Last week, I was briefly reacquainted with the influenza virus, which for those of you who haven't lately had the pleasure of an evil house guest from another planet (like Dick Cheney) designed to prepare you for the last days of your life when you've lost complete control of your bodily functions, then that's influenza. In short, Fever. Aches. Chills. Spills. Prayers to Jesus, Mother Mary, and the Flying Spaghetti Monster.The problem with the flu, as we so affecionately like to call it, is that it's very hard to kill and likes to replicate at your expense. Pretty much the script of Alien, although not nearly as entertaining. It commandeers your 'good' cells and turns them into their 'evil twin' resulting in a take down faster than Rey Mysterio's The 619.
Viruses are everywhere and like the WWF they seem to express themselves at inopportune times, like when there's nothing worth watching on television. As with the WWF, they are hard to take out, although there has been some promising advances in the last few years. One real hope seems to be research that works on the protein pathways of the viruses used to transfer fluids into the good cells and turn them into hordes of screaming, big-haired, bad actors in clownish attire surrounded by an arena full of angry fans jonsing for meth and PBR. By breaking the replication cycle, you can destroy them. That's the good news. The bad news is that we are likely years away from developing an antiviral drug to rid of us the common flu. Or HIV.
Today is International Aids Awareness Day.
Globally, around 11% of HIV infections are among babies who acquire the virus from their mothers; 10% result from injecting drug use; 5-10% are due to sex between men; and 5-10% occur in healthcare settings. Sex between men and women accounts for the remaining proportion – around two thirds of new infections. (source: avert.org)
Two plans that absolutely WON'T stop the spread of HIV worldwide. Abstience education as touted by the Bush Administration, and sacrificing a virgin if one is already infected. Propronents of both approaches are sadly misinformed.
elsewhere:
proteins matter
world hiv and aids stats