
to fight faster, and stronger,
the next time that pathogen
shows up.
This is referred to as
"protective immunity."
Vaccines teach your body
to fight quickly when
exposed to the virus.
But antibody levels
fall over time,
so may require
a "booster shot(s)"
in future years.
There have been
no vaccines ever
developed for prior
conona family viruses.
Viruses can also mutate,
making a vaccine nearly
worthless.
The good news:
-- 99.97% of Americans
have survived COVID-19,
and
-- While all viruses mutate,
most viruses don’t persist
for long.
The bad news:
COVID-19 hit nursing
homes very hard, which
some government policies
actually encouraged.
And people under age 50,
rarely killed by COVID-19,
were punished with a partial
economic shutdown for
months, which will hurt them
far worse than the virus !
With lost jobs and incomes,
some never coming back.
Bankruptcies.
Evictions.
Rarely discussed
are increases of their:
-- Suicides
-- Spouse abuse
-- Child abuse
-- Alcohol abuse
-- Drug abuse
-- Other health problems
from all the stress,
and the deaths of sick people
who have been avoiding
hospitals, and doctors,
during the COVID-19
epidemic !