Alternatively, continued wearing of masks and observing basic hygiene - it's absurd we're politicizing WASHING YOUR HANDS or NOT GOING TO WORK WHILE BEING SYMPTOMATICALLY SICK - can also drive pathogens out of existence.

The anti-covid measures likely led to the extinction of at least one strain of human influenza [1], it is likely that this feat could be repeated. There is no need at all for the massive economic impact that flu and other transmittable diseases have - back in 2017/18 for example, the flu caused a noticeable slowdown in economic growth in Germany [2], and we all see just how badly COVID is still fucking up economies worldwide.

[1] https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/09/covid-may-have-pushe...

[2] https://www.reuters.com/article/deutschland-konjunktur-einka...

There’s no driving pathogens out of existence. Forget about that.

There is. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eradication_of_infectious_dise...

I literally posted an example where that worked in recent times, not to mention the historic examples of smallpox and polio (although the latter sadly still remains at like 99% due to anti-vaccine misinformation in the few areas that still have polio).

Vaccines work.

I think with the comment was saying is that we cannot eradicate a flu/covid disease by handwashing and masking. China has shown us you can control it with ruthless rules. And a more effective vaccine could do it, but there’s little precedent for a 100% effective respiratory vax.

Not COVID, because it is so highly infectious, but there is evidence that a strain of flu was eradicated because of COVID measures[1].

[1] https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/09/covid-may-have-pushe...

WE HAVE DONE IT MULTIPLE TIMES! What drugs are you on?

We have never done it for a highly contagious respiratory virus with multiple animal reservoirs. SARS-CoV-2 will be with us forever. It's time to accept the risks and move on.

Can't animals be vaccinated?

Lol good luck catching them all (including the bats). And remember that vaccination doesn't prevent transmission. The virus cannot be eradicated.

Livestock and domestic animal vectors can be though.

Pointless. Vaccinating livestock and domestic animals wouldn't prevent them from transmitting the virus to humans.

I think the parent means that killing the animals would prevent them being a reservoir.

> What drugs are you on?

Why does all the pro-restrictions, pro-mask crowd always stoop to this level of discourse?

Science depends on critical thinking. Even if it goes against your own thoughts and beliefs.

One human virus, one cat virus. Both took decades, and weren't airborne.