Who's afraid of the [S]Xi[/S] [S]Nu[/S] Omicron variant?

[Gibbon]

I read somewhere that in ancient times the emphasis was on the "micron" and "mega" rather than the "O"

If that is true, then Mary Beard fluffed it by publicly claiming the emphasis should be on the "O"

I don't think MB is into "fluffing", but she can write some real diatribe. Her book on The Roman Triumph being a stellar example of taking up hundreds of pages and a readers time to say nothing at all except recounting ancient descriptions.

[OwlHoot]

All pandemics mutate into less dangerous variants because it's not advantageous to kill your host ...

Not so I'm afraid, of viruses generally anyway.

If they have a fairly long incubation and infectious period, there's no advantage in mutating to be less deadly.

For example, nobody in recorded history has ever survived a rabies infection without medical help (an induced coma).

[northernladuk]

News just in. All flights to Malta in January cancelled. Entry has been closed to visitors all that month. Dooooooooom

[Gibbon]

Not so I'm afraid, of viruses generally anyway.

If they have a fairly long incubation and infectious period, there's no advantage in mutating to be less deadly.

For example, nobody in recorded history has ever survived a rabies infection without medical help (an induced coma).

Yes to a point, Rabies is niche, Covid is 'Global'.

[SueEllen]

News just in. All flights to Malta in January cancelled. Entry has been closed to visitors all that month. Dooooooooom

You are evil.

[ladymuck]

News just in. All flights to Malta in January cancelled. Entry has been closed to visitors all that month. Dooooooooom

That's ok. HWMBO and I will just kip at yours.