persistent infection

[mellowtigger]

The climate news recently is too heartbreaking for me to focus on right now.  So how about some lighthearted SARS-CoV-2 news instead?

A year ago, somebody posted a question at Oxford Open Immunology, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 infection is persistent, like it was in SARS-CoV-1. Which you already think is true, if you've been listening to me for years. More recently, this article compiles a long list of studies that say the same thing: viral persistence explains the conditions we see. They do, however, waver and suggest logically-possible alternatives that might also be at work.

But so what? I mean, most of us adults still have chickenpox virus too, and that's no big deal after the initial illness is over, right? (Until you develop painful shingles when the virus reactivates.) And most people get over SARS-CoV-2 just fine, right? After all, 40% of all cases are even asymptomatic. Well, unless maybe you don't improve at all after the initial infection, while still continuing to get infected multiple times, causing increasing risks with reinfections. And what happens if this lingering virus reactivates? Well, if you've been listening to me for years, then you know to expect more blood clots, just like India is warning. News of cardiac and other issues is being discussed in Australia (free archive copy) and other countries, at long last.

How bad is it here in the USA? It's so bad we're proposing to undercount how many citizens are disabled. And whatever is killing middle-aged adults in the USA... *deep breath for sarcasm*... it's most absolutely and definitely not COVID (the brief infection/illness stage), so stop asking, you Debbie Downer.

Stay safe out there.

Comments

[dewline]

Effin' idiocy in public health policy-making...

[mellowtigger]

Here in the USA, Fauci just ruined his legacy, doing the exact opposite of what he did during the last epidemic to hurry along the bureaucratic process. This time around, he did nothing but make excuses to delay action or avoid it altogether.

[oracne]

Do you follow this newsletter? It's pretty good.

https://peoplescdc.substack.com/p/peoples-cdc-november-13-covid-19

[mellowtigger]

Ah, yes, that is definitely a good one, thanks! I visit occasionally but not regularly.

[scrottie]

Saw a few interesting covid news items recently...

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20231031/Study-reveals-how-SARS-CoV-2-alters-mitochondria-leading-to-energy-outages-and-organ-failure.aspx

which if accurate is one heck of an adaptation. Like killing T-cells, draining the host's energy makes them less able to fight off the infection.

https://www.who.int/teams/global-tuberculosis-programme/tb-reports/global-tuberculosis-report-2022/tb-disease-burden/2-2-tb-mortality

Tuberculosis was most effectively treated by treating HIV, but now Covid is causing similar opportunistic infection potential, confirming that Covid damages immune function.

Environment, I don't know where to start either =(

[mellowtigger]

Yeah, the mitochondrial damage is interesting. I didn't expect that one, but I'm glad that it has been identified. This Moody Monday post, I didn't even get into the immune system effects. Maybe someday after the "HV.1" variant disappears from the news, so my stomach stops jumping every time I see a headline that mentions it, so I can focus on the actual news that's relevant. (Like syphilis maybe?) The USA healthcare "system" is such a disaster, top to bottom.

And I'm actively trying not to view the climate headlines right now. Maybe after I settle on further changes that I can make in my life that would help decarbonize my own house ecosystem. It's just so pervasive. Maybe I'll prioritize switching to an electric water heater over replacing my very old and very leaky windows upstairs.