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This is absolutely some monkey's paw shit.
Someone back in 2019: I wish that science would end the common cold and influenza.
Monkey's paw: Oh, he didn't say 'SARS'. Well then...
There may also be consequences to dialling up the immune system beyond its normal state – raising questions of immune disorders.
Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, said the work was undeniably "exciting" but cautioned "we have to ensure that keeping the body on 'high alert' doesn't lead to friendly fire, where a hyper-ready immune system accidentally triggers unwelcome side effects".
Oh look, my first thought when reading the headline!
The thing is, flus and colds actually cause immune disorders. So many people have "mysterious" chronic illnesses because they had a "harmless" virus.
As someone with an auto immune disorder already, I share your concern. And fuck this noise. Having an over active immune system makes colds and flus worse.
How does an active immune system make colds worse? I would assume it makes them better since you’re less apt to get them.
I believe it's due to the over reaction. There ends up being too much of an inflammation reaction. The symptoms become enhanced. A mild cough can become a heavy, nagging cough.
Most of the unpleasant symptoms you experience from respiratory viruses are your body responding to the infection. If that response is extreme and unchecked not only will the symptoms be far worse but they can become life threatening.
My second thought is when viruses and other pathogens evolve to evade this, everyone not using it is fucked.
Some already do evolve to evade this, this is why the flu vaccine changes every year
But this is not a vaccine (triggering an immune response to a specific antigen) despite the headline, it's a way to dial up the (entire? it's unclear) immune system. Seems like a good way to evolve superbugs and get nasty autoimmune conditions.
Man, I hate being a meat sack.
I thought this was "good news for everyone".
this post was submitted on 20 Feb 2026
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