The History of Disease Outbreaks
Throughout human history, we have been plagued by disease outbreaks, some of which have escalated into pandemics. Our ability to manage these outbreaks, reduce their frequency, and mitigate their impact has significantly contributed to our increased lifespan compared to our ancestors. As our society has evolved, we have become adept at managing risk and harm. This success is largely due to a decrease in inequality and the implementation of evidence-based health policies. Understanding how we have achieved this progress and identifying the forces that threaten it is crucial.
The World Within and Around Us
Infectious disease outbreaks are a part of life. Historically, they have decimated populations, with some diseases wiping out up to a third of entire populations. Most of these outbreaks were caused by bacteria, spread through poor hygiene and living conditions. However, with advancements in sanitation and understanding of the importance of clean drinking water and a balanced diet, mortality rates have significantly declined. The invention of modern antibiotics also played a significant role in reducing deaths.
Viruses, too, have caused devastation, particularly in populations that had been isolated for thousands of years. Measles and smallpox, for example, nearly wiped out entire populations at the start of the European colonial era. However, now, the risk to most of us is low, thanks to vaccines.
The Human Body: A Complex Ecosystem
Our bodies are home to a complex ecosystem of bacteria and viruses, both harmful and beneficial. These microorganisms play a crucial role in our survival. They help us digest food, produce essential nutrients, and protect us from harmful bacteria.
Modern medicine often attempts to manipulate this complex ecosystem, sometimes causing more harm than good. For example, antibiotics can kill bacteria that protect us, causing side effects. However, when used wisely, they can be beneficial.
The Concept Behind Vaccines
Vaccines work by training our immune system to respond to potential pathogens. They do this by injecting a protein or other part of a potential pathogen, or even a dead or harmless equivalent, into our bodies. This allows our bodies to develop a defensive immune response without the risk of severe illness or death.
However, vaccines are not without their risks. They often require the addition of chemicals to stimulate the immune system and preserve the vaccine. Some of these chemicals can be harmful, with different effects on different people.
mRNA Vaccines: A New Approach
A more recent approach to vaccination involves the use of modified RNA. This method involves injecting the body with modified RNA, which is then incorporated into cells throughout the body. The aim is to make the body's own cells produce the foreign protein, which the immune system then targets as if it were dangerous.
However, we don't yet know the long-term consequences of this approach. For example, we don't know the impact of causing inflammation and cell death in the ovaries of young girls or the results of stimulating inflammation and probable cell death in a fetus in a pregnant woman.
Building Resilience and Health
For vaccines to work, they require a functioning immune system. Chronic illnesses, such as diabetes mellitus or obesity, can impair the immune system. Essential nutrients, such as certain vitamins and minerals, are also necessary for the immune system to function effectively.
Building resilience against infection is key to combating infectious disease. This involves drinking, eating, and living in ways that keep our immune systems responsive and primed but limit exposure to organisms that directly harm us.
Preparing for Pandemics: Lessons from Covid-19
The Covid-19 pandemic has taught us a lot about how to prepare for natural outbreaks. The logical approach would be to reduce people's vulnerability to virus infection by ensuring people have well-functioning immune systems through a good diet, ensuring good levels of micronutrients, and reducing metabolic diseases.
However, an alternative approach would be to invest large sums of money in early detection of outbreaks and potential outbreaks, then implementing lockdowns and providing a rapidly produced vaccine. This approach has several drawbacks, including the near impossibility of detecting naturally occurring outbreaks early enough to prevent them from becoming widely established, even with intensive surveillance.
Weighing Priorities
We are faced with a choice between two alternate approaches. One is better for health and economies in general, but probably an overall negative in financial terms for pharmaceutical companies and their investors. The other is geared towards maximizing the extraction of money from the general population to be concentrated in fewer hands.
The Great Dilemma
We need to decide whether these conflicts of interest matter. Should healthcare primarily be directed to improve well-being and life expectancy, or should it be directed to maximize the extraction of money from the general population to be concentrated in fewer hands? This is the real question that needs to be addressed.
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