Meghan writes:
Saw this floating around and wondering if either daniel or the twiv folks could address this as part of the next H5N1 coverage
My understanding is this is pretty far across the state from where the currently affected farms are but I don’t know exactly what goes into the wastewater there
Of note, I work for a medical system in rhode island and we received information this week that if someone works on a dairy farm or has been exposed to dairy farms or raw milk and presents with influenza like illness or conjunctivitis, you should isolate them
Link for wastewater
—
Meghan
“To lend each other a hand when we’re falling – perhaps that’s the only work that matters in the end.” -Frederick Buechner
Daniel writes:
Hello Dr. Racaniello:
I have been arguing with many of my friends who have advanced degrees about the lab leak hypothesis. Recently, one of them sent me this as “proof” that the lab leak hypothesis is correct. I thought it was just a lot of gobbledygook but thought you and your team might be interested in what’s out there.
Daniel Crummett M.D.
Fernando writes:
Hi TWiV hosts,
I really appreciated Alan’s pick, being a longtime fan of Toumani Diabaté who I had the delight of hearing him at several memorable live shows. He was such a warm, wise stage presence, even though he suffered throughout his life from the long-term effects of childhood poliomyelitis, which forced him to use a crutch and move with difficulty on stage. He died of kidney failure at 58, but he had been ailing for several years, causing him to cancel his frequent trips to the USA where he had family.
Thank you for the depth and breadth of your interests — even the weather, which makes me feel like I’m hanging out with y’all.
— F
Peggy writes:
Dear TWiV
I live in the UK, totally agree with Rich that roundabouts should be used more in the US.
I recently did a roadtrip from LA to San Francisco and frequently noted how roundabouts can be better in most intersections.
Also, the STOP signs in small street intersections drove me crazy. Here we use a yield or give way road marking to indicate who has priority. This means if the road is empty you can slow down a bit to make sure it’s safe before accelerating again, no stopping at all.
Thank you.
Perry
Sheffield, United Kingdom
Felicia writes:
I would like to suggest that you consider having Dr. Sabrina Sholts, a biological anthropologist, on your show https://naturalhistory.si.edu/staff/sabrina-sholts .
She recently authored the book The Human Disease https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262048859/the-human-disease/ .
She was the lead curator of the exhibition “Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World” at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, and scientific commissioner of the exhibition “Épidémies: prendre soin du vivant” at the musée des Confluences in Lyon, France.
[Felicia was on TWiV https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/twiv-501/ she curated the Outbreak exhibit at the Smithsonian and we recorded the episode in the outbreak space]
Cyril writes:
Hi, Twiv
Goes without sayin, I love the podcast!
2 items:
I have this ongoing discussion with a mod on Reddit. They keep referring to Vincent as “Vince.” I never heard anyone on the podcast or anywhere refer to Vincent as “Vince.” But this mod said he called Vincent “Vince” and said Vincent was cool with it. Does Vincent go by Vincent or Vince?
On your list of guests on the podcast, I do not see Shane Crotty listed. He was on 3 episodes after I did a search on your website.
Anthony writes:
“That said, while coronaviruses do infect some bats, the SARS-CoV2 virus has never been found in any bats.”
# # #
An expert on bats recently sent me this. Of course it’s at the same time true and not true. Considering the vast area of rural China and that neither the government of China and some facets of the US have not encouraged a search, lack of data is not hard to understand. Plus, given the nature of quasispecies (or RNA Swarm — whatever the mot du jour is), SARS CoV 2 most likely NEVER will be found. What will be found are various related viruses that rose from the same sources. (BTW, listening to people who should know, I am surprised when they wonder why there’s talk of a LCA with Rinderpest and Measles. Whether the viruses diverged 500 years ago or 1500 years ago or even if it had been 50, the fork in the road gives two different travelers.)
Most educated people reading the bat expert’s statement could not be faulted for concluding that SARS CoV 2 was fabricated. Perhaps you could consider doing a Virology Quick Start for Policy Makers pointing out the vast geography involved in the development of influenza and the bat coronaviruses. Plus, the nature of quasispecies, the huge number of progeny and quick generation time have as much to do with Mendel’s peas as a trip to another galaxy has to do with a ride to the supermarket.
FWIW
Anthony@TrueInfections@mstdn.science