Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sure, but those people know a bunch of things we don't, and are not speculating on an internet message board for thousands of random people to read.
We ? My experience has been that Hacker News is filled with world-class experts on all manner of subjects. I've no doubt infectious diseases is one of those subjects, as well.
And even if you have that, there's always a risk that someone out there reads the most dangerously stupid comments and interpret them as gospel no matter how downvoted.