Why Diseases have not cleared up the human race.
With all the diseases and virus that has plagued the earth over the years, one would wonder how come we have not completely been wiped out from the surface of the earth. We have had different phases of diseases and the only two diseases that have been eradicated officially, are smallpox caused by the variola virus, and rinderpest which is caused by the rinderpest virus.
Smallpox was a serious disease that caused epidemics all through human history, producing 300-500 million cases of death in the 20th century. Rinderpest on the other hand was the RInderpest case, a deadly bovine disease. Asides from these two, there are existing viruses that have been managed to a reasonable extent. In order for us to state that eradication has happened, according to WHO, it means there is a permanent reduction to a zero level of a worldwide incidence of infection, caused by a specific agent as a result of deliberate efforts. The elimination of worldwide disease does not need the permanent worldwide reduction to be completely reduced to zero, but reducing this incidence to zero in a particular geographical area is significant.
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Probably, we do not even have to worry about a disease that will spring up and destroy all humans just yet, because in order for us to have a pathogen that is an apocalyptic pathogen, it would need to have a special combination of two major attributes, it would first of all, need to be so unfamiliar that there would be no existing therapy or vaccine that could be applied to it, and the second thing is, there would have to be high and surreptitious transmissibility before symptoms begin to show. The first point is really important because any microbe that comes from a known class of pathogen would, through definition have other members of a family that would serve as models for containment as well as countermeasures. The second point, on the other hand, would give room for hypothetical diseases to spread without being detected, not even by the most astute clinicians, and since these terms are not fulfilled just yet, we may just need to relax a little bit.
The symptoms linked with each disease are a quick way to diagnose the presence of a disease at an individual or community level.
There are three basic infectious diseases that are most likely to be reasoned towards being a major force to support human extinction, we have; Ebola, HIV, and Influenza, but they don't meet the requirements. Considering Influenza for example, despite the fact that it has a well-established ability to take life on a large scale, to be highly contagious, as well as its unrivaled ability to drift away from provided vaccines, it is still a ''Known Unknown''. There have been several mysteries about the emergence of new flu strains, but from the days of Hippocrates, humans have remained attuned to the risk that comes from them, and in modern days, there has been an existing full-fledged industry of influenza preparedness with available vaccine strategies and antiviral therapies.
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HIV has killed about 39 million people decade in and out, is similarly limited to several factors, and the most important thing is HIV's dependency on blood and body fluid for transmission requires intimate human-to-human contact which actually limits contagion. Antiviral therapies that are highly potent give room for most people to live normally even with the disease, and a substantial group of the population has genetic mutations that render them impervious to infection at first.
Implemented prevented strategies like the exchange of needles for injection drug users and barrier contraceptives when available will help curtail the risk of transmission.
Ebola, for a similar reason to HIV alongside several others, falls short of the mark. Especially because it spreads almost exclusively through those with easily recognizable symptoms, in addition to the taming of its once unfathomable 90 percent mortality rate provided through supportive care.
Apart from the three mentioned diseases, every other disease falls short of what appears required to wipe out humans, which is the reason why we are still where we are, this is not to say diseases are ineffective, but disease failure, is simply a testament of how resilient humans are. One of the most evolutionary heritage of humans is our immune system, which is one of the most complex that exist on the planet, even when there is no vaccine or the help of antimicrobial medications. In addition to that, there is also a genetic variation amongst humans, which opens up the possibilities for a range of advantages. As the role of the immune system cannot be understated, a more powerful protector would be the faculty of consciousness. Humans cannot pride in being the most prolific, the most quickly evolving, or even the strongest existing organisms on planet Earth, but just like Aristotle has mentioned, humans are the most rational animals, which opens one up to the possibility of advantages.
The role of the immune system can not be underestimated. Consciousness gets us equipped as an individual and at a species level, this is to ensure that nature is safe for species through technological marvels like vaccines, antivirals, antibiotics, and sanitation. When humans begin to focus their minds on the problems created as a result of infectious disease, then human life will no longer be short, brutish, and nasty.
If asked about our take on viruses, most of us just like me would just wish to have a magical spell that would end off all of the existing viruses once and for all, thinking about how many lives have been affected and the problems arising it from it consistently, but based on research and published articles, I was made to know that it would be a costly mistake to make that choice, Tony Goldberg who is an epidemiologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, says;
“If all viruses suddenly disappeared, the world would be a wonderful place for about a day and a half, and then we’d all die. All the essential things they do in the world far outweigh the bad things.”
What good could these deadly viruses be adding to human existence, I asked myself but with further studies, I found that most of the viruses are not pathogenic to humans and they may play an integral role in the propping of the ecosystem. Other existing viruses maintain the health of individual organisms, everything from fungi, and plants to humans and insects. Scientists have the theory that for sure if viruses were not in existence, then life and the planet would seize to exist and even if we try to, it would be almost impossible to annihilate every existing virus on earth.
threat brings strong. Living in a sterile environment, any disease would be fatal. as when the conquistadors wiped out the Indians with disease. place of fire and sword.
My knowledge is brief as regards conquistadors wiping out India, I'll definitely read on it, glad you stopped by.
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Thrush! Where's that tongue been?
Smiles, the tongue is infected with oral candidiasis.
That's a nice quote about viruses from Tony Goldberg. I knew this about bacteria, but not viruses. I guess, like sharks, most categories of living things in the world do more good than harm. Maybe that's even true by definition, since we all evolve to live together with all other kinds of organisms.
I tell you, just to think that these viruses could be of any significant benefit is astonishing, but of course we learn more every day.
The fundamental cause of the impossibility of disease eradication lies in the way nature works: the concept of evolution is so deep, powerful and unreachable for our scales of influence, that it is simply like reaching the horizon: you take one step forward, and it "moves away" two more... Anyway, excellent post, my friend.
Thanks my friend.