HealthScapades Episode #11 | Èmi Kìí Bá Virus ágíù! (I no dey argue with virus!) | 29.08.2024
by Tayo Fasuan
There are so many myths and facts about viruses that even medical people sometimes get confused. Just yesterday, one virus was giving so much trouble in the laboratory that we even misclassified it.
The classification had to do with being enveloped and non-enveloped. Those viruses that have some forms of membranes around them are called enveloped viruses, while those without this membrane are referred to as non-enveloped viruses, or, in slang, ‘naked viruses.’
Now, one would expect the naked viruses to be very sensitive to anything done to them to break them down. But no, that’s not the case. Because of this nakedness, these viruses are surprisingly tougher and more resistant to any adversity than enveloped viruses. Heat, disinfectants, acidic conditions and dryness don’t affect them at all.
So basically, we virologists are usually sceptical of non-enveloped viruses, although usually the more ‘wicked’ viruses you have probably heard about are enveloped viruses. Ebola, Lassa, Hepatitis, HIV, Rabies. All enveloped viruses. Yeah, it can be confusing.
But I don’t worry myself about these anymore. Inside the laboratory, we don’t argue with viruses. We find ways to break them down, bypass their security systems and their shenanigans, enveloped or non-enveloped, in order to study them. It’s not as easy as envisaged, but we keep at it.
Next time you see any virus, ask it to say “Cheese” and smile for the camera.