Posted by Researcher on August 25, 2003 at 02:04:19
In Reply to: Re: on aids transmission posted by Rocky on August 25, 2003 at 01:11:29:
If and when the virus does develop the ability to survive for longer periods outside a host organism, it will no longer be as deadly. It all has to do with survival in the bigger scheme of things. There is a lot of evidence to support this theory.
Viruses like the ones that cause the common cold, because they are able to survive for up to 72 hours on surfaces like door knobs, don't need to replicate themselves as rapidly once in a host organism. The continuation and spread of their DNA is ensured by a relatively mild infection of one host organism, and fairly easy means of transmission to other new hosts. HIV viruses on the other hand, which do not survive that easily outside a host organism and cannot be transmitted as easily from one host to another, replicate as rapidly as possible inside the host organism, causing havoc to the immune system of the host.