Gotta wait some more
hi ya
Yeah the embargo is still on until the papers are published so that could be a while. I'm not too worried about the saliva thing. This virus is shaping up to look exactly like HIV and HTLV as far as transmission. It's just a retrovirus transmitting the way retroviri do. (grins)
But that has some very sobering implications for us and the general public. I remember when the news about AIDS hit in 83 the level of stupidity was phenomenal. To this day many people with AIDS are discriminated against, refused medical treatment, jobs, relationships ect.
My guess is that we will face some of the same thinking in the coming years and the National Cancer Institute and Health and Human Services is aware of this potential. That's why they put together a task force so quickly (like a matter of weeks, gov'ment never works that quick unless it's covering it's backside). They are most likely (me speculating) the powers that have stuffed a sock in the speakers mouths for now. They need to try to minimize and protect the current patients and spin it to the public in a way that won't bring panic.
For the task force this has got to look like one really big cluster (umm) of poo. Problems with criteria, problems with patients who have been abused and abandoned by the system for decades! And here's the real kicker the people who are OMG sick are mothers and children, sisters and brothers, husbands and wives. Normal ordinary people who live in mainstream (insert country here).
What the HHS has to deal with is backlash from people who are fearful that 'if it could happen to my neighbor it can happen to me' type thinking. The second thing they have to deal with is some really, really, really, really angry PWC's. All of our stories are going to come cascading out, in books, letters, TV, Youtube and on and on. And it's bad because there is culpability that can be pointed to. There are funds that were diverted, studies that were not followed up properly, a government agency that was negligent.
My guess is the HHS task force is charge with coming up with as many answers as possible as soon as possible before the lid blows. And that lid is one study away from blowing most likely. Just one validation study and there are going to be several million really pissed people and the people who love them ready to tear this thing wide open.
Hang on it's going to be a bumpy ride (big grins)