Re: TB... Well, at that level of virulence, it'll quickly kill itself. Note how the AIDS virus has reduced virulence in the time since it's initial spread...

Small wonders, I know.

...

And yeah, the sargasso sea in the atlantic is just about as bad.

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That's true.. it's of no interest to a pathogen to kill people rapidly, or indeed at all (we virtually all have varicella zoster virus - chickenpox/shingles - unless vaccinated, which isn't done in the UK). SARS is a good example; very dangerous, but it was too deadly for its own good and didn't get transmitted much.

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It's not a good evolutionary strategy, but it does happen -- and when it does, it can be scary for the host species.

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I'm not nearly as worried about the disease as I am about the plastics ... although the idea of a lethal airborne disease really isn't reassuring.

I wasn't aware that AIDS had reduced its virulence; I know it's not as big a concern any more, but I had assumed that was due to better treatment methods and new drug cocktails. What's your source?

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Heard it from elsewhere, but here's a source.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HSW/is_415/ai_n15726748

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Thanks. Filed for later reference.

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re: discarded plastic

Wow, even the article notes "wrist-slittingly depressing."

They also note, fascinating to me, "Currently, McDonough is working with the Chinese government to build seven cities using “the building materials of the future,” including a fabric that is safe enough to eat and a new, nontoxic polystyrene." I want to see how that turns out - or, better yet, I want cities like that here.

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There's definitely cause for hope ... I just hope we don't pass a tipping point before we can bring solutions to bear.

Welcome to the journal, by the way! How'd you find me?

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You made an interesting comment somewhere and I clicked. I think it was at chéz circuit_four, but my memory's a little spotty. Love the coinage "Bastard Culture," by the way.

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Not a big surprise; nature adapts, and humans in general do a pretty bad job of using antibiotics according to the directions.

Good reason to stay healthy, and out of hospitals.

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The plastic of the Eastern Garbage Patch is... wow.

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You should look at some of the trash that washes up on the islands in those gyres.

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*whimpers*

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