|
Cats a bit like those who freak out and hold parties, then!
I tend not to read or watch the news too much at the moment. I rely on chatting to my very close genetics researcher. A font of information - too much for me to type out here. :-D
|
|
It is impossible to keep a cat which has been used to going out, in. They will freak out and become very destructive. In any case the BVA have updated their advice.
https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/news-article/bva-statement-on-cats-and-covid-19/
The corona virus has as you say single strand RNA. To be precise the problem lies in that if there are two virus present in the same nucleus that they can (and do) use recombination to correct errors. This ability is at the core of species jumping.
There are three medical approaches possible.
1. use existing non-specific anti-virals -- that is how AIDS was brought under control. So far results for COVID have been patchy and in any case given the target ( whole world population) the cost is prohibitive.
2. use classic annenuation techniques with a live weakened virus.
So far (SERS etc) little progress has been achieved with this either. It may be impossible. Bearing in mind that even for flu no vaccine gives long term immunity even if a vaccine for COVID is developed repeats are likely to be needed. The cost of this for a whole population is problematic.
3. use genetic attacks which destroy the virus. These have worked in the lab but do not give any ongoing immunity and production and use has barely been addressed.
If 1-3 don't work then eradication is the only way to go. So far the only nation trying this is New Zealand. It looks to be working but other nations do not have the advantage of being islands far from anywhere else. Any attempt at eradication would have to involve countries where there is a market in wild animals to eat as such practices would have to stop. Many would say that they should be stopped anyway but the genie is out of the bottle.
Lockdown is not and cannot be a long term strategy. It is essential now of course but is pointless without a realistic follow up strategy which is what Starmer is asking for. A lockdown/relax never ending cycle would be sure to kill the economy stone dead.
|
|
It is indeed Rollo.
My source tells me that we are dealing with a virus whose RNA consists of a single strand chemical so mistakes cannot be rectified and millions of changes occur quickly so are difficult to keep up with. With a two-strand, scientists could use the model to correct it. Therein lies the difficulty.
Where animals are kept in close proximity to humans mutated strains will get into cells ... and we're off then.
Governments work on models for future pandemics and strive to monitor risks.
Alas, Trump is facing the consequences of closing down and disbanding a world-leading government agency. Some on his team suggested we should read the bible instead!
Incidentally, my source told me that cats and dogs are now catching the virus. If the dog can't be kept in the garden then it should only be allowed out in a lead. Not sure whether cats can be trained to be house cats but if I were a cat owner I'd give it a damn good try.
|
|
The story of a virus escaping from the WuHan labs is fake though pretty obviously popular with Fox News, Trumpeters and so on and so forth.
The true story is here
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2546865/
As well as Nightingale field hospitals less well reported are that ventilators for treating COVID have largely been taken from other parts of the NHS bringing surgery for instance to a shuddering stop. Even less well reported is the high speed construction of emergency morgues up and down the land.
The "lockdown" does not save any lives all it does is to displace the timeline ("flatten the curve" ) so that the NHS can just about cope so long as it abandons other needs. What it saves in the main is politicians b-s.
The opportunity should be taken to set up test and trace as in S Korea, Germany. Instead the govt continues with the 'flu plan of "herd immunity" with very ovderdue testing of NHS staff. Outside of the NHS the only testing envisaged is to see if people have had C19 or not. The problem is that the tests ordered cannot reliably detect antibodies at the low levels required. These tests are 80% of the 100 000/day promised by Hancock.
In default of these working a govt boffin on Newsnight said that they are considering a return-to-work starting with those under 30.
|
|
I have heard of two different origins of the virus.
The first a crossover from an animal species.
The second a mistake emanating from a Wuhan research laboratory - possibly the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
|
|
from the Lancet
“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.”
Goethe
https://tinyurl.com/sfhjbco
beware the second wave
|
