THE PANDEMIC that continues to plague us has taken its toll on the world economy. Our country is getting anaemic from the financial bleeding and there’s no end in sight yet.
There is an urgent need to solve the enigmatic immunity against COVID-19. Let me emphasize, unless this is contested, that the objective is herd immunity. The first country to acquire herd immunity will be the first to relax its grip from the curse of SARS-CoV-2 particles.
The rat race for herd immunity has kept the world eagerly waiting for news of a promising vaccine. Vaccine is the golden standard for epidemics and pandemics.
However, vaccine production is not a marathon race. It must pass every mile without missing a mark. Before a vaccine could see the light of success, it must rigidly pass all measures, tests, studies, reviews, and challenges before hitting the finish line and awarded the title: PROTECTOR OF THE DISEASE. No shortcuts are allowed, lest the brunt of reviews rain, claims labelled fake and destroyed in time from scrutiny.
The world hopes that the vaccine marathon race will be done before the dusk of history, otherwise the world economy would fall (in darkness) as predicted by Nostradamus.
The question remains: Does it have to be a marathon? Is vaccine the only way to Herd Immunity (H.I.)? Or, is there a shorter race that can promise H.I.?
Let us dissect the problem.
H.I. is an epidemiological concept describing a state where a population is sufficiently protected from a disease and the spread of infection within that group. Although vaccines hold the title to this, it is not entirely exclusive.
Vaccines are in the realm of Acquired or Adaptive Immunity. It goes a long route. But there also exists a shorter route of protection, the Innate Immunity.
Innate immunity refers to nonspecific defense mechanisms that come into play immediately or within hours of an antigen’s appearance in the body. These mechanisms include physical barriers such as skin and mucosa, chemicals in the blood, and immune system cells that attack foreign cells in the body. Innate immunity plays an important role in the initial stage of a disease. It will provide the signals whether to STOP or PROCEED.
The problem with COVID-19 is basically due to the flawed innate immunity of the nasal mucosa because of the sneaky character of the virus particle. The flaws arise within the mucus layer of the mucosal barrier of the nose.
I can cite two issues. First, inefficient mucus clearance necessary to flush out trapped airborne virus particles in the initial stage. This allows stagnation of particles, favouring cell infection and tissue invasion. Second, the cloaked character of SARS-CoV-2 allows escape from detection by the immune system cells within the mucus layer. This allows the virus to PROCEED its course.
Can these innate immunity issues be remedied? Can we STOP it? The answer is YES.
First, the mucus clearance can be enhanced by saline wash on a daily regular basis. That means daily washing, daily flushing. Furthermore, mucociliary function of the nasal mucosa can be supported by the incorporation of virgin coconut oil (VCO) in the wash. Second, the virus can be killed or weakened in the mucus layer in the absence of immune system cells, or probably uncloaked for the immune cells to neutralize, by adding safe levels of Iodine antiseptic in the wash solution. The VCO also has additive antiviral potency. This is an inexpensive widely reproducible DIY (Do-It-Yourself) virucidal nasal wash. It is possible and feasible.
H.I. doesn’t have to be a marathon race in the realm of Acquired Immunity. They belong almost exclusively to developed countries. We can set a short-run race in the realm of Innate Immunity. This is a valid short race targeted at the same lustrous medal. A race that is not exclusive to the funding of rich corporations.
The world cannot wait long. Countries are being pushed closer to the edge of economic fallout. I love my country and my country is crying for help.
I hope more minds will focus and push INNATE IMMUNITY. If daily oral hygiene and hand washing have protected humanity for centuries, so will daily nasal washing.
“I am only one, but I am ONE.” – Teofanes. If every One would do nasal washing daily with nontoxic virucidal antiseptic solution, the disease will drastically fall. Herd Immunity will be imminent.
Here’s a link to DIY antiseptic nasal wash: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=149688489929742&id=107202160845042
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For comments, you may reach the writer at belca.87@gmail.com. Author is on Twitter @ShilohRuthie./PN
