[SeekAndFind]

HOW AND WHY CAN VIRUSES LOSE POTENCY OVER TIME?

Viruses are known to change over time because they are subject to random genetic mutations in the same way that all living things are.

These mutations can have various effects and many will only happen briefly and not become a permanent change as newer generations of viruses replace the mutated ones.

However, some of the mutations might turn out to be advantageous to the virus, and get carried forward into future generations.

For example, if a virus becomes less dangerous to its host - that is, it causes fewer symptoms or less death - it may find that it is able to live longer and reproduce more.

As a result, more of these less dangerous viruses are produced and they may go on to spread more effectively than the more dangerous versions, which could be stamped out by medication because more people realize they are ill, for example.

The mutation may then be taken forward in the stronger generations and become the dominant version of the virus.

In an explanation of an scientific study about HIV, the NHS said in 2014: 'The optimal evolutionary strategy for a virus is to be infectious (so it creates more copies of itself) but non-lethal (so its host population doesn’t die out).

'The "poster boy" for successful long-living viruses is, arguably, the family of viruses that cause the, which has existed for thousands of years.'

[DannyTN]

"'The "poster boy" for successful long-living viruses is, arguably, the family of viruses that cause the, which has existed for thousands of years.'"

I hate getting the,

[proud American in Canada]

Why lose strength over time? I think it’s the power of prayer. As corny as it that sounds.

[silverleaf]

Another possible reason is that the herd already had antibodies from exposure to other coronaviruses that protect them from this, or make the effects of an exposure very mild.

Eventually the virus runs out of hosts and burns out. About a 70 day cycle. This was modeled by Nobel winner Michael Levitt of Stanford, as far back as March. As well as others. I heard today some drug trials in US hospitals are in jeopardy because the number of patients is declining fast

[windsorknot]

Exactly. Less deadly strains can coexist with the human host and stand a better chance of surviving.