population biology applies to virii too

It is suspicious that the Ebola vector can't be found (source of infection.) However high mortality rates aren't unusual for virii that are "new" to the human population. It doesn't mean it was man-made -- it's a normal consequence of our dampening the environmental load of virii and thus creating the opportunity for new virii to emerge. Rule #1 of biology - nature abhors a vacuum. New virii are more likely to be more lethal simply because it is a positive adaptation for a virus to NOT kill its host... if the host is dead it can't continue to harbor and spread the virus. Obviously new viruses won't have adapted to their environment (the human population.) As time goes on, if we stop messing with the viral population with things like immunization and anti-viral drugs, we'll see fewer really horrid viruses like Ebola and more moderate ones, like colds or herpes.

It is a twisted extension of population biology that sometimes, what is good for the individual is bad for the population. I'm really suprised not to see the "experts" talking about such a straightforward application of basic principles. I suppose it's easier to say "oh, it's the roads, oh it's our global travel" instead of "oh man, look what our immunization programs have created now." It's also one step away from discussing eugenics, so I suppose the politically correct atmosphere today has something to do with suppressing thoughts along those lines.





Tweet