Bird flu and AIDS have scared us all in equal measure, but they have something else in common as well: both are caused by viruses, a mysterious mix between living creature and inanimate object. Biochemists know viruses to be relatively short combinations of ribonucleic acid. A virus lives off a living thing: it cannot survive on its own.
Animal bodies have defense mechanisms against viral attack. Such immunity is very sophisticated in human beings in the form of cells in the blood called T lymphocytes. The latter cells attack invading viruses, rendering them almost harmless, if not exterminating them altogether. Poor nutrition, excessive stress, a lack of exercise, long illness, radiation and some medicines, reduce the number of T lymphocytes in human blood. This provides a window for a virus to enter and multiply rapidly. Fever is a common result, and an untreated viral infection may result in death.
Healthy people, though successful in keeping viruses below the threshold for perceptible symptoms of disease, may act as carriers of viruses. They body fluids such as blood and sputum act as media to spread viral infection between individuals. A carrier may cause another person to fall very sick, and there is no way in which people at large can recognize a carrier.
Higher orders of animals, such as birds, rodents, cattle, cats and dogs complicate matters. They act as carriers as well. People, who can tolerate body fluid contact with other humans, may fall seriously ill when they come in contact with body fluids from another animal. Malnourished children, who live and play with domesticated animals, are at special risk, as are the elderly as well.
Viruses and our immune systems play cat and mouse with each other, and there will be times when large numbers of people succumb to attacks. Vaccination has limited use because like any thief, a virus can change form with ease. This limitation applies to medication as well. Our best hope is to keep our T lymphocyte numbers up to scratch through balanced nutrition, and to use personal hygiene measures to avoid direct contact with body fluids of unknown people and of animals.
Plentiful rest and fluids are often all that a body needs to fight a virus when a fever first surfaces. However a blood test and consultation with your primary care physician cannot be avoided even for seemingly minor episodes of illness, as a lurking virus could strike with sudden ferocity if ignored.
