HUMANS are a species who become vulnerable because of our arrogance. Thus we are the first to be counterproductive against ourselves. I am not a medically trained soul so I will quote the data resources for every item presented in this article, in the hope that you, the reader, may explore for yourselves, the language will be mine but the biological statements and data will remain intact. It is argued that viruses are not alive, because they don’t have cells, cannot turn food into energy, and without a host are just inert pockets of chemicals. The contradicting argument, however, is that they have genes, they reproduce and they evolve through natural selection and even more, there have been identified that some viruses sneak DNA into a bacterium through its sexual appendage a long tube known as a pilus. The question was asked if that’s not life, what is? Science declared a bigger super-virus called Mama Virus, contains features that that other viruses do without, is bigger than any other Virus and bigger than most bacteria and is unique. Amoebas (a single-celled organism belonging to the kingdom of protozoa) will most likely swallow a virus and serve as a mixing bowl where viruses and bacteria can swap genes.
Viruses are said to occupy half of all human DNA, which embedded themselves in our ancestors’ eggs and sperm aeons ago. Those viruses are said to be now extinct. But, in 2005 French researchers applied for permission to resurrect one of these ancient viruses. Scientists protested saying this ancient virus could go on a rampage, but the French research Ministry allowed it. (Source; Discover Magazine April 2010.)
Yersinia Pestis is the bacteria that has killed more humans than any other epidemic. This is the bacteria that caused the ‘Black Plague’, so-called by a Belgium astronomer who linked the plague to a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, it’s contemporarily called the “Great plague”. It is believed to have originated in Eurasia where it killed some 75 to 200 million people from 1347 to 1351, originating in central Asia. And proceeded to Europe where it was identified as the ‘Black Death’ because of the dark colouring of tumours on parts of victims. It killed 30 to 60 percent of the population of Europe in the 14th century.
It was facilitated by the absence of good hygiene in most of Europe’s main port cities where the stowed away rats, infected with the Yersinia Pestis bacterium through the oriental rat fleas that squatted on their bodies, who upon reaching European ports departed their host ships into the unhealthy, but favourable environment of decomposing animals and rubbish unattended by its citizens (Encyclopaedia Britannica –Ziegler 1998 pg 25).
Fast forward to India 1994, the port city of Surat, where a particular deadly respiratory contagion. Pneumonic plague, a particularly virulent form of bubonic plague that kills all its victims swiftly and deadly was active, both ordinary citizens and Doctors fled the city. The conclusion of one of the brave doctors that remained was Dr. Dinesh Shaw, whose comments also linked hygiene to the outbreak, “it is also much harder to eradicate-especially in a city like Surat. It’s the dirtiest city in India, it’s famous for that. I remember as a child being told that Bangalore was the cleanest city in India and Surat was the dirtiest”. “The shantytown has no electricity or plumbing, and the place is overrun with a draggled menagerie of cows, dogs, pigs, buffalo, goats and even camels rooting through heaps of trash at the edges of stagnant pools that serve as the inhabitant’s main source of water for washing and bathing. The filth extends to the heart of the city.” The plague in India 1896-1936 killed an estimated 12 Million people; 1978-1993 a total of 1, 186 people perished to the plague in sub-Saharan Africa ( Newsweek newsmagazine October 10, 1994- Black Death). Hygiene is a crucial deterrent, coupled with eating habit choices.
The current Coronavirus or COVID-19 was argued in suspicion as a Chemical & Biological Warfare (CBW) creature. Scientists have rejected it, not Iranian leaders and Scientists, however, but we must also explore the family origins linked to the virus. That is, it belongs to a large family of viruses that have caused infections in both animals and humans; the common cold-influenza is part of that family. Why it is serious? because commuting across the planet is no longer a cumbersome issue, thus the human hosts of any virus are of a higher possibility, and there is history to compound all fears; Bird and human viruses mix, the Asian flu 1957 in Southern China. The hypothesis is that a bird and human flu swapped genes, probably after infecting a pig, the result was a new and deadly virus that resulted in one Million lives. Again in 1968, the Hong Kong flu, similar to the 1957 virus, it appeared that there was some human immune system resistance, yet 750,000 people died.
The Spanish Flu at was the first pandemic to assault the mainly European and human world. This occurred at the tail end of WW1, two cause theories are cited, 1- That the cramped, dirty and damp trenches soldiers were living in, that accommodated all that humans do, with their malnourished bodies and reduced immune systems contracted the virus and those who survived the trenches took it back to their host countries. 2- That Chinese labourers who were transported in sealed trains across Canada before continuing to France, they were deployed to dig trenches, unload trains, lay tracks, build roads and repair damaged tanks, some 90,000 workers were deployed on the western front many had to be quarantined because of illnesses. The Spanish Flu killed some 50 Million people (sources; National Geographic October, 2005 –websites-‘ABSA International’- ‘LIVE MINT’ – ‘In corporation with ALL ABOUT HISTORY’).
What is clear is that all these flu-related viruses are combinations of animal and human strains merging to evolve a new type. What is sure about Coronavirus is that it is a type of those previous pandemics, thus the transmissions can be assumed as the same as catching ‘the cold’ except our immune system can deal with that. This COVID-19 is much more deadly and all about it I suspect is not yet known. Creole culture has systems that demand that “wash yuh face and hands, rub de soap pon yuh hand boy”-“Don’t lie down pon duh bed till yuh bathe yuh skin, and change dem dutty clothes”- “put on yuh sleeping clothes” – “ tek off them shoes yuh walk pon de road with at the door” “Child yuh ready fuh school, yuh got yuh kerchief ?” Our aunts and mothers sewed those kerchiefs. I changed a cheque at a bank recently before the panic began. This Bank has lots of signs: no dark shades- no hoodies- no caps. I watched an affluent customer attended by a young female teller, this man sneezed ferociously in his hand, minutes later shook the hands of a friend who entered the bank. I suggested to the teller that attended me to recommend another sign stating, please hold your handkerchief in your hand in case of sudden cough or sneeze, this should also go for supermarkets. I replaced some items yesterday (20-03-2020) because of the congestion in a supermarket that had a staff spraying hands upon entry, but no protection awareness of the most severe means of infection-the sneeze and- the cough. How did this happen? When did we stop buying handkerchiefs and rags? I know, I’ve seen one mouthy politician wiping his mouth on TV with the back of his hand, but for health’s sake, stick to our culture, dem old people had knowledge, we also have to thank providence that a much more responsible administration is in control of Guyana today.
