Confused

MayBee70

We should be able to beat them/ it shouldn’t we! I still like to think it isn’t in the best interest of the virus to wipe out humanity!

But a virus isn't intelligent. It doesn't know what's in its best interest. It just does what it's pre-programmed to do.

But yes, humans can beat viruses (or at least do a pretty good job) with vaccinations and/or ensuring that they don't have the opportunity to spread to other hosts by masks and social distancing.

We should be able to beat them/ it shouldn’t we! I still like to think it isn’t in the best interest of the virus to wipe out humanity!

MayBee70

growstuff

BlueBelle

If it killed every host it would kill itself Growstuff
It must be bloody intelligent to get the whole world to shut down who else can manage that ?

Yes, it would kill itself. It's not intelligent. It doesn't have a strategy. There is no plan.

Because it infects someone and then reinfects someone else it doesn’t matter to the virus if it’s host lives or dies because once that person has infected someone else it doesn’t matter if they survive or not. They’ve served their purpose. I suppose if the whole human race was wiped out the virus would switch to another animal?

Possibly, but it would also be possible the virus would disappear. Viruses don't have an intelligent strategy, nor do they have some kind of survival instinct.

Wonder what Richard Lacey (the Leeds microbiologist from the 80's salmonella and BSE scares) would have had to say about Covid? He's sadly no longer with us. When the BSE scare was at its height, newspaper headlines such as "4 million will die" actually led to a downturn in the UK tourism industry.He didn't even need Twitter to cause a panic. CJD is a particularly horrible disease, but there've only ever been around 10 cases of the "new variant" diagnosed in 35 years since the scare.

'Your words at 15.59 last Thursday:' what?
......................................................................

just spotted this, don't know what it's about but wondering if anyone can remember what they posted several days ago at a certain time? I certainly couldn't.

growstuff

BlueBelle

If it killed every host it would kill itself Growstuff
It must be bloody intelligent to get the whole world to shut down who else can manage that ?

Yes, it would kill itself. It's not intelligent. It doesn't have a strategy. There is no plan.

Because it infects someone and then reinfects someone else it doesn’t matter to the virus if it’s host lives or dies because once that person has infected someone else it doesn’t matter if they survive or not. They’ve served their purpose. I suppose if the whole human race was wiped out the virus would switch to another animal?

Alegrias1

You picking on me MaizieD? Or just having fun making things up and pretending I said them?

It's you who isn't consistent.

Alegrias1

You picking on me MaizieD? Or just having fun making things up and pretending I said them?

Yup, I'm pickin' on you, Alegrias.

Your words at 15.59 last Thursday:

Its a funny old world, isn't it? Both published 5 hours ago, one says its the end of the world (OK, I exaaggerate!) and one says everything's fine.

The first article was not saying it was the end of the world. It said it was nothing to worry about yet.

No need for you to make things up then pretend you haven't said them...

Alegrias1

^You do exaggerate. The despised Feigl-Ding merely says, in effect, that it 'could' become a variant of concern.^

Holy mother of God (I'm quoting)

And growstuff said it was a VoC then agreed that it wasn't. That's what we were talking about.

I made a mistake about terminology and fessed up.

BlueBelle

If it killed every host it would kill itself Growstuff
It must be bloody intelligent to get the whole world to shut down who else can manage that ?

Yes, it would kill itself. It's not intelligent. It doesn't have a strategy. There is no plan.

That was a reply to Ann2

Care homes had the deadline last November. So those against the vaccine stayed until last minute then left, reluctantly.
Oddly in the vast majority of cases it was those from BAME background who refused the vaccine. Most of whom were darker skinned but some were Eastern European. With those whose ethnicity was African/Asian etc it appeared due to fear/mistrust and with those from Eastern Europe it was more to do with a ingrained resistance to being told what to do. (I would imagine a legacy from harsh communist regime).
I worked with these people and regarded some as friends so have heard it from the horse's mouth.
It must have been a difficult decision by the Government but the other side of the coin was that the families of residents (and patients) were understandably horrified by the thought that their loved ones were being treated, up close and personal, by unvaccinated staff.?

