There is conflicting evidence from what I have read and I have not seen any conclusive consensus that it is or is not (relatively) rapidly mutating.Does anyone know if this thing rapidly mutates?
Yes. It's an RNA single stranded polynucleotide.Does anyone know if this thing rapidly mutates?
No, but we most certainly will if it does.Does anyone know if this thing rapidly mutates?
It already has mutated slightly. The strain in Italy is different to that seen in China.There is conflicting evidence from what I have read and I have not heard any conclusive statement that it is or is not (relatively) rapidly mutating.
I included that information as reference, as not having conclusive understanding of rate of mutation is also a big risk with this strategy.
but I see nations in the Pacific rim who have virtually defeated the virus.
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Herd immunity without vaccination takes time (usually years), is usually only effective against pathogens that do not rapidly mutate, usually only possible in relatively isolated populations without carrier exchange with other infected populations, requires a very large portion of the population to develop sufficient antibodies, and virtually ensures maximum potential severe outcomes and deaths over the course of development if there are no additional measures for population isolation and infection mitigation.
So using it as a sole real method of containment (even paired with optimised personal hygiene and social distancing) is the near equivalent of just letting the viral outbreak run its course and hoping for the best (i.e. that collectively the population will generate antibodies to the novel coronavirus sufficient to allow for the slowing of transmission until comprehensive vaccinations can begin).
Just want to clarify for those trying to determine if the strategy of attempting to build herd immunity in 6-9 months is the optimum path.
Yes, the L- and S-types.It already has mutated slightly. The strain in Italy is different to that seen in China.
In fact there were two strains in China
Marvin you are better than that questionWhy don't they roll out untested vaccines if they work in human trials? There are cases where a vaccine has actually made the infection worse because it produces a violent immune response. However wouldn't that show in the live trials.
It is not acceptable to not even try to stop this.
I am not operating on any such false assumption and qualified as such in the post you quoted, specifically for that reason.You say you're clarifying but you're being incredibly disingenuous because you're operating on the false assumption that there are no additional measures taken.
Where in that linked article indicates anything in my post about herd immunity is not true?
I am not operating on any such false assumption and qualified as such in the post you quoted, specifically for that reason.
I was speaking to many posts that seemingly reference the building of herd immunity as a singular strategy for containment and/or slowing of transmission.
They have referenced it in the context of delaying other necessary simultaneous actions such as enforced population isolation and transmission mitigation, which the government outlined yesterday. People don’t have to use the exact words to reference it, you of all people understand that.No one has referenced building herd immunity as a singular strategy for containment, so the posts you claim to be replying to don't exist.
By the way that anti-viral I mentioned is already being used by the South Koreans in the treatment of their at risk coronavirus patients.Yes, the L- and S-types.
But that is what I was referring to with conflicting evidence, as there is also some evidence that is relatively stable (lower relative mutation rate).
I don’t want to give the impression there is overwhelming evidence it is mutating rapidly, just point out that not having a strong understanding of that is another issue with this strategy.
It was a genuine question. Personally I feel my family are safer and best protected here.If you really require an answer to what seems to me a fairly inane question, then I’ll say Ireland. They seem to be more proactive in their response imo.
Ok, I am actually confident in my understanding Of the timescale usually required for the building of herd immunity from past days of medical training and from speaking with medical professionals in my family — can you quote the bit in the article you linked that contradicts that it takes time to build herd humanity without vaccination (*usually* years)?Your first sentence.
Surely he must feel whatever he is doing is for the best. Does anyone really know what the best thing to do is? Is there evidence that shutdown is working in other countries, or is it too early to tell?
I'm no big fan of Boris, just trying to understand.