• Question: When a new virus pops into existence, how long does it take for people to identify it?

    Asked by TheFishMeister to Aaron, David, Elaine, Sarah, Zoe on 15 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: David Foley

      David Foley answered on 15 Nov 2014:

      Depends of the nature of the virus. For example, if it does not cause particularly obvious symptoms or these symptoms are delayed for many years (like hepatitis C and liver disease) it may not be detected for a long time. Similarly if it only infects small numbers of people in remote areas.

      Alternatively a highly virulent, contagious and nasty virus would be rapidly identified – think zombie apocalypse movies!

    • Photo: Sarah Ashwood

      Sarah Ashwood answered on 15 Nov 2014:

      It would depend entirely on the severity of symptoms, how quickly the virus spread, and where in the world it is affecting.

      In more remote or rural communities a new virus wouldn’t get the media coverage to generate scientific interest to identify it – particularly if it isn’t fatal or isn’t spreading quickly.

      Equally, if the symptoms aren’t noticeable, or not many people are infected then you’re not going to have people looking into what it is.

      But if some new virus came about suddenly and was spreading very quickly with highly noticeable symptoms (like vomiting or a skin condition or anything that would stop people from being able to go about their normal life) then it would be rapidly identified so that research into some form of cure could be developed.

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