willowreader

[willowreader]

I've noticed a lot of people in the covid tags fretting about their roommates or loved ones catching covid and not knowing what to do to stay safe. I present the isolation protocol page!

Most of these materials work best when read and prepared ahead of an infection, as preparedness is the no. 1 thing that keeps others safe from covid, but these resources may also help you figure out what you can do right now to mitigate further household spread.

[willowreader]

How interesting is this!

[willowreader]

I have had 1 Covid infection. Jan 7 2004. This is the time of year that is the most dangerous. There are so many asymptomatic people out there.

[willowreader]

Good article but it should have emphasized testing negative for Covid before going out anywhere with no mask. I was positive for 18 days. I got Covid from an asymptomatic person. Just wear an N95 mask when in public. It works.

[willowreader]

You can read this article without logging in. Just keep scrolling.

[willowreader]

This just makes me so sad.

[willowreader]

The Virus That Breaks the Guardrails: How SARS-CoV-2 Turns the Immune System Against Us

- Future of Other Infections?

- Increased Cancer Risk?

We moved on. The masks came off, the gatherings resumed, and the world whispered, “It’s over.” But SARS-CoV-2 never got the memo. While we returned to normal, the virus stayed busy, etching its damage into our immune systems like graffiti on an abandoned building. The wreckage it leaves isn’t always visible, but it’s there—rewiring how our bodies fight disease, setting the stage for new infections, and quietly sabotaging the systems meant to keep us safe.

This isn’t just the story of a virus we think we beat; it’s the story of a virus that’s still working overtime while we look the other way. What happens when the defenses that protected us for generations start to crumble? Spoiler: the virus didn’t move on, and it’s not done with us yet.

SARS-CoV-2: The Architect of Immune Chaos

The virus doesn’t just waltz through the body; it dismantles the system designed to fight it. Imagine fire alarms that don’t go off and sprinklers that flood the room instead of dousing the flames.

• Delayed Interferons, Overzealous Cytokines: SARS-CoV-2 slows down interferons—the immune system’s first line of alarm—while sending cytokines into overdrive, turning inflammation into a wrecking ball.

• Exhausted T Cells: With every infection, your T cells—the body’s elite defense force—grow weary. Think of it as sending in soldiers who are running on fumes, no longer sharp enough to tackle the next invader.

• Aging the Immune System: Repeated battles with the virus don’t just leave the immune system tired—they age it prematurely, trading resilience for fragility.

The Chain Reaction: More Infections, Higher Stakes

A weakened immune system doesn’t just mean more colds. It means openings for diseases you thought you’d outgrown or could fend off easily:

• Respiratory Viruses Surge: RSV and flu have made a dramatic comeback, not because of “immunity debt” but because SARS-CoV-2 rewrote the immune system’s script.

• Bacterial Invaders: Strep A? It’s thriving, thanks to compromised immunity that’s less able to clear bacteria before they take hold.

And then there’s the looming specter of H5N1—a virus with a mortality rate that makes SARS-CoV-2 look merciful. In a world where immune systems are already fraying, H5N1 could be the match to the powder keg.

The Immune System’s Fragile Dance with Cancer

What’s often overlooked in the immune system’s damage report is how it plays referee against cancer. When those referees are sidelined:

• Tumors Evade Detection: Cancer cells become experts at blending in, exploiting weakened immune defenses to grow unchecked.

• Chronic Inflammation Fuels the Fire: Long COVID’s persistent inflammation doesn’t just linger—it lays the groundwork for tumor survival and growth.

• Depleted T Cells, Worsened Outcomes: The very cells designed to kill cancer are the ones SARS-CoV-2 hits hardest. The result? A potential increase in cancer progression and reduced efficacy of treatments.

This Isn’t Over: Why We Must Pay Attention

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic isn’t “over.” It’s shape-shifted into a chronic problem, a long-haul disruptor of human health. From immune dysfunction to rising infections to cancer’s opportunistic growth, the echoes of this virus are far from fading. Add to this the threat of future pandemics and it becomes clear: ignoring the immune wreckage of COVID-19 isn’t just shortsighted—it’s reckless.

It’s time for vigilance, not just against this virus but against what comes next. Vaccines, therapies to restore immune balance, and public health strategies aren’t just buzzwords—they’re our lifeline in a world where the guardrails are already breaking.

Final Thought

When we say SARS-CoV-2 “changed the world,” we’re not just talking about masks and Zoom meetings. We’re talking about how it rewired the very thing meant to protect us. And if we don’t take the time to understand and address this silent damage, the next wave—be it from a new virus, cancer, or a resurgence of old foes—will find us woefully unprepared.

Sources

[1] SARS-CoV-2 and the host-immune response - Frontiers frontiersin.org/journals/immun…

[2] COVID-19 and Immune Dysregulation, a Summary and Resource whn.global/covid-19-and-i…

[3] The relationship between chronic immune response and ... pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC98…

[4] COVID Impacts: Immune - Memorial Sloan Kettering Library libguides.mskcc.org/CovidImpacts/I…

[5] New Research Shows How Cancer Rewires a Key Immune Pathway ... news.weill.cornell.edu/news/2023/08/n…

[6] Roles of the immune system in cancer: from tumor initiation to ... pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC61…

[7] COVID-19 disease and immune dysregulation - PMC pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC95…

[8] Cancer and the Immune System: Basic Concepts and Targets for ... pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC55…

[9] The immune system | Canadian Cancer Society cancer.ca/en/cancer-info…

David It Up @dave_it_up writes amazing well researched pieces that he posts on X. I am still on Twitter because of the health care professionals who still post there. This is why I wear an N95 mask in public places. He speaks for all those who have Long Covid who are too sick to speak for themselves.

[willowreader]

December 22, 2024 article.

[willowreader]

Great video to view on Twitter.

[willowreader]

I thought this was interesting. So many people with Long Covid have ME CFS

[willowreader]

Michael Okun The National Medical advisor for The Parkinsons Foundation has this to say. "There will be a 150% increase in Parkinson after COVID like we saw in 1918 flu says expert researcher Richard Smeyne #mdscongress today. If he is right, we better prepare for this growth and redouble efforts in prevention, research and care! #parkinson"

The Parkinsons disease and Covid connection. Do you know anyone diagnosed with Parkinsons lately? I do.

https://movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/mds.29116

[willowreader]

I know this fact because it happened to me.

[willowreader]

(Note! I am not trying to minimize the importance of food safety or recalls)

People when 500 people get sick from eating unwashed lettuce over a three month period: "Oh my god! Everyone be so, so, so careful!"

People when over 500 people die from covid in the US for the 700th week in a row: "Why are you wearing that mask? *cough cough cough.* yeah, I got sick in June and I haven't been able to stop coughing."

[willowreader]

Republican promises made during the campaign are worthless garbage.

How can anyone tolerate the Project 2025 'we don't know what that is' mountain of bullshit?

I mean, how do we survive as a society when Trump/MAGA/GOP just make up denials about their obvious plans to reorder America and then let unelected immigrant Elon Musk run the agenda that includes mass deportations and gutting social security?

How does the news media call themselves journalists?