Space Herpes?

[red-beard]

https://news.sky.com/story/nasa-issues-space-herpes-warning-as-virus-reactivates-in-astronauts-11669335

NASA has issued a warning about space herpes after a study found the virus was reactivating in crew aboard Space Shuttle and International Space Station missions.

According to the agency, while only a small proportion of the astronauts develop symptoms as a result of the dormant virus awakening, it could spell danger for longer spaceflight missions - for instance to Mars.

"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," said Dr Satish Mehta.

"This physical challenge is compounded by more familiar stressors like social separation, confinement and an altered sleep-wake cycle," added Dr Mehta, senior author of the paper and academic at the Johnson Space Centre.

The research is published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology and concerns the reactivation of the virus, rather than a new virus which had developed in space.

NASA's thorough medical systems measure the physiological impact of spaceflight by analysing astronauts' saliva, blood, and urine throughout spaceflight.

"During spaceflight there is a rise in secretion of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which are known to suppress the immune system," the study found.

[kach22i]

From the article...............

"Only six astronauts developed any symptoms due to viral reactivation," said Dr Mehta. "All were minor."

In other news, Blistex just announced their new Zero-G formula.

[red-beard]

I wonder what is the percentage of Astronauts that are infected.

And I wonder if they are talking all kinds of herpes...

This is a gross subject

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Space Herpes = a great band name.

[wilnj]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

Space Herpes = a great band name.

Or the sequel to a Mel Brooks hit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[fintstone]

Just another casualty of a mixed gender space force. Space Ghost used to have the same problem.

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by red-beard

I wonder what is the percentage of Astronauts that are infected.

And I wonder if they are talking all kinds of herpes...

This is a gross subject

Up to 80% of people carry the herpes virus in their trigeminal nerve, so most likely the majority of Astronauts are carriers. Environmental stress and physical stress cause the virus to activate...and I'd guess a trip to space is pretty stressful on the body.

[unclebilly]

Always reminds me of this classic...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gB5HsDRRPRY

[legion]

I'd still rather have space herpes than electro-gonorrhea, the noisy killer.

[fintstone]

Extraterrestrial STDs. Whoda thunk?

[RSBob]

I don’t have space or genital herpes but the garden variety which usually is a cold or canker sore when my immune system is stressed when catching a cold. I’m not proud. Ok I’m kinda proud because I am/was a secret carrier.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by RSBob

I don’t have space or genital herpes but the garden variety which usually is a cold or canker sore when my immune system is stressed when catching a cold. I’m not proud. Ok I’m kinda proud because I am/was a secret carrier.

I would usually get a cold sore after an enduro kart race. One, I was out in the sun and wind for 2 days and two, although I didn't necessarily feel any stress, going 100 MPH laying flat on my back 1 inch off the ground was why I was there in the first place but I will admit that my heart rate was about 160 at the beginning of a race. That's stress in anyone's book.

An aside comment, if you find a decent piece of property where the weather isn't too harsh, just build a race track there and then see how 'nice' it is.