They’ve existed longer than we have and they wage a seemingly endless war against us. Could viruses be beaten once and for all someday?
When a virus attacks the human body a dramatic struggle for survival begins, but in most cases the virus is beaten and the immune system is stronger than before. Could this struggle be avoided in the first place? Is there some way humans could beat viruses once and for all? id asked infectious disease specialist Dr. Christoph Lübbert about humanity’s prospect of triumph against a nefarious and omnipresent enemy.
EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS, BUT WHAT ABOUT OTHER VIRUSES? Dr. Christoph Lübbert: You have touched upon a real problem. At the moment all the discussion is focused on COVID-19, but according to the CDC between 39 million and 56 million people came down with influenza during the 2019– 2020 flu season. That resulted in at least 18 million medical visits, 410,000 hospitalizations, and around 24,000 deaths. Naturally such figures pale in comparison with America’s COVID experience, but it’s important to bear in mind that every virus is different and they all require varied approaches for treatment.
CAN YOU BE MORE SPECIFIC?
First of all, not all viruses seek out a human victim. Also, not every virus that attacks humans makes us sick. The human immune system typically responds quickly and is successful at warding off the attack. And viruses are often responsible for relatively harmless infections, such as a slight cold or a fever blister. But of course viruses also cause potentially fatal infections such as HIV/AIDS and liver disease in the form of hepatitis. The example on everyone’s mind at the moment though is novel coronavirus.
HOW DO VIRUSES SPREAD?
That depends on the specific virus. They can enter the body through a damaged spot in the skin or mucous membrane, as a pathogen in food, or in the form of particles or droplets— which often gain entry through the respiratory system—but viruses can also be spread by the bite of an insect or other animal. The infection starts at the entry site or the virus spreads via the bloodstream, lymphatic system, or nervous system to a target organ.
“THE WARMER IT GETS, THE MORE DIFFICULT CONDITIONS BECOME FOR MANY VIRUSES, INCLUDING THE CORONAVIRUS.”