RNA viruses like COVID mutate much faster and a hell of a lot more than DNA viruses
Does make one wonder about the longevity of a given vaccine's effectiveness. (its an "unknown" question google experts, before you flip out)
Anyhoo, not a post about that.
Mutation is not a trait selection process that the Virus undergoes. (RNA viruses don't mutate as a selective process of only new traits that are beneficial to the Virus)
Mutation can lead to deadlier and more virulent, or more benign and less virulent strains.
Apparently the second wave of 1918 was a more deadlier strain, virulence changes unknown, only that troop movements helped it get around effectively
The Flu pandemic of the early 1900s came in three waves, but we humans sure made it spread fast, it's own virulence did not do that.
As the mutation is not a trait selection process, a virus can mutate itself into extinction or into harmlessness, given the traits needed to be successful as a virus, the range of traits is limited and mutation possibilities are far greater.
Have more deadly flu strains mutated themselves out of existence given the 'limited beneficial traits vs possible non beneficial traits' ratio? (ie mutation of non beneficial traits can lead to extinction or almost inert virus the immune system can swat away) The fact that so many Corona viruses are harmless suggests yes, but also I wonder can a harmless one, mutate into something more deadly later on, I guess it's less likely but probably possible.
COVID in all likelihood will mutate itself out of relevance via mutation, it's a numbers game (too many non beneficial possible traits vs way less possible beneficial traits) but that doesn't mean it could make itself worse before it does. It seems many of the deadly viruses that cause respiratory disease of the past did just that, because vaccines weren't around to do it. (they cant do it anyway, ask the anti vaxxers who get infected). Flu or Corona in 1400s England were very commonly a death sentence for a child or someone above 40
I do not doubt there is COVID in Wuhan, but has it mutated itself there, and possibly in Sweden, into a strain that is just not as dangerous as its original strain when it got out. Deaths are less likely everywhere compared to the start of the year (mind you the deaths data in April May June and July is a joke, UK put down motorcycle deaths as COVID just cos the biker had COVID at the time.)
This does not go for all RNA viruses, I only speak of viruses like FLU and Corona that cause respiratory disease (Poliovirus and the like are a completely different conversation).
The vast majority of either, are almost harmless to almost everyone who is healthy with a healthy immune systen, yes even the old, the vast majority of old people do not die from COVID or Flu.
So, in the event that mutation ultimately works against an RNA virus, the more it mutates the better and if you want it to mutate to gain traits that don't help it, you need to let it get around the population
that's my guess (its a guess)
Sweden did the right thing, Wuhan is doing the right thing. Of course "imo"
I did some reading and am doing some wondering, I'm not pretending to be Dr Nick here
If not bothered to read this post, or be objective about its content, dont bother replying. Just ignore it