Why Viruses Become Stronger And More Resistant

Every year, it seems that viruses are getting stronger and affecting humans more. Last year’s flu was perhaps cured faster compared to this year. Maybe this year the flu will last shorter, but the symptoms will affect you more.

Since human bodies are gradually changing, it goes without saying that microorganisms do the same. After all, it’s all for survival. In other words, viruses must become stronger in order to invade and survive in the respective hosts.

How viruses and the immune system work

The immune system is activated at that time and recognizes the virus as an invader it must destroy before it can access the cells. If this does not happen, the process known as “infection” begins.

Once the microorganism has taken over a cell, it can replicate to create more. This can happen as quickly as how strong the virus is and as slowly as the immune system takes action.

Our immune system is very effective in killing invaders. For example, fever and vomiting are the body’s defense mechanisms.

The human body also has what is called acquired immunity. This means that the body remembers the viruses it has had, such as measles, chickenpox or mumps because they immunize against them throughout life.

When you get vaccinated, it happens that you introduce a small part of the disease so that your body can learn to fight it effectively. This is why you sometimes get sick from the flu after getting the flu vaccine. This is how the body develops an effective resistance to the real virus.

Why viruses get stronger

Antibiotic abuse, migration (usually through tourism) and global warming seem to be the main reasons why viruses and bacteria are getting stronger.

There are new microorganisms every day that also spread faster. In addition, since we often medicate ourselves for mild cystitis symptoms or fever, this causes other species to mutate to avoid being wiped out.

Doctors prescribe antibiotics when other treatments are inadequate. The downside is that people now need higher doses and medications that work faster.

For every antibiotic they make, there is a bacterium or a virus that resists it. These microorganisms are very smart and will do their best to survive. When they receive an antidote, they begin to deal with it through “strains”. This is like the updates you install on your phone or computer.

An increase in deadly viruses

Your immune system recognizes viruses as enemies and acts accordingly. Sometimes, however, it does not have the necessary information to counteract the effects of these unwanted guests.

For example, in 1918, the Spanish flu killed 2.5% of those infected. Later, yellow fever caused death in 20% of those affected, smallpox caused death in 30% of patients, and Ebola hemorrhagic fever caused death in 90% of those infected.

Today, it seems that we all get infected faster, and that viruses cause more deaths in less time.

There are around 350 infectious diseases worldwide, and a new one occurs every 18 months. Modernity is responsible for this process. Flights, global warming, wars, overpopulation, dietary changes and hunger are just some of the reasons.

New antiviral drugs that work before the virus attaches to the cell or prevent the genetic material of the microorganism from injecting itself into the host. However, this does not mean that they eliminate the virus in question, only that they reduce its effectiveness.

Viruses and bacteria are very simple organisms, but they can cause a lot of damage. Humans may never be able to beat them completely, but the goal is simply to go one step further.