Is it possible to kill a virus for good

[hivesaeed4]

Hi,

Previously, I thought like everyone else that viruses were alive inside and dead outside the hosts body. However recently I read a book which discussed diseases. According to it, (the scan of the page is attached) there was an outbreak of a virus caused disease (flu) in 1918 in Alaska. In 1950, the virus was rediscovered and it did'nt infect suitable hosts because it was dead. Does this mean that it is possible to kill a virus for once and for all. If so, what methods are used for killing the virus and as a result of such methods what goes wrong in the virus which makes it rest in peace.

Regards.

 

[Ygggdrasil]

Viruses are rely on many proteins to be able to infect host cells, replicate its genetic material, and create new viruses. For example, influenza (the causative agent of flu) has proteins in its outer envelope that allow it to attach to cells, enter into the cell, and release its RNA for replication. Any treatments that damage these proteins (for example, by causing them to unfold) or the genetic material of the virus, will cause the viruses to be noninfectious. For example, irradiating a surface with UV radiation or treating it with bleach will irreversibly damage the viral particles and render them non-infectious. Simply leaving the virus to dry out on a surface will eventually inactivate the virus as well (because the component proteins will irreversibly unfold in the absence of water as it dehydrates).

 

[Monique]

An example of an eradicated virus is smallpox, there a "ring vaccination" technique was used to isolate cases and vaccinate the people in the vicinity.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/smallpox/en/

 

[mishrashubham]

Previously, I thought like everyone else that viruses were alive inside and dead outside the hosts body.

The concept of dead and alive becomes really hazy with things like viruses. By alive inside they actually mean the viruses can replicate only in a host while dead outside doesn't really mean that they are gone for good but just sort of an inactive state. That said, viruses can be permanently destroyed by damaging any vital structural component of the theirs.

 

[LudusRex]

I can say that it is not possible to kill a virus for good. Viruses are not considered living organisms as they do not have the ability to reproduce on their own and rely on a host cell to survive. When a virus is outside of a host, it is in a dormant state and can be considered "dead" as it is not actively infecting a host cell. However, once it enters a suitable host, it can become active and replicate, causing an infection.

The outbreak of the flu in 1918 in Alaska was caused by a virus that was able to infect suitable hosts and cause illness. In 1950, when the virus was rediscovered, it was not able to infect suitable hosts because it had mutated or changed in some way, making it unable to successfully infect and cause illness. This does not mean that the virus was permanently killed, but rather it evolved and changed over time.

While there are methods to control and prevent the spread of viruses, such as vaccines and antiviral medications, these do not completely eradicate the virus. Viruses have the ability to mutate and evolve, making it difficult to completely eliminate them. Additionally, viruses can also exist in different forms, such as in animal or insect hosts, making it challenging to completely eliminate them from the environment.

In summary, while it may seem like a virus can be "killed" or eliminated, it is not possible to permanently eradicate it. The best way to prevent the spread of viruses is through proper hygiene, vaccinations, and ongoing research and development of antiviral treatments.