BHA: Re: Let us take the demise of Africans- an example

["Andrew Hagen" <xah@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Fri, 02 Feb 2001 21:56:02 +0100, Bwanika wrote:
>[...] I still want to know the entire sociology / CR philosophy
>about viruses and bacterial epidemiology or at least the history of
>contagious diseases.

As far as I know, critical realism does not have any particular
position on these issues. Also, sociology is the study of society.
Sociologists do not typically delve into microbiology. Nevertheless, a
sociology of microbiologists might be worthwhile. I am unaware of work
in such an area, however.

>Pharmacists confirm that not much is known about viruses, and if much was
>known or rather that that was the case there will be no virus in the world,
>since it will be possible to make drugs which could knock them outright.

What do we really know about anything, including viruses? "Not much" is
a good answer to that question. A better approach might be, "What
interesting questions can we ask about viruses?" Happily, there are
many such questions.

>   Further still there is no virus in the world known which can cause a
>multiple array of diseases. Therefore there is no HIV!

First, scientists have identified a strain of virus they call "HIV."
Thus, HIV exists. Second, perhaps you would like to dispute the link
between HIV infection and AIDS? If so, where is your argument?
Scientists do not claim HIV causes any condition, other than AIDS, in
my understanding. AIDS itself is not fatal. If one was not exposed to
the untold billions of microorganisms latent in the environment, many
of which are fatal to a human without a functioning immune system, then
one could live with AIDS quite well. Our environment is different
though. There are all those microorganisms out there, waiting to infect
a host. In an AIDS patient a common cold more easily develops into
pneumonia because the immune system has deteriorated due to the HIV
infection. Pneumonia and many other diseases that the immune system
usually can fight are more likely to be fatal in AIDS patients. The
exposure of the body to what are ordinarily innocuous microorganisms is
what (indirectly) makes an HIV infection deadly.

> [....]  AIDS is said to be a reflection of  common disease, which have been here
>with us for ages.

No, you are wrong. AIDS stands for "Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome." As the name implies, AIDS implies the failure of the immune
system. AIDS causes no condition which, taken by itself, is fatal.

>  [....] So if one talks of Blacks or (Africans) dying of AIDS in big numbers
>what is it that they are talking about? [....]

Such a statement would be technically inaccurate. No one dies of AIDS.
People who have AIDS die of pneumonia and other diseases that are much
deadlier to them then they are to people without AIDS. To say that
someone dies of AIDS is a convenient shorthand that unfortunately
mystifies rather than clarifies.

BTW, it is of course not just Blacks and Africans who die of diseases
contracted that, save for AIDS, they probably would not have contracted
otherwise. But Africa happens to be the most afflicted continent
currently.

What can be done to fight AIDS? That is not yet clear. We often hear
talk of an "AIDS vaccine." Such an antidote is unlikely to be
developed. Vaccines typically have been developed for bacterial
infections, not viral infections. The medicines of humanity are mostly
ineffective against viral invasions. It may very well be a waiting
game. After several more decades, a less deadly, and thus more easily
transfered virus may evolve. Such a virus could supplant HIV. Most
infected patients would not develop AIDS because this new virus would
not be as deadly. Unless we develop some great new medical technology,
this decades-away possibility is about the best that can be hoped for,
in my belief. Unfortunately, that is of no help or comfort to current
AIDS patients.

Thus, the best way to fight HIV/AIDS is to stop spreading it. Cut down
on non-monogamous sexual relations, for example.

Andrew Hagen
xah@xxxxxxxxxxxxx




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