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Spaceflight Causes Dormant Viruses to Reactivate in Human Crew

posted by martyb on Saturday March 16 2019, @05:03PM   Printer-friendly
from the get-shot-in-the-arm-before-getting-shot-into-space dept.

An Anonymous Coward writes:

https://phys.org/news/2019-03-dormant-viruses-spaceflight.amp

Herpes viruses reactivate in more than half of crew aboard Space Shuttle and International Space Station missions, according to NASA research published in Frontiers in Microbiology. While only a small proportion develop symptoms, virus reactivation rates increase with spaceflight duration and could present a significant health risk on missions to Mars and beyond.

[...] "NASA astronauts endure weeks or even months exposed to microgravity and cosmic radiation—not to mention the extreme G forces of take-off and re-entry," says senior author Dr. Satish K. Mehta of KBR Wyle at the Johnson Space Center. "This physical challenge is compounded by more familiar stressors like social separation, confinement and an altered sleep-wake cycle."

[...] "During spaceflight there is a rise in secretion of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which are known to suppress the immune system. In keeping with this, we find that astronaut's immune cells—particularly those that normally suppress and eliminate viruses—become less effective during spaceflight and sometimes for up to 60 days after."

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  • (Score: 2) by crafoo on Sunday March 17 2019, @01:55AM (1 child)

    by crafoo (6639) on Sunday March 17 2019, @01:55AM (#815649)

    Don't get a brit milah with gay pedo cocksucking.

    Just curious, what is brit milah? I don't think I've ever heard of that. But, you know, gay cocksucking isn't my thing so maybe that's why.

    And yes, not everyone has herpes. HPV is really spreading around though. you have to really think twice about what you decide to put your mouth on/around.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 17 2019, @06:34AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 17 2019, @06:34AM (#815726)

    > Just curious, what is brit milah?

    Just another name for a Bris.

    You mostly see it in NY news as far as I can tell, but after a Bris (Jewish genital mutilation) the Mohel (the bastard with the knife) apparently often sucks the baby's penis to reduce blood flow. (yeah right)
    There have been documented cases of babies dying from herpes contracted this way.