I’m going to answer a lot of following posts here because I’m pressed for time. There is nothing fictional in my post. Sorry, can’t provide sources. Try and get a paper let alone an actual vaccine approved for human use by pre-dissemination of findings. Likewise for epi data. It exists, you haven’t seen it yet and will not for at least 10 more months if specific research labs get their shit together. If they don’t add 12 more months.
Any article describing any cities efforts against cities have been sourced, I hope, with information I reviewed. The concept of local transmission versus exogenous vector (i.e travelers that come back from countries where Zika infections are endemic) is a public relations creation.
We’ve just started amplification on DF-1 cells on existing and newly developed or in development vaccinations for both infectious retroviral properties/RT activity. Not exactly sure what a positive result would mean at this point but it could greatly impede development or at least slow it down. Based on what can only be deemed empirical evidence at this point (Again, I cannot and will not predict the results or make conclusions on as of yet unpublished data) I think the problem is extremely serious.
The observation regarding travel is astute in this case. How many mosquito hijackers will it take to create pockets, then swaths then waves of infection? Also, a complete unknown. I sense that someone felt I am a CT believer of some type. That’s like Trump calling Hillary a bigot. Given my druthers every boy and girl 5 years and older would be given HPV vaccinations and HAV/HBV vaccinations.
s mentioned above, however, we really need to go back and test the vectors used for contamination. Jonas Salk was a good friend. I know of just about every vaccination effort made against every disease — including the horrific failures that never got published because no drug company that pays for a scientist or researcher will ever willingly let that out, and the introduction of corporate sponsored research into our national research institutions has meant entry into exceedingly rigorous non disclosure agreements.
But the corruption of the research effort by money is not the point of this response. The issue is that instead of allowing state health directors pressured by Governors and others not to cause panic and possibly incur testing costs — they do have their priorities — we should be demanding a fully funded, transparent research effort.
Again, what you are being told is PR company bullsh*t - inchoate, textbook learning speculations about the intricacies of retroviral vaccine creation in vitro (human beings) set aside for later discussion.
Do you want a book about the comparative efficacies of Zika vaccine development versus Ebola or HIV? I could easily write one. Time since discovery aside we have so many better tools available and so many incredibly well trained scientists that are dedicated to not repeating any of the egregious mistakes of the past we made with HIV — really, we have a virtual cure at this point, treatment as prophylaxis, prophylaxic treatments that prevent viral infection altogether, and incredibly good data that two or more HIV-infected individuals with undetectable viral loads having unprotect sex or sharing needles will not transmit HIV (perhaps other diseases,yes!) but again access for all and actual funding for a vaccine/cure are impediments — that the development of Zika vaccines and possible treatments has roared quickly a pace but also greatly impeded by funding.
Please do not make assumptions that at best as an STI with enduring immunity that the full range of potential acute, long term, age or immune system related manifestations are known. Remember that innocuous, won’;t ever be a problem during a normal lifespan viral infection called Hep non-A, non-B? Even when we cure it we can’t guarantee that people won ‘t die of liver or other types of cancers. Prometheus be damned we can’t even promise that a cure will lead to a restoration of normal structure in cirrhotics or those with different stages of fibrosis.
We discovered early on that a Belgian sailor in the 1950s became infected with HIV. How many people in the country in which he became infected were also infected and that might have developed immunity is unknown but even today there are people that harbor protective antibodies against HIV. Also not the point of this diary.
The point is that all the people that have become infected with Zika will most likely not suffer serious, life long disabilty or morbidity. Some, including neonates and fetuses will not be so fortunate. I can’t cite massive amounts of epi data but it’s reasonable to think that a huge number of people have already been exposed and developed antibodies that have been passed on.
An increase in travel, migrations of people and viral vectors like mosquitos — not as easy as slaughtering hundreds of millions of birds I guess to prevent some avian viral epidemic — has exposed previously unexposed people to react in an immunologically violent manner.
Like with HCV maybe the inflammatory reaction to that hep virus is likewise the real pathogenic aspect of Zika infection. What I feel is that we’re going to have millions and millions of people that need treatment for Guillain-Barre Syndrome and who knows what else. What I feel is completely irrelevant, however. Science and other Scientists don’t give a sh*t nor should they.
But ignorant politicians should have nothing to say about it either. Fund the research and fund care and enable universal access. Whether or not they will reap their rewards in Heaven is also irrelevant.