AS an aside, what is the current law around vaccination of carehome employees. Heard that workers in carehomes have been given 3 month grace period to get vaccine by 1st April in line with NHS staff? [shock}

You picking on me MaizieD? Or just having fun making things up and pretending I said them?

Alegrias1

^You do exaggerate. The despised Feigl-Ding merely says, in effect, that it 'could' become a variant of concern.^

Holy mother of God (I'm quoting)

And growstuff said it was a VoC then agreed that it wasn't. That's what we were talking about.

You also said that the first Independent article she posted was prophesying doom and why did they have to quote F-D.

I'm just putting the record straight. It wasn't prophesying doom, and he wasn't either.

You do exaggerate. The despised Feigl-Ding merely says, in effect, that it 'could' become a variant of concern.

Holy mother of God (I'm quoting)

And growstuff said it was a VoC then agreed that it wasn't. That's what we were talking about.

No MaizieD, no. Not Feigl-Ding. Please tell me you're trying to wind me up?

The man who thinks it appropriate to tweet HOLY MOTHER OF GOD when talking about public health? (His capitals) The man who described the pandemic level as thermonuclear? The man who loves a good marker pen?

And whether the WHO have covered themselves with glory or not, Variant of Concern is a specific description of a mutated version of a virus with certain properties, and the one we are talking about is not a variant of concern.

Alegrias1

Its a funny old world, isn't it? Both published 5 hours ago, one says its the end of the world (OK, I exaaggerate!) and one says everything's fine.

I give up on the newspapers really!

You do exaggerate. The despised Feigl-Ding merely says, in effect, that it 'could' become a variant of concern.

From the article:

What makes a variant more well-known and dangerous is its ability to multiply because of the number of mutations it has in relation to the original virus.”
“This is when it becomes a ‘variant of concern’ - like Omicron, which is more contagious and more past immunity evasive. It remains to be seen in which category this new variant will fall.”

Alegrias1

It is most certainly not a variant of concern.

Disappointed in the Independent for quoting Feigl-Ding. Maybe they should have quoted this instead.

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-04/who-official-downplays-coronavirus-variant-found-in-france-ky08hmpe

What's wrong with Feigl-Ding?

And the WHO hasn't exactly covered itself with glory during this pandemic...

Jerseygal except there is little ot no flu around at the moment
www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jan/06/flu-levels-remain-low-in-uk-despite-spread-of-omicron-data-shows

If it killed every host it would kill itself Growstuff
It must be bloody intelligent to get the whole world to shut down who else can manage that ?

It's now called "Flurona" people are getting the Flu. It's Flu & Cold Season. No Worries. Live your Life. Eat Healthy. Exercise. Think Possitive. Fear creates Stress & Anxiety. Spirituality or Faith gives us Hope. Stay in the Present. Do what makes you Happy.

No, Baggs, I really don't think you understand what is meant. Viruses aren't intelligent. They don't decide they're going to leave some live hosts, in order for the virus itself to survive. That really isn't how the "survival of the fittest" works. There is absolutely no reason why a virus shouldn't kill of every single host.

growstuff

Baggs

Germanshepherdsmum

There’s always the danger of another variant popping up too, like omicron did.

Hardly a danger, gsm, more like a certainty, just like flu and common cold viruses. We were told right at the beginning of the pandemic that would be the case but also that in order to survive (that is, for the viruses to survive; it doesn't do to kill off too many hosts because then you die out too), viruses tend to get less virulent rather than more.

No, Baggs viruses don't have intelligence. There's no quota about how many people could be killed off.

It's nothing to do with intelligence, gs. Natural selection is what drives survival. The virus mutations that survive are the ones that don't kill too many of their hosts but spread pretty easily. Common cold virus and flu virus are classic survivors. They – well flu at least – kill some of their "infectees" but only a small proportion of those. And so flu and cold infections recur and recur as we all know.

Do Bad Viruses Always Become Good Guys in the End?

www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/covid-19/do-bad-viruses-always-become-good-guys-end

If you don't like the tone of that article, there are plenty of others which say the same thing.