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A thread! On immunity.
I realise that we cannot tire and lose patience educating people about #COVID19inSA because if we do, those loud and popular will exploit the gap and feed South Africans misinformation.
That misinformation will be to the detriment of our nation.
I realise that we cannot tire and lose patience educating people about #COVID19inSA because if we do, those loud and popular will exploit the gap and feed South Africans misinformation.
That misinformation will be to the detriment of our nation.
Let’s take a simple example of babies and how they fair against a diarhoea often caused by viruses.
We teach- prepare baby food and bottle under sterile conditions. Wash your hands and sterilize bottles and their dishes.
No we are not trying to ‘weaken their immunity’.
We teach- prepare baby food and bottle under sterile conditions. Wash your hands and sterilize bottles and their dishes.
No we are not trying to ‘weaken their immunity’.
When a baby gets a diarhoea from a virus/tummy flu it can end up disastrous because they lose a lot of water in their bodies.
Loss of this water of water drops their blood pressure and many organs fail.
They also have an imbalance in the salts of their bodies- also deadly.
Loss of this water of water drops their blood pressure and many organs fail.
They also have an imbalance in the salts of their bodies- also deadly.
The organs that will fail include the kidney, brain won’t get its blood supply- brain damage.
The salts in the body are ressponsible for normal electrical currents that make the heart beat well and nerves send their messages.
An imbalance will stop the heart and cause seizures
The salts in the body are ressponsible for normal electrical currents that make the heart beat well and nerves send their messages.
An imbalance will stop the heart and cause seizures
So because we know that tummy flu can be disastrous for a baby we say- let’s protect them by washing hands and sterilizing.
They grow bigger maybe at 4 they get the tummy flu- they manage much better- even better at 16 and great at 25 years.
They grow bigger maybe at 4 they get the tummy flu- they manage much better- even better at 16 and great at 25 years.
We simply want to postpone the infection so that in their small vulnerable state they can grow and survive. It is a natural instinct for humans to protect its species.
Simply put; we prefer that our babies do not die. Natural.
Simply put; we prefer that our babies do not die. Natural.
Now take #COVID19 we say wash your hands, social distance, stay at home and wear an appropriate mask.
Yes it is flu- and it is great to develop immunity. There is a difference though- this flu causes severe disease and many organs to fail in many people.
Yes it is flu- and it is great to develop immunity. There is a difference though- this flu causes severe disease and many organs to fail in many people.
So just like with babies- we don’t want people to die and the best chance is to not get it.
Some are busy developing vaccines which takes a while- mostly because we cannot stay at home indefinitely because livelihoods are disrupted.
Some are busy developing vaccines which takes a while- mostly because we cannot stay at home indefinitely because livelihoods are disrupted.
But also with the deaths that will ensue with mass infections and therefore greater numbers being severely ill ending up with disability or dead- economies will collapse.
So we say protect yourself for now until we have a vaccine.
It is not a good idea to expose yourself to this infection because the very system that is meant to help you develop immunity may drive you to a catastrophe as it tries to do so.
It is not a good idea to expose yourself to this infection because the very system that is meant to help you develop immunity may drive you to a catastrophe as it tries to do so.
So wash your hands, keep a physical distance, stay at home if you can and wear an appropriate mask.
That is your best bet.
So if you would go to bathroom, wipe your bum with your bare hands, prepare a baby’s bottle thereafter, then you are not supposed to be amongst us.
That is your best bet.
So if you would go to bathroom, wipe your bum with your bare hands, prepare a baby’s bottle thereafter, then you are not supposed to be amongst us.
You belong elsewhere where you can be protected from yourself and society must also be protected from you.
It is literally in your hands. Mostly.
It is literally in your hands. Mostly.
