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Herpes Virus Reactivation in Astronauts During Spaceflight

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Re: Herpes Virus Reactivation in Astronauts During Spaceflight

#51

Post by nostrademons »

burfog wrote: post #35
icedchai wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Over 60% of humanity has HSV-1 [1], aka "cold sores" virus. When people "get tested", they generally don't even check for it unless you request it, because it would create unjustified concern. [1] See https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/28-10-2015-globally-an-...

So almost 40% of humanity does not have HSV-1. Astronaut selection is already severe. You don't get selected if you have tuberculosis, diabetes, amputations, or deafness. Once selected, you won't go on the launch if you are sick with the flu. It doesn't seem like HSV-1 needs to be a problem in space. Simply add that to the gigantic list of conditions that prevent space travel. I highly doubt that HSV-1 is anywhere ne…

It's related to age, as you would expect from any contagious virus that's ubiquitous in the environment and doesn't go away. 0.01% of newborns have HSV-1 [1]; 90% of 50-year-olds have it [2]. The 40% of humanity without HSV-1 are largely under 30. Your typical astronaut is much more likely to be towards the 40-50 year old end of the scale.

[1] https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/pediatrics/infecti...

[2] https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/adu...

Re: Herpes Virus Reactivation in Astronauts During Spaceflight

#52

Post by Symmetry »

burfog wrote: post #35
icedchai wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Over 60% of humanity has HSV-1 [1], aka "cold sores" virus. When people "get tested", they generally don't even check for it unless you request it, because it would create unjustified concern. [1] See https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/28-10-2015-globally-an-...

So almost 40% of humanity does not have HSV-1. Astronaut selection is already severe. You don't get selected if you have tuberculosis, diabetes, amputations, or deafness. Once selected, you won't go on the launch if you are sick with the flu. It doesn't seem like HSV-1 needs to be a problem in space. Simply add that to the gigantic list of conditions that prevent space travel. I highly doubt that HSV-1 is anywhere ne…

The estimates I've seen were more 1/3 to 1/2 of people being infected but it is very common because most people engage in unprotected kissing with a number of partners. I have, in fact, never heard of anyone using a barrier while kissing so I don't think you can expect that someone with HSV-1 to also have other diseases.

Re: Herpes Virus Reactivation in Astronauts During Spaceflight

#53

Post by SketchySeaBeast »

burfog wrote: post #35
icedchai wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Over 60% of humanity has HSV-1 [1], aka "cold sores" virus. When people "get tested", they generally don't even check for it unless you request it, because it would create unjustified concern. [1] See https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/28-10-2015-globally-an-...

So almost 40% of humanity does not have HSV-1. Astronaut selection is already severe. You don't get selected if you have tuberculosis, diabetes, amputations, or deafness. Once selected, you won't go on the launch if you are sick with the flu. It doesn't seem like HSV-1 needs to be a problem in space. Simply add that to the gigantic list of conditions that prevent space travel. I highly doubt that HSV-1 is anywhere ne…

> I highly doubt that HSV-1 is anywhere near 60% in the pool of astronaut candidates. Disease presence is correlated: if you have one, you probably have another. Since lots of other diseases would already be disqualifying, adding HSV-1 to the checklist won't strike off very many potential astronauts.

Dude, I've had cold sores since I was a child. There's no relationship between HSV-1 and other diseases.

Re: Herpes Virus Reactivation in Astronauts During Spaceflight

#54

Post by saagarjha »

wakon wrote: post #33

NASA could send a control group of astronauts to space with NO duties and see if it has any effect on health (relative to those with “jobs”). Space travel is surely stressful, but perhaps the additional pressure of having tight schedules and deliverables is an additional stress?

That seems like it would be an extremely expensive experiment.

Re: Herpes Virus Reactivation in Astronauts During Spaceflight

#55

Post by tropo »

Symmetry wrote: post #52
burfog wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So almost 40% of humanity does not have HSV-1. Astronaut selection is already severe. You don't get selected if you have tuberculosis, diabetes, amputations, or deafness. Once selected, you won't go on the launch if you are sick with the flu. It doesn't seem like HSV-1 needs to be a problem in space. Simply add that to the gigantic list of conditions that prevent space travel. I highly doubt that HSV-1 is anywhere ne…

The estimates I've seen were more 1/3 to 1/2 of people being infected but it is very common because most people engage in unprotected kissing with a number of partners. I have, in fact, never heard of anyone using a barrier while kissing so I don't think you can expect that someone with HSV-1 to also have other diseases.

