Again: Viruses do not necessarily evolve to be milder—especially if they transmit early, like this one. Our immune system learning about it—via vaccines or infection—can mean better response next time, so milder experience. Not same as virus becoming intrinsically less virulent.https://twitter.com/zeynep/status/1465075561236250631 …
-
Show this thread
-
Replying to @zeynep
This is a bold statement to make while we wait on omicron reinfection severity data. If a variant is sufficiently different, immunity from previous infection may not be effective. Consider how norovirus keeps causing the same gastro symptoms for all ages with each reinfection.
2 replies 4 retweets 39 likes -
Replying to @lisa_iannattone @zeynep
Just as there are many noroviruses and immunity from one doesn’t translate to immunity to another, immunity to one SARS2 virus may not translate to immunity to a sufficiently different SARS2 virus. We’re far too early in the course to be as certain about this as you seem to be.
2 replies 3 retweets 33 likes -
Replying to @lisa_iannattone
zeynep tufekci Retweeted zeynep tufekci
Not a bold statement. Everything else equal, of course re-infections are milder *on average*. We have so much data on this now. Two, as first tweet explains, a new variant is not everything else equal, so can be *more* severe to people with no immunity.https://twitter.com/zeynep/status/1465075561236250631 …
zeynep tufekci added,
zeynep tufekciVerified account @zeynepThis is a myth. Especially for a virus that can transmit early in disease course, like this one, selection pressure is on transmission, not virulence. So a new variant can be MORE or LESS virulent (when everything else equal, i.e. host immunity). https://twitter.com/soccervolleymom/status/1465074442044850183 …Show this thread3 replies 1 retweet 9 likes -
Replying to @zeynep @lisa_iannattone
Why do you say "of course?" Thinking of Dengue.
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @eneldiluvio @lisa_iannattone
There is absolutely zero evidence of ADE for SARS-CoV-2 and more evidence than one can pile up which clearly show that re-infections and breakthroughs are milder on average. The epi data is so crystal clear that it's hard for me to believe so many smart people have been taken in.
2 replies 1 retweet 4 likes
(We'd know by now... Two years in, these are not unknown questions. I'm saying the most boring, obvious thing, tbh).
-
Show additional replies, including those that may contain offensive content
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.