Tuesday, March 17th, 2020
Today is a day like all the others. It is spring in Washington DC. The sun is shining as if there were no worries in the world.
I think about the lawn seeds I put out on Sunday and am hoping they will do well. Who knows how much time we will spend on the lawn this summer? Maybe, we can move our exercise regime to the garden soon. Or the home office. That would be nice.
Of course, I continue to read about the virus. I had three positive reads:
1. In Australia, they are testing a potential cure
2. Tests with monkeys indicate one cannot get infected twice
3. In Washington State, they are testing a vaccine on humans
This had me all up-beat for the day. Maybe I will get my life back in a few weeks rather than months (or I do not even want to think about it – years). I shared these thoughts with my brilliant friend and received the following response:
I admire your optimism
On 1, strains of viruses are mutating. Somoone at NIH told me they are working with 7 strains. A cure is highly unlikely
On 2, the US vaccine is an mRNA vaccine. So it will be unlikely that something scalable will come out.
On 3, multiple infections unlikely, yes, but the ability to acquire virus again and be infectious without symptoms likely Feeling very deflated now.
I give it one more shot:
Maybe mutations will make it less harmful. And I get this:
Mutations are rarely, if ever, benevolent. There is something called evolution, which takes place via a process called survival of the fittest, which is based on adaptability. So far, the virus is showing more signs of adapting than humans--including your optimism
As if I do not know about evolution; after all survival of the fittest - no scratch that - survival of the richest is at the very essence of my host country. I need something to cheer me up. So I go to the www.WHO.org . What gives me tremendous comfort is that hundreds of scientists are trying to find a vaccine and a cure and that the world has become so small - technology enabling researchers to work together across continents.
My hope is restored for the day.