Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

dutch777

(3,019 posts) Tue Jun 30, 2020, 12:34 PM Jun 2020

Does more cases of C-19 in humans mean more chance of an even more dangerous mutation???

Seems to me that the more people we infect the more petri dishes we are providing this virus to mutate into something even worse. Maybe I am being too linear in my logic but wondering why this isn't being discussed? Would love to hear from the scientists on this.

3 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Does more cases of C-19 in humans mean more chance of an even more dangerous mutation??? (Original Post) dutch777 Jun 2020 OP

thank you for asking...I was wondering the same thing nt Fresh_Start Jun 2020 #1

generally a virus will mutate to less lethality in order to increase its reproduction Voltaire2 Jun 2020 #2

Thank you!!! dutch777 Jun 2020 #3

Fresh_Start

(11,330 posts)

1. thank you for asking...I was wondering the same thing nt

Reply to dutch777 (Original post)

Tue Jun 30, 2020, 12:35 PM

Jun 2020

Voltaire2

(13,037 posts)

2. generally a virus will mutate to less lethality in order to increase its reproduction

Reply to dutch777 (Original post)

Tue Jun 30, 2020, 12:38 PM

Jun 2020

Higher and especially quicker death rates reduce the R0 and thus the spread . A mutation that both increases its ability to infect hosts and keeps infected hosts alive longer will be preferred.

dutch777

(3,019 posts)

3. Thank you!!!

Reply to Voltaire2 (Reply #2)

Tue Jun 30, 2020, 12:47 PM

Jun 2020

I remember reading about Ebola and that was always the paradox about why it was so deadly so quick and why that helped sort of self limited the spread.

Reply to this discussion