Posted on 12/13/2021 7:43:36 AM PST by SeekAndFind
A few weeks ago, we celebrated Thanksgiving, with gratitude for our many blessings, although these are becoming scarcer over the past two years. At the same time, we received news of a new COVID variant. It seems the world is on some type of Chinese gift registry where we receive quarterly presents, starting with the original Chinese coronavirus, followed every few months by a new variant and subsequent lockdowns, restrictions, and mandates.
This coronavirus is acting more like a herpes virus, the one that gives us cold sores that seem to come and go on their own cycle. But these COVID variants are far more bothersome than a lip blister as they are disrupting travel, commerce, and life in general for much of the world.
The latest COVID variant is called Omicron, further down the Greek alphabet from familiar Delta and Lambda variants. The ever-woke and deferential to China, World Health Organization intentionally skipped two Greek letters ahead of Omicron, Nu and Xi. Nu might be confused with “new”, although nothing about current responses is new, including travel bans, masks, and mandates. Letter Xi might give unwanted credit to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, although given COVID’s origin, it would be a fitting tribute.
Is the Omicron variant a Christmas scourge or savior? Some scientists think it’s a lump of coal in a stocking on Christmas morning. As reported by the BBC,
Omicron has such a long list of mutations that it was described by one scientist as "horrific", while another told me it was the worst variant they'd seen.
It has now been detected in more than 30 countries and there are signs it may be able to bypass some of our immunity.
Then in the next paragraph, they decide it’s not so bad after all,
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
From the article:
“
...But there are also claims that it could be milder than earlier versions of Covid, such as Delta.
Which is it? And if it is indeed as mild as many claim, could it save the world by pushing us closer to herd immunity?
YouTube screen grab
The scary bit about Omicron is the high number of mutations, an “unusual constellation of mutations” and that it was “very different” from other variants that have circulated. Specifically, it contains 50 mutations overall and more than 30 on the spike protein. This is important because the vaccines encourage the body to create antibodies to the spike protein.
“
I saw this morning that a person died of Omnicron in the UK first one.
Mutations can go either way. They can make a pathogen more virulent or less virulent. So far it appears that those who become ill with the omicron variant are incurring only a mild illness. that of course can change. what is yet to be sen is to what extent that the immunity developed in these patients protects against the more virulent strains of COVID. Often that is what happens and how pandemics naturally end. Yet it is still far to early to know what will ultimately happen with omicron.
Also the nature of the total immune response to COVID infections is not understood. People are preoccupied with antibodies and titers but know almost nothing about T cell immunity and other immune factors in these patients. Also there has been almost nothing done to identify those who are genetically susceptible or genetically resistant to this pathogen.
RE: I saw this morning that a person died of Omnicron in the UK first one.
Yep, and over 60,000 Americans ( not counting the Brits ) died of the Flu in 2018. We should have locked down then to prevent a tragedy that was 20 times the casualties of 911.
nope they died with, not of, omicron
Died of it, or died with it? Makes a difference if there was another disease process or trauma.
Nope. Bojo just noted that the UK has first death with Omicron.
Not BY, WITH- same corruption of science and language as before.
The scam continues.
This is my theory. Omnicron so mild and contagious, it innoculates all the unvaccinated people in the world.
Leaving the vaccinated to deal with a lifetime of unknown forthcoming health issues
RE: Nope. Bojo just noted that the UK has first death with Omicron.
Yep, and over 60,000 Americans ( not counting the Brits and the rest of the world ) died of the Flu in 2018. We should have locked down then to prevent a tragedy that was 20 times the casualties of 911.
How dare he suggest that any variant of Covid is not a deadly scourge? Omicron is far more contagious than any previous mutation and it doesn’t display any symptoms so you don’t know you have it and you spread it all around. Why doesn’t he recognize the danger posed by everyone getting Covid?
Variations in Covid strains are not mutations they are adaptations. Mutations can go both ways but a mutation that can survive has the odds stacked against it.
Adaptation is when the virus attenuates its own virulence in order to maximize its ability to transmit. A virus starts out killing its weak hosts and every time it does so it ends its family tree. The branches of the family tree which survive are the ones that don’t kill their host. At first there is more deaths because the weaker hosts die off. Natural selection occurs leaving only stronger hosts with stronger immune systems. Stronger hosts will kill off stronger strains of the virus. Repeat the process over years and years will result in progressively weaker strains over time. These are adaptations not mutations.
If a virus mutates, it might spontaneously gain some previously unseen spike protein or maybe some enzyme or something that makes it behave differently but this occurs in a single virus cell which isn’t actually a cell it’s called a virion. It has to survive the immune system of its host long enough to multiply and spread. If it doesn’t it won’t matter how virulent or contagious it is, its family tree will come to an end before it even gets started.
Speculating about the possibility of a virus mutating and causing another pandemic is really not useful because it won’t happen. You can toss around terms like antibody dependent enhancement or cytokine storm which you probably don’t understand or comprehend in the first place. It won’t change the fact that you are being superstitious mor than scientific.
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