I'm not worried

[mellowtigger]

I was pleased to see this article appear on MSN a few days ago. The important point is that one of the images shows the possibility of "Viral persistence" in the GI tract. Technically, it is mostly old news, especially if you've been reading here over the years. That graphic they show in slide #3, for example, is information from this article in Nature Review Microbiology from 2023 January 13. I'm glad it's finally making mainstream news, even if it's buried in the story. That Nature article has over 1,000 citations, so I find it reassuring that it's being discussed broadly.

The USA's NIH Director, Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, spoke on video and said the following:

We see evidence of persistent live virus in humans in various tissue reservoirs, including surrounding nerves, the brain, the GI [gastrointestinal] tract, to the lung. ... The virus can persist in tissues for months, perhaps even years.

But if you read the written article (and extra archive copy) around that video, you'll note that hugely important Editor's Note at the top where NIH stepped in and insisted the Doctor didn't say what she said. The clarification they intend to insert potentially could be a valid interpretation of what she said, but her words also could mean exactly what they sound like. The interviewer backtracked and asked her again point-blank if viral persistence is really what she meant, and she said it was. I think the powers-that-be are sweating at the thought of their legal culpability when viral persistence is resolutely demonstrated, more than the smaller studies we have today that continue to suggest persistence. Our government told us the danger was over. They told us to give up precautions, while simultaneously telling us to remain cautious. (So it's not technically their fault if we misinterpreted the danger, right? Or so I expect they are hoping.) At least the mocking of their ridiculous directives (and more of it) was entertaining.

Anyway... you've heard of the new potential dangers of measles (Illinois, California, Ontario) and H5N1 (9 states)?

You're still maintaining your SARS-CoV-2 precautions, aren't you? You still maintain social distance and always mask around others, right? I do, and I still wipe my groceries after I get them home, and I'm not at all worried about potential outbreaks of measles and H5N1, both of which can be airborne too, however inefficiently. The one concession I've made is that I no longer put a raw egg into my orange julius smoothie. Any bird- or cow-related products must be thoroughly cooked. That's it. That's all I'm doing "extra" for these potential problems. Because the world changed in 2019 December, and I'm living in the new reality rather than trying to live in the past. Until businesses and governments realize that human settlements need air quality systems, the same way we need water systems for good health, I'm maintaining my own precautions.

I'm not worried.

Comments

[rebeccmeister]

Having not read the specific studies referenced: in which patient populations were persistent reservoirs studied? Those who experienced asymptomatic infections, or those who experienced severe systemic infections to the point where they were hospitalized such that it even became possible to sample those specific tissues?

Shingles doesn't sound like much fun, either; shingles are the result of persistent chicken pox virus that has emerged from an extended lysogenic phase and gone back into a lytic phase.

I also found it quite interesting (but also sad) that people have finally drawn a connection between Epstein-Barr and multiple sclerosis.

This is not to say that one should completely throw caution to the wind. Just to point out that there's almost always more to the story, and many factors to consider when deciding what sorts of risks to take.

There's a part of me that would like to believe that any reasonable and curious person can successfully self-educate, but I have to say that by now on that subject I also have some doubts.

[kathmandu]

Yes, I'm continuing covid precautions too. The beauty of that is since so many things are airborne / aerosol spread, and Covid is more catching than most of them, this also protects against flu, measles, etc.