My sex ed class taught me to use a dental dam for protection while kissing. I guess some people got abstinence-only classes, but most of us were taught how to stay safe.

I've also known multiple people in the USA who actually succeeded with abstinence. They did not kiss or spend time alone with the opposite sex until their wedding day.

IMHO the abstinence looks easier, but the use of protection is being taught.

Re: Herpes Virus Reactivation in Astronauts During Spaceflight

#56

Post by jayess »

newnewpdro wrote: post #48
icedchai wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How do you know? Have you had HSV blood tests?

In my 20s. I suppose it's remotely possible that I contracted HSV since then without ever having any symptoms, but my understanding of HSV is that with all forms the initial infection is obvious so that's quite unlikely. We're not talking about HPV, which I (and you) very likely have wether we know it or not, without vaccination.

I'll announce my scarlet letter to make a point. I was recently tested for HSV and came back positive for HSV-2. I've never been tested before so I have no idea how long I've had it, but it was a surprise because I've had zero symptoms. In fact, I figured it was a false positive so I got re-tested.

Re: Herpes Virus Reactivation in Astronauts During Spaceflight

#57

Post by serf »

SketchySeaBeast wrote: post #53
burfog wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So almost 40% of humanity does not have HSV-1. Astronaut selection is already severe. You don't get selected if you have tuberculosis, diabetes, amputations, or deafness. Once selected, you won't go on the launch if you are sick with the flu. It doesn't seem like HSV-1 needs to be a problem in space. Simply add that to the gigantic list of conditions that prevent space travel. I highly doubt that HSV-1 is anywhere ne…

> I highly doubt that HSV-1 is anywhere near 60% in the pool of astronaut candidates. Disease presence is correlated: if you have one, you probably have another. Since lots of other diseases would already be disqualifying, adding HSV-1 to the checklist won't strike off very many potential astronauts. Dude, I've had cold sores since I was a child. There's no relationship between HSV-1 and other diseases.

>Dude, I've had cold sores since I was a child. There's no relationship between HSV-1 and other diseases.

Repeated (chronic) bacterial or viral wounding doesn't result in increased cancer risks? I find that hard to believe.

Re: Herpes Virus Reactivation in Astronauts During Spaceflight

#58

Post by dajohnson89 »

mfoy_ wrote: post #3
fixermark wrote: post #2

Interesting to me personally because I'd never heard before that HSV-1 reactivation was stress-linked.

It's well known that stress weakens the immune system[1]. So it's not a surprise that stress might encourage dormant infections (such as HSV-1) to enjoy a resurgence. [1] https://www.apa.org/research/action/immune

I get canker sores [0] only during periods of extremely high stress or sleep deprivation.

[0]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphthous_stomatitis

Re: Herpes Virus Reactivation in Astronauts During Spaceflight

#59

Post by dbspin »

trhway wrote: post #32
ericol wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"The stigma against" is exclusively a US bound thing. I consume a lot of media (Plus memes) from the US, and people make a real fuss about it. In my country people give it the same importance as a simple cold.

widespread cold sores in a given society i think have 2 pronged effect: 1. a something widespread does usually have naturally higher societal acceptance 2. [IANAD] kind of "de-facto" vaccination/immunization. For example i (like many many Russians) have occasional cold sores (once in a 1-4 years, in CA seems to be less frequently than back in Russia) since childhood. I've had it on both sides of my lips which probabl…

I find this fascinating. Never heard the claim before that lip herpes grants immunity to genital outbreaks.

Also, whats source of such common early childhood herpes in Russia? Kissing from infected relatives? Given lethality of neonatal herpes it seems unlikely to be interuterine transmission.

Re: Herpes Virus Reactivation in Astronauts During Spaceflight

#60

Post by JimmyAustin »

saagarjha wrote: post #54
wakon wrote: post #33

NASA could send a control group of astronauts to space with NO duties and see if it has any effect on health (relative to those with “jobs”). Space travel is surely stressful, but perhaps the additional pressure of having tight schedules and deliverables is an additional stress?

That seems like it would be an extremely expensive experiment.

Make it a rich person, call it space tourism and you could make it profitable.
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